Feizi Xiao Black Tea: The 1 Legendary “Concubine Smile” Tea from Wuyi Mountain

From the misty, protected peaks of Wuyi Mountain’s Tongmu Guan—the hallowed birthplace of all black tea—emerges a legend so enchanting, it once moved an emperor. Junxistea is honored to present our exquisite Feizi Xiao Black Tea, poetically known as “Concubine Smile.” This is not merely a tea; it is a captured moment of imperial delight and a natural marvel. Imagine the intoxicating, honey-sweet fragrance of sun-ripened lychee fruit, not from added flavorings, but born entirely from the leaf itself through a perfect alchemy of unique terroir, a special tea cultivar, and ancient craftsmanship. Our Feizi Xiao Black Tea is crafted from a late-spring harvest of the precious Qizhong tea bushes, processed with the revered techniques of Lapsang Souchong but with even greater finesse to preserve its delicate fruity soul. The result is a black tea of mesmerizing aroma and sublime taste. The dry leaf whispers of lychee, wildflower honey, and ripe stone fruits. Once brewed, it yields a luminous, radiant amber-red liquor. The first sip is a revelation—silky smooth, with a natural sweetness that unfolds into distinct, vibrant notes of fresh lychee, succulent peach, and rich honey, culminating in a clean, lasting floral finish. This 250g tin holds more than tea; it contains the essence of a mountain spring and a thousand-year-old romance, offering an unforgettable Naturally Fragrant Black Tea experience that is both luxuriously complex and joyously approachable. This is the taste of a smile, preserved.

The Legend of the Smile: A Story Woven in Tea and Poetry

The name Feizi Xiao Black Tea (妃子笑红茶), translating to “Concubine Smile,” is steeped in one of China’s most enduring and romantic tales from the Tang Dynasty. The story recounts Emperor Xuanzong’s deep love for his precious consort, Yang Guifei. It is said that Yang Guifei adored the fresh lychee fruit from the southern region of Lingnan. To see her smile, the emperor commanded a royal relay of fast horses and riders to transport the precious, perishable fruit over thousands of miles, from the southern orchards to the capital city of Chang’an. The mere sight of the treasured lychees would bring a radiant, beloved smile to her face. Our Feizi Xiao Black Tea captures the spirit of this legendary pursuit of perfection and joy. Just as the fresh lychee brought a smile to the consort, the astonishing natural lychee aroma of this tea brings a moment of pure delight to the drinker. Crafted in the pristine, protected ecosystem of the Tongmu Guan reserve within Wuyi Mountain—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—this tea inherits a terroir of unparalleled purity. The high altitude, mineral-rich volcanic soil, constant mist, and significant temperature variation stress the Qizhong tea bushes in the optimal way, encouraging them to produce leaves brimming with the complex aromatic compounds that express as lychee and honey. This is a Chinese Fruity Black Tea where history, poetry, and nature’s perfection converge in your cup. To drink it is to partake in a legacy of beauty and desire, making every sip a truly imperial experience.

The Art of Capturing a Scent: Crafting Feizi Xiao Black Tea

Creating a Feizi Xiao Black Tea with such a pronounced, natural fragrance is a meticulous ballet of precision timing and generations-old technique. It is a process that respects the leaf’s innate potential, gently guiding it to express its hidden lychee soul.

1. The Late Spring Harvest: Unlike most premium teas picked in early spring for tenderness, the leaves for true Feizi Xiao Black Tea are harvested slightly later. This allows the leaves and buds of the Qizhong cultivar to mature further under the strengthening sun, accumulating a higher concentration of aromatic compounds, amino acids, and sugars. This crucial foundation is what will later develop into the distinctive, intense lychee and honey flavor profile.

2. The Gentle Wither: The freshly plucked leaves are thinly and evenly spread in a well-ventilated, temperature-controlled room. This withering process allows the leaves to lose moisture gently and slowly. Enzymatic activity begins, starting the biochemical transformations that develop the tea’s foundational flavors. For this Naturally Fragrant Black Tea, the withering conditions are meticulously managed to encourage the formation of fruity esters and floral aromatics, setting the precise stage for the lychee character to emerge.

3. The Precise Roll and Oxidation: The withered leaves are lightly rolled. This bruises the leaf edges just enough to release the juices and cellular enzymes, initiating the vital process of oxidation. Here, the magic deepens. The polyphenols interact with oxygen, turning the leaves from green to a coppery red and building the tea’s body, color, and malty-sweet base notes. For Feizi Xiao Black Tea, the tea master monitors this oxidation with extreme care, stopping it at the perfect moment to preserve the volatile top notes of lychee and peach while ensuring a robust, sweet finish without astringency.

4. The Low-Temperature Finish: The final, critical step is drying. The oxidized leaves are dried using lower temperatures than those used for standard black teas. This gentle application of heat halts all enzymatic activity (fixation) without scorching the leaves or driving off the delicate, volatile compounds that carry the precious lychee aroma. It locks in the scent. The result is the finished Feizi Xiao Black Tea: dark, tightly twisted leaves interspersed with golden tips, exuding a captivating, natural fragrance of lychee, honey, and dried fruit, ready to be sealed in its protective 250g tin to preserve every nuanced note for your pot.

