Shui Xian is related to the Phoenix Mountain oolongs which are quite famous for their unparalled fragrance. The process of creating Shui Xian begins with picking the branch's first three or four leaves. After wilting and bruising, the leaves are hand-rolled into a shape said to resemble a frog's leg.

These murky dark green leaves give off an exquisite lacquered fragrance that complements the tea's sweetness. Like most rock oolongs, this tea is partially fermented. Shui Xian is an especially fragrant tea with a liquor of glowing, scorched-orange honey color. Aged Shui Xian have a smoother mouthfeel. The ephemeral narcissus aroma is purely an artifact of the tea’s cultivation and processing. No flowers are necessary to scent this delicacy.