Shui Xian
Mellow, full-bodied, roasted sweetness. Often considered the everyday Wuyi standard.
Shui Xian (水仙, "Water Sprite" or "Narcissus") is the third major Wuyi yancha cultivar alongside Da Hong Pao and Rou Gui. The cup character emphasizes mellow roasted sweetness and full body rather than the dramatic mineral edge of Da Hong Pao or the cinnamon punch of Rou Gui. This makes Shui Xian the everyday Wuyi yancha for many regional drinkers — accessibly priced, broadly available, and consistently pleasant.
Lao Cong Shui Xian (老枞水仙, "old bush Shui Xian") refers to Shui Xian harvested from substantially aged tea bushes — often 30+ years old, sometimes much older. The older bushes produce concentrated cup character with more pronounced wood and moss notes that contemporary fresh-bush Shui Xian doesn't reach. Authentic Lao Cong Shui Xian sits at the premium end of the Wuyi market. Phoenix Dancong (Guangdong) is technically a different cultivar that also goes by Shui Xian in some classifications, leading to occasional naming confusion.
Teas produced
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
- Northern Guangdong
Origins where Shui Xian grows
Brands likely carrying Shui Xian
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.
Related cultivars
Flavor twins across Freshie
Drinks and foods across Freshie that share Shui Xian’s flavor fingerprint — matched on shared flavor axes via the Freshie Taste Graph.