Ai Jiao Oolong 矮脚乌龙 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Wuyi Oolong Tea
Location: Da Shui Keng, Wuyishan, Fujian
Altitude: Approx. 600 m
Harvest Date: May 1, 2025
Cultivar: Ai Jiao Oolong 矮脚乌龙
Age of Tea Bushes: Around 35 years
Roasting Level: Three-stage roast, lower to medium
The Story of This Tea
This Ai Jiao Oolong comes from Da Shui Keng in Wuyishan, but its roots lie further east in Jianou, Fujian. In the 1990s, this low-footed oolong was introduced from Jianou to Wuyishan, a journey of around 150 kilometres, bringing with it a long and respected lineage.
Jianou’s Dongfeng Town is the historical heartland of Beiyuan 北苑 imperial tea, with more than a thousand years of tea-making history. It is also recognised as the birthplace of low-footed oolong, a unique tea tree type with compact growth, dense downward-curving leaves and a naturally restrained structure. In Guilin Village, Dongfeng Town, ancient tea gardens dating back 120 to 150 years still survive, and this genetic line is famously linked to Taiwan’s Qingxin Oolong and Dong Ding Oolong traditions.
Although our trees are younger, at around 35 years old, they clearly express this heritage. The plants grow low and compact, with thick, flat foliage and a strong central vein, producing leaf material that is naturally balanced and well suited to gentle, layered roasting. We selected a lower to medium three-stage roast to preserve clarity while building warmth and depth.
Aroma and Flavour
This is a calm, elegant oolong with a quiet confidence rather than overt intensity. The profile is clean and composed, making it an excellent everyday tea for those who appreciate subtlety and balance.
- Aroma: Clear and refined, with soft peach and fresh orchard fruit notes
- Flavor: Gentle sweetness with a simple, mellow character, peach skin and light honeyed grain
- Texture: Smooth and rounded, with a light to medium body
- Aftertaste: Clean and lingering, with a soft returning sweetness
- Steeping Endurance: Over 10 infusions when brewed carefully
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan for clarity, or a Zhuni 朱泥 or Hongni 红泥 teapot to enhance warmth
- Ratio: 6 to 7 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95 to 100°C, ideally low-TDS spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse if desired. Start with 5 to 7 seconds, then 8 to 12 seconds for the next two infusions, gradually increasing
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3 to 4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95°C
- Steeping: 2 to 3 minutes for the first infusion, with one or two gentle re-steeps
Why Choose This Tea
This 2025 Ai Jiao Oolong is a rare expression of a historic Fujian cultivar, grown in Wuyishan and crafted with restraint. Its calm peach-like aroma, clear golden liquor and excellent endurance make it a versatile and quietly rewarding tea. For those looking to buy authentic Chinese tea online, this is a thoughtful introduction to a lesser-known but culturally significant oolong, equally suited to careful Gong Fu sessions or relaxed Western brewing.