Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
Two of the four famous Wuyi rock varietals, both heavily roasted and mineral. Distinguishing them blind is difficult even for experienced drinkers, and the names carry more weight than the differences.
Point by point
| Dimension | Tie Luo Han | Shui Jin Gui |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting. heavy roast, bud and three plus and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting. medium roast, bud and three plus and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Wuyi Mountains | China — Wuyi Mountains |
| Flavour | roasted, mineral, woody and earthy. full bodied and rich in the mouth. Aroma: charcoal, dried herbs, wet stone, dark caramel. Layered in character. Bold in intensity. | floral, roasted, mineral and fruity. full bodied, smooth and rich in the mouth. Aroma: osmanthus, caramel, wet stone, dried apricot. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 10s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 10s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Not recorded for this tea. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants the cup to assert itself and is willing to drink something several times before it makes sense. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and has drunk enough tea to notice what changes between infusions. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.