Yu Qilin 玉麒麟

Yu Qilin is named after the shape of the tea tree which is like a "Qilin." Yu (玉) means “jade.” Qilin is a mythical beast in ancient Chinese myths and legends, symbolizing auspiciousness. The male animal is "Qi" (“麒”) and the female animal is "Lin" (“麒”). Together they are called Qilin. Although features of its body can be considered weapons that can attack the enemy, it will not hurt people and animals, and will not trample on insects, flowers and plants. It is also called a benevolent beast. Legend has it that it is a descendant of Jianma (建马), whose ancestor is Yinglong (应龙). A Qilin's head is like a dragon, its body is shaped like a deer, its feet are like a horse, its tail is like an ox's tail, and there are colorful hair patterns on its back. There are yellow hairs on the abdomen, the mouth can spit fire, and the voice is like thunder. According to legend, it only appears in times of peace and prosperity or when a saint appears in the world, so it is called an auspicious beast (瑞兽). In ancient China, Qilin, together with dragons (“long” 龙), Phoenix (“feng” 凤凰), turtles (“gui” 龟) and Pixiu (貔貅), were known as the five auspicious animals.

Yu Qilin: A famous Ming Cong with outstanding floral and milky charm

As a rare and famous species, Yu Qilin is favored by many Wuyi cliff tea lovers for its milky and floral fragrance. The first infusion is slightly lighter; the second infusion is slightly astringent and overflowing with fragrance, including creamy roses and bamboo leaves, with a charming fragrance. The third, fourth and fifth brews are concentrated, the fragrance enters the throat, the soup is delicate and slightly astringent. The tea felt on the tongue is cool and sweet. The taste of the sixth and seventh brews is still strong, and the sweet bamboo leaf fragrance of the eighth and ninth brews is slightly dominant. The taste of the tenth brew is slightly weaker, but there is still a lingering fragrance until the twelfth brew.

Selecting the Raw Material 原料选择

Yu Qilin tea uses new buds of tea trees as raw materials, and in the entire growth process it tries to avoid insect pests, characteristic contamination of well-known varieties, and invasion of white tea by pests and diseases, to ensure the quality of the tea.

Production Process 生产工艺

The production process of Yu Qilin tea is unique, including picking, fixation, rolling and drying. When picking, tea farmers must carefully select young buds to ensure the quality of the tea. When fixing, a high-temp kill-green method is required to preserve the color and aroma of the tea leaves. When rolling, the tea leaves are mainly kneaded lightly to bring out the shape and fragrance of the tea. Finally, the temperature must be controlled during drying to make the tea dry and aromatic. Through these unique processes and strict management, high-quality Yu Qilin tea can be produced.

Wuyi Cliff Tea Naming

Wuyi Cliff Tea is mainly divided into the following seven categories; Yu Qilin falls under the Tea Tree Form naming category:

The Growing Environment of Tea Trees: Bu Jian Tian (不见天), ​​Shi Jiao (石角), Ling Shang Mei  (岭上梅), Guo Shan Long (过山龙), Shui Xian (水仙), Jin Yao Shi (金钥匙), Ban Tian Yao (半天腰), Diao Jin Zhong (吊金钟), and Jiu Long Zhu (九龙珠).

Tea Tree Form: Ai Jiao Oolong (矮脚乌龙), Zui Gui Fei (醉贵妃), Zui Hai Tang (醉海棠), Zui Dong Bin (醉贵妃), Diao Jin Gui (钓金龟), Feng Wei Cao (凤尾草), Yu Qilin (玉麒麟), Zui Ba Xian (醉八仙), Yi Zhi Xiang (一枝香).

Tea Leaf Shape: Shui Jin Gui (水金龟)，Gua Zi Jin (瓜子金)，Jin Qian (金钱)，Zhu Si (竹丝)，Jin Liu Tiao (金柳条), Fo Shou (佛手), Xiang Tian Mei (向天梅), Que She (雀舌).

Tea Leaf Color: Bai Ji Guan (白鸡冠), Zi Hong Pao (紫红袍), Zheng Tai Yang (正太阳), Zheng Tai Yin (正太阴), Bai Diao Lan (白吊兰), Shui Hong Mei (水红梅), Hong Hai Tang (红海棠), Huang Jin Ding (黄金锭).

Tea Tree Germination Time: Ying Chun Liu (迎春柳), Bu Zhi Chun (不知春).

Traditional Planting Era: Zheng Tang Shu (正唐树), Zheng Tang Mei (正唐梅), Song Wang Shu (宋王树).

Myths and Legends: Da Hong Pao (大红袍), Tie Luo Han (铁罗汉), Bai Ji Guan (白鸡冠), Shui Jin Gui (水金龟), Bai Mu Dan (白牡丹), Hong Hai Er (红孩儿), Zhuang Yuan Hong (状元红).

