Tea Review: First Place Zheng Yan Shui Xian (Nine Dragons Tea)

First Place Zheng Yan Shui Xian
Nine Dragons Tea
Type: Oolong
Origin: China, Fujian Province, Wuyishan
Product Description: 

We are very excited to be able to offer a tea of this caliber! This tea won First Place for Shui Xian in the 2019 Wuyishan Tea Competition, out of over 1,800 entries. This tea was grown in the Zheng Yan ("true cliff") core area of Wuyishan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was made by Chen Zhen Ying, who is the Deputy Director of the Wuyishan Tea Research Institute, and expertly roasted by Gao Peng, who won the Yan Cha Grand Prize in 2018.

There is an incredible aroma and sweetness, with a soft mouthfeel and Hui Gan (lingering sweetness) that remains on the palate long after the tea has been swallowed. The roast is perfectly integrated, and never overpowers. An all-around excellent Competition winning tea!

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaf aroma is peppery and roasty with notes of seared wood, roasted nut shells, and a faint hint of fruit.

The aroma of the orange amber liquor is roasty and spicy with notes of baked fruit and honey.  The taste is sweet and smooth with a long, sweet, mineral and faintly floral finish.

I was really struck by how the bold roast in the aroma became so gentle in the mouth.  There is little risk of over-brewing with near-boiling water.  Gongfu-style brewing with more leaf and a small brewing vessel is ideal, though I also had very good results brewing just 3 grams of leaf in a 6-ounce cupping set.

This tea was purchased by me.