Huang Guanyin 黄观音 (2025)

Tea Profile

Type: Pinzhong Yancha (Rock Oolong)
Location: Liang Hua Peak 莲花峰, Wuyishan
Altitude: Around 500–600m
Harvest Date: April 26th, 2025
Cultivar: Huang Guanyin 黄观音 (breeding number 105)
Roasting Level: Medium roast

The Story of This Tea

Huang Guanyin is a nationally approved oolong cultivar, bred over two decades (1977–1997) by the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It is a hybrid of two famous teas: Tieguanyin, its mother, and Huangdan, its father. Tieguanyin is one of China’s most celebrated oolongs, originating from Anxi, while Huangdan, also known as Huangjingui, is a highly regarded variety from Luoyan in Anxi County.

The cultivar is classified as a small-tree, mid-leaf, early-sprouting type. Its leaves are oval to oblong, yellow-green and glossy, with a thick texture. In Wuyishan, Huang Guanyin is often referred to simply by its breeding number, 105, and when processed as a Yancha it develops a distinctive balance of floral sweetness and mineral depth.

This 2025 harvest was grown at Liang Hua Peak, one of Wuyishan’s notable rocky sites, and crafted with a medium roast to highlight the variety’s fragrance while bringing out its smooth body.

Aroma and Flavour

The liquor is smooth, full, and balanced, carrying both floral brightness and gentle roasted depth. The aroma is elegant and persistent, with soft honeyed tones and a mineral undercurrent from the rocky terroir of Liang Hua Peak. Sweetness lingers on the palate, leaving a clean, refreshing finish.

Brewing Guidelines

Gong Fu Style

• Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Duanni 段泥 Yixing teapot, or porcelain gaiwan

• Ratio: 7–8g per 80–100ml water

• Water: 95–100°C spring water

• Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 7–9 infusions, gradually extending steeping time

Western Style

• Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot

• Ratio: 3–4g per 250ml water

• Water: 95–100°C

• Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion, resteep 2–3 times

Why Choose This Tea

Huang Guanyin is a modern Wuyi cultivar that beautifully combines the elegance of Tieguanyin with the freshness of Huangdan. With its floral fragrance, mineral character, and smooth medium roast, this Liang Hua Peak harvest shows why No. 105 has become one of the most distinctive Pinzhong in Wuyishan. A refined choice for those who enjoy exploring the diversity of rock oolongs beyond the classic Ming Cong.