This charcoal roasted tea has a dark chocolate aroma but sweet floral aftertaste and flavor that never goes bitter. Compared to other medium roasted tea, which have a heavy concentrated taste, Shui Jin Gui gives you a clean slippery feeling that allows you to appreciate the character of this bush. A story tells of exceptional tea bushes cultivated by a farmer living high on the slopes of WuYi Shan. A torrential storm washed a few of these cliff-dwelling bushes down into a temple's land. The tea bushes with soil held together by their roots looked like a water turtle sliding down the hill. The farmer wanted the bushes back but the monks refused. The local court decided in favor of the monks, claiming natural forces had favored them. The monks named these tea bushes Golden Water Turtle because they felt this tea was as valuable as gold. Although there are still three original bushes remaining, no tea is picked because of the age of the bushes. All Shui Jin Gui was cultivated from these original bushes.

Location: Fujian Province
Tea Bush: Shui Jin Gui
Tea Master: Liu Guo Ying
Harvest Time: April-May
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (3 slightly open leaves)

Brewing Guidelines
Teaware: 12 oz. glass, porcelain or yi xing clay pot
Amount: 1 ½ Tbs of tea leaves
Water: 212°F (boiling) filtered water
Infusion: First infusion at least 2 minutes. The leaves are good for 7 infusions.