03 Dec All You Need To Know About Lan Gui Ren Oolong
Lan Gui Ren oolong is a blend of ground ginseng and liquorice, compressed with tea leaves, which is how it acquires its distinctive, pebble-like shape
Si Ji Chun is a Taiwanese cultivar of Camellia Sinensis, which is used to make Lan Gui Ren oolong. Also known as The Queen Orchid or Ginseng oolong, this tea is predominantly produced in Fujian Province near the Wuyi Mountains.
Origin
Lan Gui Ren is considered to be a relatively modern tea variety.
However, the combination of tea and ginseng is ancient as time and was first mentioned in a historical Chinese scripture, “本草拾遗”, from 741 BC.
Ginseng oolong became a royal drink around 500 years ago and was served as a tribute tea to the emperor.
It explains why it is also sometimes called “King’s tea” or “Orchid Beauty” which refers to an emperor’s concubine in the Tang Dynasty.
Flavour
Lan Gui Ren Oolong has a wonderful, floral aroma, reminiscent of fresh orchids with an invigorating woody flavour and a lingering sweet aftertaste.
Liquorice
Liquorice, also known as Glycyrrhiza, is a flowering perennial growing up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, which is native to Eurasia.
Glycyrrhiza comes from the Ancient Greek words: glykys and rhiza, meaning “sweet” and “root”.
Licorice root has been a popular remedy for a long time and has been used in ancient herbal medicine in China, Egypt, as well as Central Europe.
It’s also used as a sweetener, as it is 50 times sweeter than sugar!
The plants are harvested by digging up the roots and either squeezing their juice, which is then boiled down to an extract or by simply drying the roots, which can then be either milled into powder or boiled in water.
Ginseng
Ginseng is well-known for its roots, which look very similar to ginger.
It has long been used in traditional medicine in several Asian and Native American cultures.
Asian ginseng is also known as Panax ginseng. It is cold-resistant and can be up to 8 inches tall. Today, Asian ginseng is mostly found in the remote mountains of Korea, China, and Russia.
Panax, ginseng’s genus name derives from the Greek word panacea.
The American ginseng was used by the Iroquois and Mohegans as a fertility drug, painkiller, anti-emetic, and psychiatric drug.
In Asia, it is used for treating colds and fatigue. It also promotes stamina, strength, concentration, and memory. It is said to relieve anxiety, hot flashes, and respiratory disorders as well as slow down the ageing process.
Brewing tips
Here are some brewing tips to help you get the most enjoyment out of your Lan Gui Ren oolong.
The “Western style”
Steep 3 grams ( 1 tbsp) per 350ml (teapro infuser glass) water at 80°C.
Infuse for 2-3 minutes for the first infusion and around 3-6 minutes for a second and a third times.
The “Asian style” or “Gong-fu”
Steep 6 grams (2 tbsp) in 150ml water (medium sized Gaiwan) at 80°C for approximately 20-30 seconds.
Infuse 6-8 times and add 5-10 seconds for each consecutive re-steep.
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