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 minor Fujian cultivars made as charcoal-roasted strip oolong, both thick and unusual and neither widely recognised. Mei Zhan is a Wuyi tea and Fo Shou is a Yongchun one made in the same style, which is part of why they get mixed up.
Point by point
| Dimension | Yongchun Fo Shou | Wuyi Mei Zhan |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. medium roast and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. medium roast and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Yongchun | China — Wuyi Mountains |
| Flavour | citrus, roasted and woody. full bodied and rich in the mouth. Aroma: citrus peel, toasted grain, warm wood. Moderate in character. Bold in intensity. | fruity, roasted and mineral. full bodied and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: plum, toasted grain, mineral. Moderate 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 (Yixing pot): 5.5–7.5 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 8s of 7 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. Gongfu brewing (Yixing pot): 5.5–7.5 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 8s of 7 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 has drunk enough tea to notice what changes between infusions. 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.