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Shui Jin Gui

水金龟, Golden Water Turtle

6.9/10 editor's score

A Wuyi oolong from Mount Wuyi in Fujian, whose name means "golden water turtle". It is one of the Si Da Ming Cong, the four famous teas of Wuyi.

WuyiFamous bushChina
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Shui Jin Gui, top-down

What you need

3 g leafShui Jin Gui
250 ml water95 to 100°C
Steep 1:003 steeps
LiquorAmber to orange
Served inYixing clay teapot

At a glance

A Wuyi oolong from Mount Wuyi in Fujian, whose name means "golden water turtle".

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit6.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpringSpring leaf.
Pairs withNuts, Dried fruit, Roast meatsLess good with delicate fish
Grown atWuyi mountainsidesWuyi Mountains, Fujian
Served inYixing clay teapotSmall clay pot, tiny cups

About Shui Jin Gui

What sources say about the taste

Sources note it brews an amber to orange colour 1; they do not describe the taste in detail.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Wuyi MountainsFujianCHINA
Name
"Golden water turtle" 1
Region
Mount Wuyi, Fujian 1
Status
One of the Si Da Ming Cong 1
Cup
Amber to orange 1

More from Wuyi Mountains and China.

History and culture

Wuyi teas are prized for the terroir of the mountainsides where they grow 2.

Some Wuyi cultivars carry the special "cong" or "Famous Bush" designation 2.

Editor's score

6.9/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 7.5Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 5.5Value: 6.0Beginner-friendliness: 6.0Versatility: 6.5Flavour 7.5Heritage 8.5Availability 5.5Value 6.0Beginners 6.0Versatility 6.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Shui Jin Gui~30 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Our general guide for Wuyi oolong. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

A Wuyi oolong cultivar 12.

How it is made
01Withering

Softened.

02Tossing

Bruised.

03Oxidation

Partial.

04Rolling

Twisted.

05Firing

Dried with heat.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafDark twisted strips.
LiquorAmber to orange 1.
After steeping
Wet leafLarge brown leaves.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Nuts
  • Dried fruit
  • Roast meats

Best avoided

  • Delicate fish

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Graded by garden and fire.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Lower yields on the slopes make Wuyi teas costly 2.
  2. Most Wuyi tea on sale is commercial grade from lower elevations 2.
FAQ
What are the Si Da Ming Cong?

The four famous teas of Wuyi; Shui Jin Gui is one of them 1.

Find it inOolong teasTeas from ChinaWuyi MountainsWuyiFamous bushChina

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Shui Jin Gui tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shui_Jin_Gui_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Wuyi tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuyi_tea
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.