Que She (雀舌)

Que She means "sparrow's tongue" and is named for the shape of the leaves, which are small and pointed. The origins of the cultivar are not entirely clear but it seems that the original plant is a seed produced by one of the Da Hong Pao mother trees, that was collected in the 1980's.

Growing Characteristics: Leaves are 6.5 to 7.5 cm long and 2.1 to 2.5 cm wide. Generally dark green with a slightly lifted surface. The tip is sharp with deep and dense teeth. The leaf body is folded inwards. Medium-low yield, though with good fold and drought resistance.[1]

Tea Character: The finished tea is known for the long fragrance and mellow sweet soup. The color is bright orange. Spring tea picked one bud and two leaves contains tea polyphenols 34.3%, amino acids 3.5%, caffeine 3.7%, flavonoids 0.56%, and water 47.0%.[1]

References

1. Scans and figures from "Illustration of Chinese Oolong Tea" pages 290 and 291