Verdant Tea

2021 Sparrow's Tongue (Que She)

2021 Sparrow's Tongue (Que She)

CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK
banner
Rare, hand-fired varietal oolong
Deep, mineral-driven reserve-level Sparrows Tongue varietal oolong with intense cooling, tingling aftertaste. Notes of dried mango, nutmeg, candied rose petals and toasted chestnut.
May 2021 ♦ Wuyishan, Fujian
Rare, hand-fired varietal oolong
Deep, mineral-driven reserve-level Sparrows Tongue varietal oolong with intense cooling, tingling aftertaste. Notes of dried mango, nutmeg, candied rose petals and toasted chestnut.
May 2021 ♦ Wuyishan, Fujian
Loading...

Crafted By the Li Family

Hand-picked and traditionally hand-finished within the true Wuyishan Ecological Preserve on forested biodiverse, rocky, mountainous land for distinct Wuyi minerality.
 
The Li Family is an award-winning, highly respected force for sustainability, hand-firing craft, rare varietal preservation, and tea education in Wuyishan.
    • DATE OF PICKINGMay 2021
    • Wuyishan Ecological PreserveWuyishan, Fujian
    • ELEVATION600 METERS
    • Que SheTea Varietal

    Fruity, rich, and cooling 

    Sparrow's Tongue, or Que She is named after the shorter, smaller leaves of this distinctive and uncommon Wuyi tea varietal. Sipping Que She is a strong example of "Yun": each infusion brings out more and more of an almost electrical tingling sensation on the tongue and back of the throat. This sensation is inherent to the highest quality leaf from older established tea stock growing in the right rocky conditions in Wuyishan, but it is brought out by slow low-temperature firing in bamboo baskets for fifteen hours at a time, resting several weeks and repeating four to six times. This year's Sparrow's Tongue Oolong has notes of dried mango, rose, chestnut and nutmeg. 

  • true
    80
    elderberry, dried mango
    true
    65
    fennel, mint, nutmeg
    true
    40
    candied rose petals
    true
    50
    toasted chestnut
    false
    50
    toasted almond
    true
    thick, limestone, cooling

    Tasting Profile

    • fruit - elderberry, dried mango
    • spice - fennel, mint, nutmeg
    • floral - candied rose petals
    • savory - toasted chestnut
    • texture - thick, limestone, cooling

  • 'Wuyi is legendary. Any great Chinese art collection will be full of inkbrush paintings of the misty mountain peaks that make up Wuyi. Visiting Wuyi evokes the feeling of finally meeting someone that you have read about for years. The rocks of Wuyi aren’t just famous for the inspiration they gave to great Song dynasty painters. The true legends involve magic, and of course, Wuyi tea.'

the Li Family also recommends:

  1. 2022 Black Buds Jin Jun Mei
    2022 Black Buds Jin Jun Mei
    Xingcun Xiaozhong varietal tea in Wuyishan can produce black and gold buds. While the golden bud expression has been encouraged through cultivation for its stunning color, Li Xiangxi and her family often prefer the depth and complexity of black buds. This tea still uses the same tiny buds and the same meticulous hand-picking as their golden buds Jin Jun Mei, but with a more spiced and savory flavor profile.
  2. 2022 Fei Zi Xiao
    2022 Fei Zi Xiao
    This intriguing varietal is sometimes literally translated as Concubine’s Smile (or laugh), but in reality, the tea gets its name from the Feizi Xiao (妃子笑) fruit, a type of lychee so loved by a royal consort that it always made her smile. The name couldn't be more accurate for this stunning varieties, which truly tastes like lychee and peaches. An already luscious varietal gains even more complexity and nuance in the Mr. Li’s capable hands, finished with traditional sun-oxidation and gently fired. The minerality of the Li Family’s volcanic soil comes through beautifully, along with an impressive jasmine and honey aromatic complexity.
  3. 2022 Qilan
    2022 Qilan

    Qilan varieties is almost legendary for its deep luscious orchid notes and its subtle incense spice. The Li Family cultivates established 40+ year Qilan bushes on their rocky volcanic mountainside plot in the Wuyishan Ecological Preserve, letting the tea build complexity through biodiverse plantings, and carefully preserved natural forest cover. They hand-pick their Qilan and expertly bring out the florals through hand-crafting over a meticulous 12 hour turning and fluffing process called yaoqing. The careful and restrained roast on this Qilan really allows the florals to shine through, bolstered by the rocky minerality that the Li Family’s teas are famous for.

  • 4
    6
    208
    40 seconds
    30
    5
    6
    208
    15-20 seconds
    15
    5
    12
    room temp
    8 hours

    Steeping Instructions

    Western

    4 g.6
    oz.
    use 208° watersteep 40 secondsresteep many times
    add 30 sec. each infusion

    Gongfu

    5 g.6 ozuse 208° watersteep 15-20 seconds
    add 15 sec. per steeping
    enjoy many steepings

    Iced/Cold

    5 g.12
    oz.
    use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
    8 hours
    add ice & enjoy

Product Photo Gallery