China

正岩老丛水仙 · Zhengyan Lao Cong Shui Xian
Chong’an Legacy Collection

Shui Xian (水仙) is one of the oldest and most beloved cultivars of the Wuyi Mountains, renowned for its balance: smooth, rounded, and quietly complex, with nothing overpowering and every note in place. Its name means “narcissus,” though legend says it was first a play on Zhuxian Cave (祝仙洞), where the cultivar was discovered.

When Shui Xian bushes reach great age, generally sixty years or more, they are honored as lao cong (老丛), “old bushes.” Older bushes grow fewer, thicker leaves, which give a deeper, more resonant cup. Above all, they carry cong wei (枞味), the prized woody, mossy depth found only in old-growth Shui Xian, often tied to the moss and lichen that cover their trunks. This is the signature that collectors seek, and this tea expresses it beautifully.

This Lao Cong Shui Xian comes from Yan Zhu, the tea house of Master Ye Ruyu, sister of Master Ye Qitong (叶启桐). Grown in the Zhengyan core of the Wuyi Mountains and handcrafted under her supervision, it carries forward the Ye family’s lifelong devotion to Wuyi rock tea.

In 2026 we celebrate our ninth year working with the Ye family of Wuyishan: Master Ye Qitong, who led the creation of the national standard samples for Wuyi Yancha, and his sister Master Ye Ruyu, founder of Yan Zhu. We are honored to serve as the first exclusive international ambassador of Master Ye Qitong’s brand.

Studio:

Yan Zhu 岩主 (Ye family)

Origin:

Wuyi, China

Cultivar:

Shui Xian, 60 Years old trees

Flavor Profile:

Moss, aged wood, and orchid on the nose; smooth and thick, with roasted chestnut, longan, and dark honey; long, sweet, mineral finish.

Servings:

Box – 6 x 9g or

Sample – 1 x 9g

Net weight:

54g Original Gift Box or 9g Single Serving Sample