Popis
Historical records show that this variety has been cultivated since at least the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Today, three of the last original tea bushes remain in the inner park. They are no longer harvested, but thanks to these bushes and the method of cutting propagation, the quality of the original old tea varieties has been preserved in the central park.
The name “Golden Water Turtle” refers to the hunched shape of the tea bush. The leaves are round with clearly visible veins, resembling a turtle.
Shui Jin Gui is one of the four famous varieties (Ming Cong) of the Wu Yi tea region, together with Tie Luo Han, Bei Dou, and Bai Ji Guan.
Zhen Yan Cha (正岩茶) refers to teas grown in the inner part of the park, on rocky soil and at higher altitude. The terroir gives them an exceptional character, and they are harvested only in spring. They are often mistaken for teas grown in nearby fields (Zhou Cha 州茶), which do not come close in quality to true rock teas.
This tea is a fine example of how Zhen Yan teas possess outstanding quality and excellent aging potential. This wulong was aged for 12 years in Malaysia.
The leaves come directly from the heart of the national park. The bushes are around 30 years old. The tea was roasted three times for 10 hours each over charcoal, with about a one-month interval between each roasting. In 2021, after ten years, it was re-roasted again for 8 hours at 110 °C.
Aroma: intense, mature, and appealing, with notes of gingerbread spice, plum jam, cocoa, dried plums and apricots, rare spices, and dried flowers.
Taste: very full, deep, and attractive, with tones of dried flowers, dark chocolate, dried fruit, plum jam, and gingerbread spice, followed by a long honey-spiced aftertaste.
Harvest period: May 2011
Region: Wu Yi (Zhen Yan), Fujian
Flavor profile: dark chocolate, dried plums, rare spices
Brewing suggestion
– Gaiwan: 5 g, 100 °C, 10 seconds
– Teapot 500 ml: 5 g, 100 °C, 3 minutes