Feizi Xiao Black Tea: A 5-Stage Journey of Sensory Discovery

1. The Dry Leaf: An Aromatic Prelude

Open the 250g tin. The first encounter is olfactory. A rich, sweet, and unmistakably fruity aroma wafts out—dominated by the scent of fresh lychee and ripe peach, underpinned by deep notes of wildflower honey and a hint of dried longan. The leaves themselves are dark, slender, and tightly twisted with visible golden tips, a sign of careful processing and high-grade material.

2. The Awakening: The Rinse and First Pour

Pour hot water (90-95°C / 194-203°F is ideal) over the leaves. An immediate, intense burst of sweet, floral-fruity steam rises, filling the space with the scent of a lychee orchard in full bloom. The tightly wound leaves begin to unfurl slowly, revealing their coppery-red oxidation.

3. The Liquor: A Visual Symphony

The brewed tea yields a liquor of stunning clarity and vibrant color. It is a luminous, bright amber-red, like a clear gemstone held to the light. The liquid is not murky but brilliantly transparent, indicating skilled processing and high-quality leaves.

4. The Flavor & Aroma Symphony

This is where the legend comes alive on the palate. The first sip is remarkably smooth and round, with no astringency. The flavor profile is a complex, evolving melody:

First Sip: A wave of natural, candy-like lychee sweetness hits immediately, clean and vibrant.

Mid-Palate: The taste deepens, revealing layers of succulent peach, rich honey, and a subtle malty backbone characteristic of a fine Wuyi black tea. The fruity notes are perfectly integrated, not separate or artificial.

Finish & Aftertaste: The finish is long, sweet, and incredibly fragrant. The lychee and floral notes linger in the mouth and rise through the nose long after swallowing. The empty cup (or aroma set) holds a lasting, sweet fragrance, a classic sign of a great Naturally Fragrant Black Tea.

5. The Spent Leaves: The Final Testament

After brewing, the leaves fully expand to reveal whole, coppery-red leaves that are tender yet resilient. Their aroma remains sweet and fruity. Examining the spent leaves confirms the quality: they are mostly whole, indicating careful handling, and their vibrant color speaks of perfect oxidation. This is the heart of the Feizi Xiao Black Tea experience.

Why Our Feizi Xiao Black Tea is the Epitome of a Fragrant Black Tea

• The Legend in Every Sip: This tea carries the poetic name and romantic story of “Concubine Smile” (Feizi Xiao), transforming your tea time from a simple drink into an experience rich with culture and history. It’s a conversation piece that delights the mind as much as the palate.
• 100% Natural Lychee Aroma & Flavor: Unlike flavored or scented teas, the intense lychee character of our Feizi Xiao Black Tea is entirely natural. It is the result of the unique Qizhong cultivar, the pristine Tongmu Guan terroir, and masterful processing. You taste pure tea, not additives.
• Unforgettable Sensory Profile: The combination of vibrant lychee, succulent peach, rich honey, and a smooth, malty base creates a complex yet harmonious flavor that is both exciting and comforting. It is the definition of a top-tier Chinese Fruity Black Tea.
• Versatile Brewing Joy: Its robust character and natural sweetness make it incredibly versatile. It excels brewed Gongfu style for an exploratory journey, Western style for an easy, fragrant cup, or even as a magnificent base for iced tea, where its fruity notes shine brilliantly.
• Superior Quality, Direct from Origin: Sourced directly from the protected Tongmu Guan area within Wuyi Mountain and processed by artisans who understand the legacy, this tea represents an authentic and premium expression of one of China’s most famous Lychee Black Tea styles. The 250g tin ensures a lasting supply of this exquisite tea.

Feizi Xiao Black Tea: A 3-Path Guide to the Perfect Brew

1. The Gongfu Cha Method (For the Full Journey): Use a gaiwan or small pot (100-150ml). Add 4-5g of tea. Rinse quickly with 90-95°C water and discard. First infusion: 8-10 seconds. Increase steeping time by 5-10 seconds for each subsequent brew. This method unveils the tea’s evolving aroma and flavor over 6-8 exquisite infusions.
2. The Western Style (For Effortless Enjoyment): Use a teapot (350-500ml). Add 3-4g of tea. Pour 90-95°C water directly over the leaves. Steep for 3-4 minutes. Strain and enjoy. Perfect for a relaxing, fragrant cup that highlights the tea’s sweet, fruity core.
3. The Iced Tea Method (For a Refreshing Revelation): In a pitcher, steep 8-10g of tea in 500ml of 95°C water for 5 minutes. Strain the strong brew directly into a second pitcher filled with 500g of ice cubes. Stir well. The result is a stunning, naturally sweet Lychee Black Tea iced tea, with no added sugar needed.

More Than a Tea: An Invitation to Smile

Junxistea’s Feizi Xiao Black Tea is an invitation to indulge in a moment of pure, sensory delight. It is for the quiet morning that needs a sweet start, for the afternoon pause that deserves a touch of poetry, and for sharing with someone who appreciates the finer, beautifully storied things in life. It represents the pinnacle of what a Naturally Fragrant Black Tea can be—a perfect marriage of legendary story, pristine origin, and masterful craft, resulting in a flavor so joyous it can’t help but bring a smile. It is, in every sense, the tea that once made an emperor strive, now here to grace your cup.

You have imagined the legendary smile. You have read about the natural lychee perfume. Now, experience the taste of imperial delight for yourself.

Click “Add to Cart” to secure your 250g tin of Feizi Xiao Black Tea. Let every cup be a reason to smile. Free shipping is available on all orders.