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
Ordinary and old-bush Shui Xian. Bush age produces a real difference in body, and the claim is unverifiable by a buyer at any price.
Point by point
| Dimension | Wuyi Shui Xian | Lao Cong Shui Xian |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting. medium roast, bud and three plus and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. heavy roast and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Wuyi Mountains | China — Wuyi Mountains |
| Flavour | woody, creamy, roasted and sweet. full bodied, silky and rich in the mouth. Aroma: narcissus, damp wood, coconut, caramel. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. | mineral, woody and roasted. full bodied, rich and complex in the mouth. Aroma: wet stone, moss, dried longan, sandalwood. Layered in character. Bold in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 12s of 6 authored. Gongfu brewing (Yixing pot): 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 | Lao Cong (old bush) Shui Xian commands a large premium on the strength of bush age, which the buyer has no way to verify. The mossy, woody character the term describes is real and identifiable; the age claim attached to it is not checkable. | Bush age is unverifiable by a buyer and 'lao cong' appears on far more labels than the old plantings can supply. |
| Who may prefer it | 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. | 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. |
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.