Qi Lan 奇兰 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Pinzhong Yancha (Rock Oolong)
Location: Da Shui Keng 大水坑, Ban Yan garden, Wuyishan
Altitude: Around 500–600m
Harvest Date: April 28th, 2025
Cultivar: Qi Lan 奇兰
Age of Tea Bushes: Mid-aged bushes
Roasting Level: Medium roast, two firings (July and September 2025)
The Story of This Tea
Qi Lan, meaning “Strange Orchid,” was first brought from Pinghe County in southern Fujian to Wuyishan in the 1990s. It quickly adapted to the mountain’s rocky terrain and humid forest microclimate, becoming a favourite among local tea makers for its floral fragrance and clean sweetness. Our 2025 Qi Lan comes from Da Shui Keng, a Ban Yan (half-rock) garden known for balanced minerality and gentle depth. After two careful charcoal firings, this batch expresses both the cultivar’s elegant floral perfume and the subtle rocky charm that defines authentic Wuyi Rock Tea.
Aroma and Flavour
The dry leaves are dark, glossy, and tightly twisted. Once brewed, the liquor shines orange-gold, with aromas of orchid, cinnamon, and honeyed wood. On the palate, it opens with soft floral sweetness that deepens into gentle spice and mineral warmth. The texture is smooth and rounded, carrying a refreshing coolness in the aftertaste. It is layered yet soothing. A tea that feels both comforting and refined.
- Aroma: Orchid, cinnamon, honeyed wood
- Flavor: Floral sweetness with mineral spice and soft warmth
- Texture: Smooth, rounded, and silky
- Aftertaste: Cooling, floral, and lightly sweet
- Steeping Endurance: Around 8–9 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Duanni 段泥 Yixing teapot, or porcelain gaiwan
- Ratio: 7–8 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100°C, preferably fresh spring water
- Infusions: Rinse once, then start with short steeps (3–6 seconds), extending gradually for 7–9 rounds
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: 95–100°C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion, then resteep 2–3 times, adding 30 seconds each time
Why Choose This Tea
Our Da Shui Keng Qi Lan captures the true spirit of Wuyi’s Pinzhong cultivars. Floral, smooth, and gently spiced. It bridges the freshness of southern Fujian teas with the mineral sweetness of Wuyi Rock Tea, offering a fragrant, balanced cup ideal for both daily enjoyment and deeper exploration. If you wish to buy authentic Qi Lan online, this medium roast batch is a perfect introduction to the elegance of Wuyishan’s Ban Yan gardens.