Anxi Qunti Zhong Oolong Tea - Wild-Grown

Wild-grown Qunti Zhong oolong from Anxi, made from bushes over 40 years old in the same Huqiu garden as our Wild-grown Tieguanyin. Qunti Zhong is a general term for tea trees grown from seed rather than cuttings. Because every tree comes from a different seed, each one has its own temperament, which makes the tea harder to make and harder to predict.

Anxi is home to over 200 local cultivars, and some don’t even have a name. Many producers focus on clonal cultivars that already have good market recognition. Once we tasted this tea, though, we were drawn to this lot right away. It tastes like the garden itself: wild, a bit unpredictable, and with a wildflower fragrance we rarely find in other Anxi oolong.
Like our wild-grown Mei Zhan and wild-grown Tie Guan Yin, this Qunti Zhong oolong is made entirely by hand, using the traditional southern Fujian method that revives the craftsmanship of the 1970s and 1980s. It is oxidised to a medium level, fixed in a wok, shaped by hand-wrapped kneading, and finished with a 10-hour charcoal roast.

The first impression is a delicate, light-profile oolong with prominent floral aromas of osmanthus and gardenia, accompanied by a sweet honey-like scent and a hint of chamomile. On the palate, the tea has a soft, smooth texture, opening with soft herbal notes that give way to a fruity character reminiscent of yellow plum. Subtle moss notes, characteristic of old-tree tea, linger in the background, adding depth and complexity. A mild sweetness gradually becomes more pronounced throughout the session, balanced by a light bitterness and an aromatic quality reminiscent of chrysanthemum tea. It finishes with a long, lingering aftertaste.