Various varieties from Fujian

Fo Shou, Qi Lan, Ban Tian Yao, Wu Yi Zhong, Ai Jiao Wu Long, Rui Xiang, Jin Guan Yin, Huang Guan Yin, Jin Mu Dan

Older varieties or newer tea plant breeds for Oolong from Wuyishan, which are planted in various places. Black tea is often also produced from these plants.

  • Fo Shou (“Buddha's Hand”) or Xiang Yuan (“Lemon”), after the citrus fruit called Foshou. This looks like a giant hand with many fingers. Foshou is grown in China and Taiwan. It is processed in the Fujian province in Yongchun in the style of Anxi Oolong and in Wuyishan as Wuyi Rock Tea; in Taiwan (especially Shiding) as green ball leaf Oolong or as medium oxidized and roasted Bao Zhong.

  • Qi Lan (“Special Orchid”) or Bai Ya Qi Lan (“White Bud Special Orchid”) was developed in the 1990s in Pinghe, Fujian Province on the border with Guangdong Province. It is grown in this area and a little further away in Wuyishan (Fujian), even in Taiwan; processed either as ball-shaped Oolong or as Wuyi Rock Tea.

  • Ban Tian Yao (“Spirit Halfway to Heaven”) were originally wild tea plants on inaccessible rocky slopes in Wuyishan, which were then propagated vegetatively.

  • Wu Yi Zhong (“Wuyi Variety”) comes from Wuyishan and was introduced to Taiwan between 1850 and 1900 by immigrants from the mainland and was mainly grown in Mingjian; today it is very rare. It is not known whether it still exists in Wuyishan or whether it corresponds to another variety.

  • Ai Jiao Wu Long (“Small Foot Oolong”) is a local, rather small-leaf variety originally from Jian'ou (south of Wuyishan) and is grown in Wuyishan and processed into Wuyi Rock Tea.

  • Rui Xiang (“Daphne”) is a newer tea plant variety that was developed in Wuyishan in the early 2000s from a naturally grown single bush of the Huangdan variety using cuttings.

  • Jin Guan Yin (“Golden Buddha of Mercy”) is a cross between Tie Guan Yin and Huang Dan. It is grown in Anxi, Wuyishan and other areas of Fujian and processed as ball-shaped leaf Oolong or Wuyi Rock Tea. Black tea is now also made from it. Bred from 1978-1999 by the Agricultural Science Institute of Fujian Province.

  • Huang Guan Yin (“Yellow Buddha of Mercy”) is a cross between Huang Dan and Tie Guan Yin. Released in 1998 by the Fujian Provincial Agricultural Science Institute.

  • Jin Mu Dan (“Golden Peony”) is another cross between Tie Guan Yin and Huang Dan that can be used for Oolong and black tea. Bred from 1978-2002 by the Fujian Provincial Agricultural Science Institute.