Wuyi Big Red Robe (Da Hong Pao)

Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea is the king of rock teas. It is produced in the Wuyi Mountain area in Fujian province. It is produced from a tea shrub whose yield is very low; and each shrub can be over 1,000 years old.  The tea is regarded as a national treasure because of its low yield and special taste.

The tea is cultivated in a rocky mountain area with an average altitude of more than 600 metres; the average annual precipitation is above 2,000mm and the relative humidity is 80%. The climate is mild in all seasons – the average temperature is around 18.5℃. There are a lot of small streams and much forest cover, and frequent mists. The soil is formed through the weathering of acidic rocks. Most tea plantations are located in the valleys, the small hills acting as barriers to both sunshine and wind. These conditions produce a unique oolong tea with a special flavour. Our Da Hong Pao comes from Wuyu Mountain but outside the most scenic area; this means it is cheaper, but still of very good quality.

The Da Hong Pao tea leaf is long, tight and slim. It is dark in colour with a dark green edge. The tea soup is amber-coloured, clear and bright. The taste is sweet and mellow, with a long-lasting floral aroma, generally with no bitterness. Because it is medium-roasted on charcoal in the traditional manner, it also has a light caramel aroma.