The 2023 version continues using the same excellent old arbor raw material as in previous productions and is roasted to a perfect level, of which a first-class LCSX would be proud, showcasing the highest roasting skill in the entire collection. However, if you have preferenc for slightly lighter roasting, the 2022 version may better suit your palate. Find value options in Shui Xian Parties.
(Updated in June 2024)
 
We proudly continue providing the new version 2022 of this most impressive Yancha. The Moss 2022 version is in the exactly same quality as the previous 2021 version, but slightly lighter toasted, which endows the tea more floral hints, some particular fragrance based on the Lao Cong falvors. 
(Updated in April 2023)
 
Lao Cong Shui Xian means old arbor Shui Xian, however, to be a Lao Cong Shui Xian, the trees have to meet two conditions:  being over 50 years old; being never pruned. 
 
Lao (old) Cong (arbor) Shui Xian is provided with all the characteristics of the Shui Xian varietal, including the typical orchid fragrance, although which is no longer as marked as in an ordinary Shui Xian, instead, the peculiar "Cong" flavor (Cong Wei) stands out. Unlike the pruned short bushes, and being tall and old arbors, this type of plantation has deeply lignified, and is often covered with moss on the trunk as you can see in the photos, thus the "Cong" flavor usually comes out as moss notes, woody notes and/or dried bamboo leaf notes, which are not used to appear in the pruned Shui Xian bushes.
 
Besides the moss notes as its name suggests, our “2021 The Moss” presents all the typical characters of Lao Cong Shui Xian. Once the dry leaves are placed into a pre-heated Gaiwan, the charming fragrance floats up, both floral and fruity. In the first a few infusions, the tea reveals itself the full range of features of a high-quality Shui Xian, elegant aromas, thick and harmonic flavors, smooth and round texture...then after 3 or 4 infusions, the particular "Cong" flavor appears, both in the liquor and the steeped leaves, and lingers long even in the sweetness of the last infusions.
 
Our Lao Cong Shui Xian comes from Xiao Jia Wan (萧家湾), in Wuyi mountains. Among Wuyi tea people and tea merchants, Xiao Jia Wan has been a well-known location of Lao Cong Shui Xian since long time ago. It was home to large areas of Lao Cong, many of which were planted in the 1940s, sadly the flash floods in 1993 destroyed some of the plantations. During the 1970s and 1980s, even into the early 1990s, often tea farmers in Wu San Di (吴三地), which is the most popular location of Lao Cong today, passed off their Lao Cong Shui Xian as products of Xiao Jia Wan, thus showing how important Xiao Jia Wan was in the history of this variety.