Zhangping Shuixian Tea

Zhangping Shuixian tea cake is a compressed oolong tea originating from Zhangping City, China. It was created in the early years of the Republic of China (around 1934) and is a famous historical tea. Zhangping Shuixian tea cakes combine the production methods of Minbei Shuixian and Minnan Tieguanyin. They are pressed into square tea cakes using a wooden mould of a certain specification. They are the only compressed teas in the oolong tea category. Their quality is rare, their style is unique, they have an antique flavor, and they have a heavy traditional flavor. The aroma is pure and long-lasting, with a natural floral fragrance like orchid, and the taste is mellow and refined.

Zhangping Shuixian Tea Details:

Product Name: Zhangping Shuixian Tea
Place of Origin: Fujian Province, China
Net Content: 250g
Shelf Life: 1095 days
Storage: Cool, Refrigerated, Drying, Protect from Light, Odor-proof

Zhangping Shuixian Tea Picking and Production:

Zhangping Shuixian tea can be picked all year round, but the quality of the tea varies from season to season. Our Zhangping Shuixian tea is picked in spring, usually starting in mid- to late April. At this time, the tea leaves have stored a wealth of nutrients after the long winter, so the buds of spring tea are plump and thick, and the quality is superb. When picking, Zhangping Shuixian tea uses the ‘open picking’ method, which involves picking the second or third leaves on the tea bush. This picking standard means that the tea naturally contains tea stalks, which play an important role in enhancing the quality of the tea. The freshly picked leaves need to be delivered to the tea factory in a timely manner for subsequent processing.

The production process of Zhangping Shuixian tea cakes is as follows: Fresh leaves → Withering → Drying → Green processing (alternating Aroma-Developing Leaf Shaking with Drying) → Fixation → Rolling → Shaping (including Shaping and Setting) → Roasting. The main feature of Zhangping Shuixian tea production is heavy withering. The method of making green tea combines the technical characteristics of Wulong tea from northern Fujian and Wulong tea from southern Fujian. In the early stage of making green tea, Aroma-Developing Leaf Shaking is used with a water sieve, and in the later stage, Aroma-Developing Leaf Shaking Machine is used. There are two Aroma-Developing Leaf Shaking sessions, one before and one after. The principle is to aroma-develop leaf shake lightly many times in the early stage and aroma-develop leaf shake more heavily in the later stage. Thinly spreading and drying more often is the principle of drying. After stir fixation and rolling, the use of wooden moulds for shaping and filter paper for shaping are unique processes. Finally, a delicate carbon roast in a baking cage is performed to form the only compressed tea in the oolong tea category with a unique appearance, excellent quality, and a rare style.

Zhangping Shuixian Brewing Method:

1. ‌Warm the cups and saucers‌: Rinse the inside and outside of the tea set with boiling water to increase the temperature of the tea set and help to better stimulate the tea aroma.
   
2. Put tea leaves into the teapot‌: Put the prepared Zhangping Shuixian tea leaves into the teacup or purple clay teapot.
3. ‌Warm infusion‌: Use 100°C boiling water for a warm infusion, i.e., pour in a small amount of water and then pour it out quickly, so that the tea leaves can fully absorb water and stretch. This step is the key to brewing Zhangping Shuixian tea well, and it takes about 10 seconds. If you are brewing in a purple clay pot, you can wait 2 minutes after the warm infusion before officially starting brewing, so that the tea cakes have a longer wake-up time.
   
4. Official brewing‌: Pour in 100°C boiling water again, cover, and let it brew. Adjust the brewing time according to the tea-to-water ratio and personal taste. Generally speaking, for the first brew, you can let the tea steep for 20 seconds before pouring the tea. For the second brew, let the tea steep for 15 seconds. For subsequent brews, the steeping time can be appropriately extended, but it is recommended not to exceed 15 seconds to avoid the tea broth being too heavy and thick and affecting the taste. If you are brewing in a purple clay teapot, you can refer to the following brewing times: 40 seconds for the first brew, 30 seconds for the second brew, and gradually extending to 90 seconds, 120 seconds, etc. for subsequent brews.
5. ‌Tea-tasting‌: Pour the brewed tea into a fair cup, and then divide it into tasting cups for tasting. When tasting the tea, you can first smell its aroma, then taste its flavour, and finally observe the infused leaf.

Zhangping Shuixian Characteristics:

‌Tea broth‌: The tea broth of Zhangping Shuixian tea is orangeyellow or goldenyellow and clear, as attractive as amber.

Aroma‌: Its aroma is refined and slender, with an obvious orchid fragrance, quiet and similar to orchid or osmanthus fragrance. These aroma qualities are related to the content of aroma precursors such as linalool, geraniol, benzyl alcohol, and phenylethanol. The aroma is also long-lasting and resistant to brewing, with a lingering fragrance even after multiple infusions.

‌Taste‌: Zhangping Shuixian tea has a cleanandmellow taste with a floral aroma. Infused leaves are fat and thick, soft and shiny, with a reddish edge. The main veins are broad, yellow, and flat. When sipped slowly, a light fragrance of narcissus can be detected. The taste is cleanandmellow and refined, with a good throat-soothing effect and a slight aftertaste of sweetness

Zhangping Shuixian Benefits:

Refreshing‌: Zhangping Shuixian tea is rich in caffeine and theophylline, which stimulate the central nervous system, improve concentration and alertness, and are perfect for drinking while studying or working. They help you stay alert and energized.

Antioxidant‌: Zhangping Shuixian Tea is rich in antioxidants such as tea polyphenols and vitamin C. These ingredients can effectively remove free radicals in the body and prevent oxidative stress from damaging health, thereby playing an anti-aging and cell-protecting role.

Lower blood pressure‌: Drinking Zhangping Shuixian Tea in moderation can also help lower blood pressure, making it a healthy drink choice for people with high blood pressure.

Boosts immunity‌: Drinking Zhangping Shuixian tea regularly can improve the body's immune system, boost resistance, and help prevent colds and other illnesses.