Buy Jin Suo Shi Yan Cha Wu Long (Oolong) | Loose Leaf Tea

Jin Suo Shi 金鎖匙 Wu Yi Yan Cha loose leaf oolong tea

$59.00

This tea belongs to the Wu Yi Yan Cha tradition.

From Ma Tou Yan in Spring 2024, Jin Suo Shi—the “Golden Key”—is a small-leaf indigenous cultivar known for exceptional aroma. Its strong identity traditionally excludes it from blended Da Hong Pao, allowing its lavish, bold character to stand on its own. Dry basil and mint move through slaty, metallic minerality and floral notes, finishing with a glamorous shimmer.

This tea’s region can also be experienced in the field through the Educational Tea Tour — Wu Yi Shan.

This tea is featured in Wu Long Guided Tastings — Yan Cha, an on-demand paid course on Udemy.

Tea Drunk ClassicThe best tea of each vintage.

Jin Suo Shi, the “Golden Key,” is a small-leaf indigenous Wu Yi Shan cultivar known for its exceptional aroma. Ma Tou Yan, a classic Yang and showy terroir, doubles down on the cultivar’s lavish personality, making it an unstoppable, dazzling presence in the cup.

The Three Pillars · 金鎖匙

Place · terroir

Ma Tou Yan, Wu Yi Shan, Fu Jian Province, China

Plant · cultivar

Jin Suo Shi

Craft · type

Wu Long · Yan Cha

In the cup

This vintage

Ma Tou Yan · Spring 2024

Dry basil and mint weave through slaty, metallic minerality and floral notes. A pronounced sour feeling—not a sour taste—gives Ma Tou Yan’s showier character extra tension before a glamorous, shimmering finish.

Lavishly aromatic and bold across the palate, with enough character to stand apart rather than disappear into a blend. It dazzles through the palate and exits with glamorous shimmers.

The making

The leaves are sun-wilted and repeatedly shaken through the night to guide fermentation. In the morning, they undergo Sha Qing, applying high temperature to lock the tea in the desired fermentation stage. During Zuo Xing, or shape making, the leaves are rolled into string shape and baked dry. After the stems and yellow leaves are removed, the tea is finished through slow charcoal roasting.

How to brew

Brewing instructions for Jin Suo Shi 金鎖匙

History & significance

Jin Suo Shi is so characterful that it is traditionally excluded as an ingredient in blended Da Hong Pao; its strong identity deserves to be experienced on its own.

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