Zhang Ping Shui Xian Roasted

Roasted Zhang Ping Shui Xian (漳平水仙) is an unusual and rare oolong that comes pressed into square-shaped cakes. Each cake is individually wrapped in paper for storage and then further wrapped into a vacuum sealed foil pouch to preserve the flavours. We have left each cake wrapped as they are in order for them to reach you in their optimum condition.

We carry three Zhang Ping Shui Xian teas for you to choose from. This Roasted Zhang Ping Shui Xian oolong is a more baked oolong variety of this tea, yielding a liqour that is less floral but more full bodied, with a creamy and nutty flavour. Our Floral Zhang Ping Shui Xian oolong is, as the name suggests, the most floral out of the three, with a lighter but highly aromatic liquor. Finally our Black Zhang Ping Shui Xian is a black version of this tea that has been allowed to oxidise completely, producing a tea that is complex and wholly different.

Zhang Ping is a city in the southern part of Fujian Province and it is around this city that this tea is grown. Shui Xian (sometimes Shui Hsien) is a type of oolong tea that comes from Fujian Province. Shui Xian translates as ‘narcissus’, ‘water sprite’ or ‘water lily’ in English and is a type of oolong that is famous for the honey aroma and flavour.

This Roasted Zhang Ping Shui Xian was plucked in late summer 2016, after which it has undergone careful hand processing. The large leaves are pressed into square cakes, each cake being 8-11 grams in weight. This tea is about half oxidised (something you can clearly see on the wet leaves). It has also undergone a baking or roasting process. This processing imparts a baked character (which can also be described as toasted, roasted or charcoal) that results in a mellow, distinctive and complex flavour.

To make this tea, unwrap the cake from the foil and paper, and break off an amount of tea required. If using the whole cake, it can be agitated once in water, so the leaves start coming apart in order to brew properly. The mixed coloured leaves produce a light mouth-watering liquor with a slight floral and toasted aroma. This Roasted Zhang Ping Shui Xian has a smooth complex flavour that is roasted and mineral in character. The wonderful creamy, honeyed floral and nutty notes complete the profile.

We suggest brewing parameters of 90°C for 4-5 minutes according to your taste, brewing 4 or more times. You can increase the temperature to 95°C and up the brewing time for subsequent steepings.

This Roasted Zhang Ping Shui Xian oolong tea was first featured in our November 2016 Curious Tea Subscription Boxes.