Lian Hua Feng, Wuyishan National Park, Fujian Province, China
Cultivar
Qi Zhong
Elevation
300m
Steeping instructions
Portion: Each packet contains 7 grams of tea, intended for a single serving.
Water Temperature: Use boiling water at 100°C (212°F) for all infusions.
Vessel: A 110ml gaiwan is traditionally used in Wuyishan for tea evaluation and is recommended for steeping rock tea. A gaiwan allows for faster pouring and enhances the experience of smelling the tea's aroma, making it preferable to a teapot.
Steeping:
- If using the entire 7g portion in a 110ml gaiwan, start with flash steeping (quick pour and strain) for the first three infusions, gradually increasing the steeping time with each round.
- Alternatively, use a tea-to-water ratio of 1g per 22ml. Start with a 5-second steep, then increase the steeping time by 5 seconds or more with each subsequent infusion.
Description
Qi Zhong (奇种), also known as Cai Cha (菜茶), refers to a diverse family of seed-grown tea plants native to the Wuyi Mountains. Unlike single varieties, Qi Zhong represents the original population of wild tea trees that reproduce through natural pollination, resulting in unique characteristics for each individual plant. As the ancestral source of many modern Wuyi tea varieties, Qi Zhong holds a special place in the region’s tea heritage. Typically, Qi Zhong is blended with other teas to enhance flavor, but this particular tea is a pure Qi Zhong, allowing you to experience its distinct character in unblended form.
This Qi Zhong tea is medium-roasted, allowing its natural complexity to shine. The dry leaves are tightly twisted with a dark green and slightly brown hue. When brewed, the tea releases a subtle floral fragrance that is gentle and understated, while the flavor is smooth and full-bodied, with a sweet, refreshing aftertaste. The tea liquor is a bright, clear orange-yellow, indicating both purity and craftsmanship. This Qi Zhong tea offers an authentic taste of Wuyi’s ancient tea traditions, with its lasting sweetness and delicate throat feel making it an exceptionally smooth and enjoyable brew.
Harvested from Lian Hua Feng (Lotus Flower Peak), one of the 36 famous peaks in the Wuyi scenic area, this tea thrives in the mountain’s wild, untamed environment. Surrounded by lush bamboo groves and evergreen forests, Lian Hua Feng’s isolated and serene atmosphere allows Qi Zhong to grow naturally. The unique terroir, with its mineral-rich soil and cool climate, imparts depth and character to this tea.
Slight modifications of my post after a better understanding of the tea
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
Tea that taste like the breath of rural mountain.
I like when tea can draw picture into my mind
Any floral aroma. Medium roast with no smoke
Gentle q and enduranti
wood
caramel
charocoal roast
minerals
Taija & Allegra
1y ago
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
Lovely, creamy, carmelly
Julia More
1y ago
Enjoyable session with the club this morning. This was a very pleasant and enjoyable tea although being wild grown it was harder to understand the notes as it hasn’t been cultivated to pull specific notes. It was a good… more
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
A calmer rock tea that was difficult to understand. Well balanced and great but nothing major stood out.
sweet potato
ground coffee
Kurt Johansen
1y ago
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
0 TDS distilled water with TeaCurious Original recipe to make 50 TDS water.
Robust, roasted tea. Very nice mouth feel, but nothing too exciting on the flavor end.
Rating Criteria… more
roasted
ash
charcoal
dark chocolate
prune
(slight) floral
Alejandro Siles Bravo
1y ago
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
Yancha is my favorite tea type.
You could safely assume I was very much looking forward to this month's tea.
So I went all out, and hosted a little ceremony with my friends who… more
roasted
fireplace
fruity
soursop
jasmine
sweet
sichuan pepper
Matthew
1y ago
Really tasty tea with depth and complexity, so far we’re two for two on excellent quality teas this month! Can’t wait to try the rest!!!
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
Eyes - Dry Leaf: raisin-brown twisted leaves
Nose - Dry Leaf: raisins, charcoal-baked goods, and cocoa
Nose - Wet Leaf: deep roasted quality, with toasted bread and charcoal and… more
honey
pinewood
chocolate
dried date
stone
spices
charcoal
Katherine
1y ago
Qi Zhong, Zheng Yan (2023 Spring) from MyTeaPal Club
Too roasted for me! Maybe different brewing parameters would do better.