The leaves for this Oolong speciality are harvested in fall only from Qi Lan tea bushes. “Qi Lan” denotes “extraordinary orchid“. According to legends, the Qi Lan bushes were called this way after an Oolong tea with orchid-like fragrance was produced for the first time by using the Qi Lan leaves. The tea type “Tie Guan Yin”, which is produced from bushes of the same name, is also famous for this fragrance.
Even though the En Shi Qi Lan is not produced by using Tie Guan Yin leaves, it was rated as “Shu Cha Tie Guan Yin“. Shu Cha Tie Guan Yin teas are known for their – compared to Sheng Cha Tie Guan Yin teas – more complex fruit notes and their longer lasting fine flowery shades. Accordingly, the complex fruit notes also show themselves through the minimal roasting in this En Shi Qi Lan (= Qi Lan Tie Guan Yin) and the fine flowery shades are also enjoyably long lasting.