Finished Rock Tea Flavor: Rou Gui (肉桂), Bai Rui Xiang (白瑞香), Bai She Xiang (白麝香), Ye Lai Xiang (夜来香), Jin Ding Xiang (金丁香), Shi Ru Xiang (石乳香).

Wu Yi Rock Tea 武夷岩茶

Wuyi Rock Tea (aka Wuyi Cliff Tea) is a top-grade oolong tea. It has a tight leaf shape, some of which are dragonfly-shaped, with a jewel-colored luster, moderate length, and a heavy body. After brewing, it tastes sweet and fragrant, is mild in nature, and will not spoil after long storage. The bottom of the leaves is soft and bright, the edges of the leaves are vermilion, and some have the characteristics of green leaves with red edges. The tea soup is golden or orange (high-quality tea is deep orange), and the tea is bright and clear. High-quality Wuyi Rock Tea has "rock charm" (岩韵), which is referred to in the saying "rock tea has the fragrance of flowers in rocks," commonly known as "rock flavor." This is a feeling that has a particularly mellow and thick taste that lingers in the mouth for a long time and has a long-lasting and deep aftertaste. It is also called "hard tea base." It is also more prominent in tea gardens with good growth conditions for tea trees, which generally grow in gravelly sandy loam. The "floral fragrance" in this tea is not the scent made by adding flowers like in scented tea, but the floral fragrance naturally formed by the unique processing technology of Wuyi Rock Tea. Different varieties have various unique fragrances, but the fragrance requirements are that it is sharp and long-lasting, clear and rich like orchids.

Famous Zhengyan Mountain area: Jiu Long Ke (九龙窠)

The Jiu Long burrow is located at the location of the Dahongpao mother tree (大红袍母树) in the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area. Jiu Long Burrow is a deep canyon and is located on the south side of Niulan cave (牛栏坑), roughly parallel to Zhangtang stream (章堂涧) and Niulan cave. The Jiu Long Burrow canyon has continuous cliffs on both sides. Nine rock peaks are shaped like nine giant dragons entrenched on both sides of the canyon. The canyon is like the cave of this giant dragon, so this canyon is called Jiu Long Ke.

Along the Jiu Long Burrow canyon to the east you can reach Tianxin Rock (天心岩). Under Tianxin Rock is the Tianxin Yongle Temple (天心永乐禅寺), the largest Buddhist temple in Wuyi Mountain, which was built in the Tang Dynasty.

Characteristics of Jiu Long Burrow Tea 九龙窠岩茶特点

Jiu Long Burrow is known as the Kingdom of Tea Trees. Many ancient tea gardens are preserved in the Jiu Long Burrow Canyon. There are 36 precious varieties of Wuyi rock tea planted in the Wuyi Rock Tea Garden in Jiu Long, such as Dahongpao, Tie Luo Han, Bai Ji Guan, Shui Jin Gui, and others are all from this area. These tea mountains have a mild climate, with warm winters and cool summers. Among the peaks and rocks of the canyon, there are quiet streams and springs, and the canyon and mountains are filled with clouds and mist all year round. Most of the Jiu Long Burrow tea gardens are located in canyons, rocks and gullies. The canyons are surrounded by mountains as tea garden barriers. The sunshine is short and there is no wind damage. The superior natural conditions of Jiu Long Burrow Canyon have given birth to the unique charm of Jiu Long Burrow rock tea. 

Top Ten Famous Wuyi Cliff Teas 武夷岩茶十大名丛茶种

There are many varieties of Wuyi rock tea, but the top ten most famous are usually considered to be: Da Hong Pao, Tie Luohan, Shui Jinggui, Baiji Guan, Ban Tian Yao, Que She, Yu Qilin, Lao Junmei, Bei Dou and Jin Yaoshi.

The Origin of The Twelve Golden Hairpins 十二金钗的由来

Cliff Tea (岩茶) is made from tea trees that grow in sandstone and rocky soil on the mountain. If it grows only on flat land, it can only be called state tea (州茶). Wuyi Cliff Tea is the most famous among the Fujian oolong tea series in northern Fujian. The taste of Tieguanyin tea is like a pretty daughter in a humble family. Each has its own charm, and the Twelve Golden Hairpins are even more classic. Since there are many varieties of Wuyi Cliff Tea, it is generally said that it was proposed by Ye Can (叶灿), a contemporary tea master from Wuyi Mountain, who selected twelve traditional high-quality and famous Wuyi Cliff Tea varieties for promotion in Hong Kong, and chose the "Twelve Beauties" in the classic literary work "A Dream of Red Mansions" (红楼梦) as inspiration. Twelve types of Wuyi Rock Tea were combined and named "Twelve Golden Hairpins." These Twelve Golden Hairpins are the highest quality Wuyi Cliff Teas, so the annual output of each type does not exceed one hundred kilograms. Among them, the Lao Cong Shui Xian must be picked from tea trees that are more than 80 years old to be considered the top-notch Lao Cong Shui Xian.

