Camellia sinensis var. sinensis ★★★★☆

Fo Shou

Also known as: Buddha's Hand · Xiang Yuan

Big, soft and citrus-fragrant with a thick texture. Named for its huge palm-shaped leaves.

Species
var. sinensis
Lineage
Heirloom
Country
China (Fujian)
Year
Traditional
Leaf size
Very-large
Cup quality
4/5

Fo Shou (佛手, "Buddha's Hand"), also called Xiang Yuan, is a large-leaf Fujian oolong cultivar from Yongchun County, named for its unusually big, thick leaves said to resemble the citron fruit and a Buddha's open palm. It has a long history in Yongchun temple gardens and, from the 1980s, was carried to the Wuyi Mountains and processed in the roasted yancha (rock-tea) style.

The cup is soft and round with a characteristic bright citrus fragrance over a thick, almost buttery texture. Made in the Yongchun style it is more floral; made as Wuyi rock tea it gains roast, honey and minerality. Its distinctive citron-peel aroma makes it easy to recognise among Fujian oolongs.

Heirloom
Traditional cultivar predating modern selection programs.
Lineage data & sources
Clonal / landrace selection — selected from its regional population, so a specific mother and father plant are not individually documented.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Teas produced

Oolong (roasted)

Flavor signature

CitrusHoneyFloralThickWoody

Growing regions

Origins where Fo Shou grows

Brands likely carrying Fo Shou

Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.

Related cultivars

Ask Freshie