Que She 雀舌 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Wuyi Yancha (Rock Tea)
Location: Shui Lian Dong (水帘洞), Wuyishan, Fujian
Altitude: Approx. 700–800 m
Harvest Date: May 15, 2025
Cultivar: Que She 雀舌 (“Sparrow Tongue”)
Roasting Level: Medium roast
The Story of This Tea
Que She, or “Sparrow Tongue,” is one of Wuyishan’s most distinctive rock tea cultivars. Its name comes from the leaf shape. Long and narrow, just like a sparrow’s tongue. It also carries the poetic nickname “Unknown Spring” (不知春), because this variety matures later than most Wuyi Rock Teas. While most Yancha are harvested before the Beginning of Summer, Que She ripens about a week later, as though it has quietly missed the whole of spring.
This 2025 harvest was picked from Shui Lian Dong, one of the most famous scenic valleys in Wuyishan. The year’s weather brought ideal conditions: steady spring rainfall followed by a sharp rise in temperature after May 6, resulting in thicker leaves that allowed for a perfect medium roast. The result is a beautifully balanced Yancha that expresses both strength and sweetness. When brewed, it releases a rich brown sugar aroma that can fill the whole room. A tea that truly captures the warmth and fragrance of late spring in Wuyishan.
Aroma and Flavour
This Que She offers an immediately captivating fragrance and a deep, rounded sweetness. It opens with brown sugar and roasted cereal notes, followed by hints of caramel, ripe fruit and gentle minerality. The liquor is smooth and warming, with a soft, sweet aftertaste that lingers long after each sip.
- Aroma: Brown sugar, roasted cereal, caramel, light orchid
- Flavor: Sweet and rich, with layered brown sugar and mineral warmth balanced by gentle roast
- Texture: Smooth, medium-bodied, warming and coating
- Aftertaste: Lingering sweetness with light mineral and floral finish
- Steeping Endurance: 7–9 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Hongni 红泥 Yixing teapot, or porcelain gaiwan
- Ratio: 6–7 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C, ideally low-TDS spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse; first infusion 6–8 s, second 8–10 s, third 12–15 s; gradually increase thereafter
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95 °C
- Steeping: 2½–3 minutes for the first infusion; may resteep twice with longer times
Why Choose This Tea
Our 2025 Que She from Shui Lian Dong is a rare expression of this late-harvested Wuyi Rock Tea. Grown on semi-cliff terrain and roasted to a perfect medium finish, it offers remarkable sweetness, fragrance, and depth. For those who love teas with a soft roast and brown sugar warmth, this “Unknown Spring” is an unforgettable experience. A true taste of Wuyishan’s elegance and terroir. Perfect for both collectors and daily Gong Fu enjoyment.