Zui Gui Fei
Regular price
$26.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Control humidity: Avoid storing tea in conditions that are either too dry or too humid.
Keep it cool: Store tea in a cool place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep in mind that display cabinet lights can also produce heat.
Protect from light: Avoid using transparent containers whenever possible.
Limit exposure to air: Keep tea well sealed and avoid opening the container more often than necessary.
After we receive your order, we will process your package within 48 hours and hand it over to our international shipping partner. We will also send your tracking number by email. At this stage, tracking information may not be available yet.
Once the shipping partner receives the package, it usually takes 1–3 days (excluding Sundays) for them to process and dispatch it. Tracking information will begin to update after the package has been dispatched.
Delivery usually takes around 7–18 days from the date of dispatch.
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What are the “roots” of Rooteas?
Family-made
Wuyi Yancha is what our own family makes in Wuyishan, and it is the tea we work with most closely. We know the growing areas and tea plants firsthand, as well as the decisions that go into processing and roasting. For the small number of other teas we carry, we work with tea-making families we know personally and whose work we know well.
Single-origin
Wuyi Yancha carries the influence of where it is grown. Wuyishan has a particular growing environment shaped by its rocky terrain, soil, climate, sunlight, and moisture, and these conditions are an important part of what makes Wuyi Yancha what it is. Together with cultivar, processing, and roasting, they all play a part in the aroma, texture, and overall character of the finished tea.
Transparency
We try to keep the information about our teas simple and clear. We share where each tea comes from, what tea plant it is made from, and how it was processed and roasted, so you have a clear idea of what you're drinking.
- Name: Zui Gui Fei (“Drunken Noble Consort”)
- Chinese name & Pinyin: 醉贵妃 zuì guì fēi
- Type: Wuyi Rock Oolong
- Origin: Wuyishan, Fujian
- Harvest Time: Spring, 2025
- Roast Level: Medium fire ("zhōng huǒ", "中火")
Click to learn more about our roast levels
- Producer: Xiao Family
- Tasting note: Elegant floral notes, Creamy caramel, a hint of fruit
This Zui Gui Fei is processed with a slow charcoal roast to preserve its distinctive cultivar aroma. Fast, high heat is avoided so its more delicate aromatics are not driven off. Instead, the tea is finished over a steady medium charcoal fire, allowing its signature floral character to remain clear and intact. For those who prefer yancha with elegant florals, this Zui Gui Fei offers a more graceful, floral-led expression.
A Descendant of Wuyi Cai Cha
Zui Gui Fei is a descendant of wǔ yí cài chá (“武夷菜茶”, botanical name: Camellia sinensis var. bohea, it refers to the locally native, seed-propagated tea population of the Wuyishan). It was gradually developed by tea farmers from the group of wǔ yí cài chá through single-bush selection.
Story of the Name
The name Zui Gui Fei (“Drunken Noble Consort”, “醉贵妃”) brings to mind Yang Yuhuan, the famed noble consort of the Tang dynasty. In Chinese culture, the figure of the Gui Fei (“Noble Consort”, “贵妃”) carries associations of beauty, grace, and a lush elegance. Naming a tea this way draws on that image to express the tea’s character. It may also reflect the experience of drinking it. Rather than making a bold first impression, the tea opens slowly and elegantly, with aroma and returning sweetness unfolding in layers and lingering gently on the palate. In that sense, “Zui Gui Fei” suggests not only the graceful beauty of the noble consort, but also the soft, lingering charm the tea leaves behind.
Another interpretation is that the name comes from the posture of the tea plant itself. Its branches are soft and spreading, and its leaves are green and glossy. Altogether, the tea plant has a light, graceful, almost dance-like presence. It is easy to see how this could call to mind the image of a noble consort slightly zuì (“drunken”, “醉”), moving with a relaxed and elegant air.
Tea: 8g
Gaiwan: 110–150ml
Water Temperature: 100°C / 212°F
(When possible, use spring water, purified water, or good-quality mineral water. Avoid using very hard water)
Use flash steeping (pour out the tea in about 3s). Do not oversteep. As the flavor begins to fade, extend each infusion by 5–10s as needed.
Note: Be sure to pour out the tea soup completely after each infusion. Do not let it sit in the gaiwan.
(Adjust the tea amount and steeping time to suit your own taste.)
