Shui Hsien Tea Introduction

Shui Hsien (also known as Wuyi Shuixian, Water Fairy, Narcissus Rock Tea, Shuixian, Shui Xian, Water Sprite or Sacred Lily) is one of the most popular oolong teas in China. It is also the darkest of all oolong teas from the notorious Mount Wuyi province in China. The tea leaves are grown from plants that are over one hundred years old which speaks a lot about the long history and tradition of this premium oolong tea. Shui Hsien can be found in almost every Chinese restaurant where it is commonly drunk by a lot of people because of its rich taste.

Tea Details

Taste and Smell Profile

• Flavor: Heavy with a mix of honey and mineral rock
• Color: Dark brown
• Smell: Floral and honey

Shui Hsien Tea Profile

• Before Brewing: Hard texture, almost black / dark brown in color
• After Brewing: Soft, expanded and brown

About AiryTea Shui Hsien Tea Package

• Tea Type: Shui Hsien Tea
• Weight: 70g
• Shelf Life: 18 months

• Tea Storage Recommendation: Store it in a cool and dry place away from sunlight.

The History of Shui Hsien Tea

The tea was first discovered during the ruling of the famous Song Dynasty and there are many legends surrounding it. Because of its name, which can be translated to Water Fairy, Water Sprite or Sacred Lily, it is considered to be a very mystical tea, connected to the Taoist and Buddhist spiritual teachings. It symbolizes solitude, wisdom, and higher realms of consciousness. The word “shui” can be translated in many different ways; it can mean water, but it can also mean a cave. Caves are very important in the Taoist and Buddhist teachings because it represents a place where you go for solitude and isolation, like the monks who remove themselves from the material world in the pursuit of something more spiritual, divine, enlightened, and even immortality through meditation. That’s why all the legends about Shui Hsien revolve around spirituality, prayer, and sacredness.

There is a fascinating legend about the creation of this mystical oolong tea and it talks about a poor farmer. Ever since he was a young boy he was farming in his small village and was very happy about it. Other villagers often went to bigger cities and traveled around while he was perfectly content just where he was. He was so immersed in nature and calm that he didn’t need to go anywhere else to enjoy life. Unlike other farmers he used a shovel which was a lot harder but he never cared about earning a lot of money, just enough to survive. One day, he found out that his land was being taken away from him. He got money reimbursement, but didn’t want to take it which shocked all the other farmers. Instead, he went to roam about and explore the nature, eating things he could find out dig out with his shovel. He went further up the mountain and walked for days and days. Then, he suddenly heard a voice talking to him. “What brings you here into the deep mountains?” the voice said. The farmer looked up to see a man with long hair and beard who seemed to be living in the wild for a very long time, and answered, “My farm got taken away so I was looking for the place where clouds are coming from and the source of the stream.” The mountain man was delighted and took the farmer further up the mountain and showed him where the clouds come from and where the stream starts.

Not only that, but he also gave him what he claimed to be a valuable plant and then disappeared into thin air. The farmer steeped the leaves of the plant and made the first Shui Hsien tea. He brought it back to the village and shared it with other farmers. Everybody who tasted the tea felt very spiritual and that’s how the legend of the tea that came from the immortal man came about. The myth lived on and in China it is still believed that you can invoke the mountain man and his timeless wisdom with each cup of this tea.

This is only one of the famous stories about the origins of Shui Hsien. There are, of course, many others and every farmer who grows this tea will tell you a different one. In any case, Shui Hsien tea is woven deep into Chinese history and mythology and that makes it even more fascinating.

How is Shui Hsien Tea Made?

Water Sprite tea has to be processed in a very particular way in order to have the best flavor possible. The bushes can be found in high altitudes on mountain Wu Yi which is the perfect place to grow them because of high humidity and temperature that’s just right. The tea leaves can be picked throughout the seasons and usually three or four leaves picked which are very dark in color. The leaves are then spread out and placed in direct sunlight which starts the oxidation process by withering. The oxidation process stops at about 40-60% which makes this tea really dark and full of nice flavors. The withered leaves are then rolled by hand and roasted which darkens the color even further, resulting in dark brown, almost black leaves. Different varieties of Shui Hsien tea are created by different roasting times. Now the tea is ready to be packaged and enjoyed by oolong tea lovers all around the globe.

Shui Hsien Tea Features

The first thing you notice about Shui Hsien tea is the dark color of the leaves who look very mysterious, but inviting. When the juicy leaves are steeped in water, they release all of their magnificent flavor that’s a mix of sweet honey and mineral rock (this flavor comes from the Wu Yi Mountains where the tea is grown). There is also a hint of Narcissus flower in the taste and smell of Shui Hsien and that’s why it’s also known as Narcissus Rock tea. If you like sweet oolong teas with bold and captivating flavor, we invite you to try Shui Hsien tea. You don’t have to be a tea connoisseur to notice the complex and rich flavor of this oolong tea and the more you drink it, the more it will leave you wanting for more. Narcissus Rock tea can be enjoyed any time of the day and it also goes great with many traditional Chinese meals. This delicious oolong tea does contain some caffeine which will give you a nice energy boost, but won’t keep you awake at night.

Health Benefits of Shui Hsien Tea

Oolong teas are known to be very healthy and medicinal and Shui Hsien is no exception. There are many things you can improve by drinking this tasty oolong tea on a daily basis. For instance, Shui Hsien is great for reducing stress and providing relief from anxiety. All of us feel stressed out very often and some even experience it every single day. That can have many negative consequences because feeling overwhelmed and on the edge all the time may lead to poor health, loss of energy, poor decision making, lack of focus, and bad work results. Consuming a cup of Shui Hsien oolong tea at least once a day will help you relax your body and mind, and feel more at ease because it contains L-theanine. The caffeine content also improves your concentration and focus which will make you more productive. Shui Hsien can also be consumed for keeping the heart, most important organ in your body, healthy, making you less prone to infections, keeping your skin youthful and elastic, and make your bones stronger. To get all of these amazing benefits, choose organic Shui Hsien tea.

To read about Oolong tea benefits, see this page.

How To Brew Oolong Tea?

Did you know that oolong tea can be consumed both hot and cold?

- Water is the soul of good oolong tea so make sure you prepare it correctly. Heat the water until just before it reaches boiling point (at around 180 - 200* F / 80 - 90* C).

- Add a teaspoon of leaves into your cup of choice and pour the hot water.

- Let it rest for around 1 minute and then keep tasting every 30 seconds to find a taste that you are happy with.

Oolong Tea Shipping Times

We are proud to offer two great shipping methods that will suit everyone’s needs.

Flat Rate Shipping

- Great for people who are not in a hurry and want to save on even more for oolon tea. This method will take around 10 to 30 days to arrive.

Express Shipping

- For everyone who wants to try our oolong tea as soon as possible, pick this method and get your tea in just 1 to 5 business days.

Please note: this excludes handling time, which is usually less than 24 hours. However, if there are certain situations beyond our control (such as the post office being closed) it may take up to 72 hours for your package to be shipped.

Return Policy

If you have changed your mind regarding the tea, you can return the unopened package to us and we will be more than happy to give you a refund. Please contact us (with your order number) to proceed with the request.