Twelve Golden Hairpins:

Da Hong Pao (大红袍), Tie Luo Han (铁罗汉), Shui Jin Gui (水金龟), Dancong Qizhong (单枞奇种), Lao Cong Shui Xian (老枞水仙), Bai Ji Guan (白鸡冠), Rou Gui (肉桂), Jin Yao Shi (金锁匙), Qian Li Xiang (千里香), Da Hong Mei (大红梅), Bu Zhi Chun (不知春), Bu Jian Tian (不见天).

Tea Culture of The 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气茶文化)

According to Chinese tea culture, different tea varieties are recommended according to different seasonal “solar terms” observed throughout the year. The twenty-four solar terms are divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, with six solar terms in each season. These include: Beginning of Spring (立春), Rain Water (雨水), Waking of Insects (惊蛰), Spring Equinox (春分), Pure Brightness (清明), Grain Rain (谷雨), Beginning of Summer (立夏), Lesser Fullness of Grain (小满), Grain in Beard (芒种), Summer Solstice (夏至), Lesser Heat (小暑), Greater Heat (大暑), Beginning of Autumn (立秋), End of Heat (处暑), White Dew (白露), Autumn Equinox (秋分), Cold Dew (寒露), Frost's Descent (霜降), Beginning of Winter (立冬), Lesser Snow (小雪), Greater Snow (大雪), Winter Solstice (冬至), Lesser Cold (小寒), and Greater Cold (大寒).

Tea “Yangsheng” (Nourishing Life) Recommendations for the Grain Rain 

养生茶饮指南 (谷雨：雨生百谷，万物逢时 - Rain produces hundreds of grains, and everything comes at its right time

The name of Guyu (Grain Rain) comes from "grains grow with rain," so it is called Guyu (谷雨). Grain Rain is the sixth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms and the last solar term in spring. When the sun reaches 30 degrees longitude, the Grain Rain solar term arrives. Grain Rain is a solar term with significantly increased precipitation, which is different from the misty rain of the Rain Water solar term. The characteristic of the Grain Rain is that it is warm and rainy, which is very conducive to the growth of grains, so there is the associated saying "the rain produces hundreds of grains" (雨生百谷), and "when the rain falls, the grains and fruits grow" (时雨乃降，五谷百果乃登).

Picking Spring Tea 采春茶

The south has always had the custom of picking tea during the Grain Rain. As the saying goes, "The Qingming Festival is too early, the Beginning of Summer is too late, the time right around the Grain Rain is the right time" (清明太早，立夏太迟，谷雨前后，其时适中). This means that, for many teas and tea-growing regions, it is a little too early to make tea during the Qingming Festival, and it is too late to pick tea leaves after the Beginning of Summer solar term. Only the tea picked during the Grain Rain period has the best taste. The spring tea picked during the Grain Rain season is also called the "Er Chun Tea" (二春茶), literally, “second spring tea.”

According to Chinese health culture, drinking tea on the Grain Rain day will clear away fire energy, ward off evil spirits, and improve eyesight. No matter what the weather is that day, people will go to the tea mountains to pick some new tea. Tea farmers say that to be considered true Grain Rain tea picked on the morning of Grain Rain. Considering more broadly the diverse types of tea and tea growing locations, both Mingqian tea (明前茶) (tea picked before Qingming) and Yuqian tea (雨前茶) (tea picked before Grain Rain) can be considered special.

Admire Peonies and Drink Spring Tea 赏牡丹，饮春茶

Before and after Grain Rain is an important period for peonies to bloom, so peonies are also called "Grain Rain flowers" (谷雨花) and "wealth flowers" (富贵花). The peonies in full bloom are as bright as rouge and as brilliant as clouds. The old saying goes, "you can see peonies in three dynasties during Grain Rain" (谷雨三朝看牡丹). It means that the custom of admiring peonies during Grain Rain has lasted for thousands of years.

During the Grain Rain season, the temperature gradually rises, but it is still not the hot summer. After eating cold drinks at this time, people may be stimulated by the cold and feel uncomfortable in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, you should avoid eating greasy and spicy foods to protect your spleen and stomach. Due to the Grain Rain season, Yang Qi gradually grows, Yin Qi gradually disappears, precipitation increases, and moisture increases, and moisture can easily negatively affect the spleen. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that health care during this season focuses on softening the liver, strengthening the spleen, and removing dampness to help the liver qi rise, so that you can enter summer safely. The diet should be light. At this time, Grain Rain tea is suitable for drinking during this solar term, such as Yu Qilin tea, which can help relieve liver qi better. Bring a pot of "Yu Qilin" tea, when traveling during the Grain Rain season, and you can feel the natural harmony of heaven and earth, which is beneficial to boosting Yang Qi and smoothing the Liver Qi.