Top Grade Shui Xian – Lao Cong

Top-grade Shui Xian is so named for the impeccable processing, the unbelievable terroir and the age of the bushes (around 80 years old). The dry leaf gives off strong notes of dark chocolate, hardwood and even a subtle hint of sweetness. The leaf brews up into a gorgeous amber liquor that is holding almost everything in for the sip but there is a light sweet floral if you look for it. The flavor is stellar, starting off clean with mineral and sweetness at the back of the mouth. This transforms into a brighter mineral eventually giving us delightful tobacco and dark chocolate notes and I swear I even got a hint of cinnamon. And while the flavor is amazing, the mouthfeel is absolutely killer! This top-grade shui xian is so velvety and dense it fills every bit of the mouth. It is in the mouthfeel where you real feel the “cong wei” (枞味), the feel and flavor of age. Be sure to enjoy the gaiwan lid to enjoy amazing creamy floral notes and be prepared to experience a little cha qi!