Yu Yan Lao Cong Qi Lan Tea Review | Lovely Light, And Floral

Yu Yan Lao Cong Qi Lan Tea Review Summary

Yu Yan Lao Cong Qi Lan Detailed Tea Review

Overview:

The Lao Cong Qi Lan is one of my favorite teas from Yu Yan’s rock tea sampler.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Wuyi rock teas are rare oolong teas that come from the Wuyi mountains of China.

They are especially famous for their rich mineral content, which you can also taste in the tea.

The Lao Cong Qi Lan, in particular, is from the Qi Lan cultivar.

Lao Cong means ‘old bush’.

This generally means that the tree from which the tea was harvested is at least over 50 years old. The older age of the trees provides more complex flavors and notes to the tea.

Qi Lan translates to ‘rare or wild orchid’.

This is because this tea has fragrant, floral notes similar to those of an orchid, which you can pick up almost immediately after your first sip, even if you’re not great at identifying flavors.

This is one of the reasons the Qi Lan stood out to me compared to the other teas I’ve tried in Yu Yan’s rock tea sampler.

Most of the flavor in Wuyi rock teas is in the aftertaste and is characterized by woody, earthy, and intense flavors.

But the Qi Lan is different with its fragrant, flowery aroma that you get right from the start. And because of its light, floral, and slightly fruity character, many deem it a ‘summer tea’.

So now that you’ve got a nice introduction to the Lao Cong Qi Lan tea, let’s get into the review!

In this article, we will explore:

• Brewing Conditions
• Aroma
• Taste
• Packaging
• Value for Money
• Caffeine Level
• Food Pairings
• About Yu Yan
• Where to Buy

Brewing Conditions:

The Yu Yan rock tea packets usually come in packs of 8.3g and are generally meant to be used in a single tea session. Two to three people can easily enjoy multiple infusions.

Many people brew rock teas in boiling water to bring out more of the mineral content. However, I find that this makes the tea a little too bitter for my liking. 

I recommend brewing the 8.3g of tea leaves in 200 ml of water at 90-93°C to get a nice balance of flavor and mineral content. 

For the first infusion, brew the tea for 3-5 seconds. With each subsequent infusion, you can increase the infusion time by 2-3 seconds.

Aroma (5/5):

Immediately, as I opened the Lao Cong Qi Lan packet, I was hit with a really wonderful smell.

The tea leaves are very fragrant with the same earthy, woody notes that I’ve gotten from other rock teas, but with a hint of floral.

When you brew the tea, you get the same aroma, which is very soothing.

Taste (5/5):

First infusion (5 sec)

As I took the first sip of the Lao Cong Qi Lan tea, I was surprised.

With the previous teas, the body was very mild and mellow, and most of the flavor came in the aftertaste. But here, right from the first sip, I got hit with a strong herbal, vegetal flavor.

And honestly, it was just really nice. I don’t know how else to say it. I just really liked this one.

There’s also this soft, subtle spiciness that reminded me a bit of the smell of henna. Very comforting and familiar in a weird way.

If you take your time sipping and let the tea sit a bit in your cup, it keeps evolving, and you start noticing new layers of flavor, which was really fun.

Second infusion and subsequent ones

Here’s where the story turns tragic. I was recording my tea brewing session for all you fine folks who like to watch my Ig reels when my phone ran out of storage.

Unfortunately, it took me forever to delete stuff from my phone and get back to recording, and by then a long time had passed between my first and second infusion. So the second brew turned bitter.

For my third brew, I let it brew for 10 seconds. It was a bit too mild for my liking after that incredible first cup.

I don’t know if this is scientific, but it’s possible that letting the leaves sit for too long also dampened the flavor.

So do as I say and not as I do. You don’t want to leave hot, wet tea leaves unattended for too long between sessions. If you must, then make sure you leave the gaiwan lid open to let the steam escape.

Also, note to self: always make sure you have enough device storage before you hit record. 😅

Packaging and Sourcing (4/5):

The Lao Cong Qi Lan from Yu Yan comes in a beautiful, rich plum-colored aluminium packet with a clean, minimalist design.

The aroma is preserved really well, and you get hit with it immediately the moment you open the packet, which I always appreciate.

According to the packaging, if stored properly in a cool, dark place, this Qi Lan can be enjoyed for up to 10 years, which says a lot about the tea’s quality and packaging.

The tea itself is packed in a sustainable aluminium packet, which is great to see. That said, the outer box for the 12-pack is still plastic, which is a bit of a downside from an environmental perspective.

This Lao Cong Qi Lan is sourced from the Wuyi Mountains, where Yu Yan grows their own tea.

Value for Money (4.5/5):

On their website, a 12-pack of Lao Cong Qi Lan (2023 harvest) costs around RM280, which breaks down to roughly RM23 per packet (~USD 5).

For a tea of this quality, that’s honestly great value for money.

Each packet gives you multiple infusions and is easily enough to share with a few people, so you’re getting quite a lot out of each one.

Caffeine Level: High

This one definitely has a higher caffeine kick.

I felt pretty awake and alert after a few cups, but in a good way. It’s more of a focused, clean energy rather than jittery.

Food Pairings:

Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Qi Lan tea is best enjoyed on its own, so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience. However, it would go well with dried fruits like apricots and plums.

About the brand | Yu Yan:

Yu Yan is a heritage tea brand that dates all the way back to 1904, with tea gardens spread across the misty slopes of the Wuyi Mountains, which is basically the birthplace of Wuyi rock tea.

There’s something really nice about knowing the tea comes from such a historically rich region.

The brand is led by Fan Youmei, who comes from a long line of tea masters and still uses traditional charcoal roasting, which is what gives these teas their depth and signature aroma.

In 2005, her daughter Yu Xi Hua brought Yu Yan to Malaysia, opening the Yu Yan Da Hong Pao tea shop on Jalan Sultan, making these teas way more accessible locally.

Today, Yu Yan focuses on three main types:

• Wuyi Rock Tea
• Jianyang White Tea
• Tongmuguan Black Tea

After trying a few of their rock teas, I’m genuinely excited to explore more from them. If you’d like to learn about other excellent teas from Yu Yan, you can check out my Rou Gui and Tie Luo Han reviews.

Where to Buy Yu Yan Lao Cong Qi Lan Tea:

You can get Yu Yan teas in person if you’re in Kuala Lumpur, or order directly from their website.

One thing to note: the plum-colored Qi Lan packet I had doesn’t seem to be available anymore. It’s possible mine was from a previous harvest that’s now sold out.

That said, they do have Lao Cong Qi Lan from the 2023 harvest available, and you can try that. Do let me know how you like it!

From what I can tell, they don’t currently offer international shipping. If you’re outside Malaysia, it might still be worth reaching out to them via Facebook or Instagram to check.

I’ve also seen some Yu Yan teas on Lazada, but I’m not 100% sure if those are official sellers, so just something to be mindful of.