Da Hong Pao Oolong
Wuyi Mountains · Fujian Province, China
$32 – 75
Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) is the most celebrated rock oolong from the Wuyi Mountains. The unique mineral terroir — growing in cracks of volcanic rock — gives it a yan yun (rock charm) quality unlike any other tea in the world.
Type
Rock Oolong (Yan Cha)
Region
Zhengyan area, Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
Oxidation
60–70% (heavily oxidised)
Roast
Medium–high charcoal roast
Brew Method
Gongfu cha — small gaiwan essential
Infusions
Up to 15 steeps
Tasting Notes
Roasted mineral
Orchid aftertaste
Dark plum
Yan yun (rock charm)
Long finish
Format
Brewing Guide
Gongfu is the only way. 8g in a 110ml gaiwan. 99°C water. First steep 15 seconds, second 20s, add 5–10 seconds per subsequent steep. The roast opens up from steep 3 onward.
Garden Story
Ancient leaves, living tradition.
The original Da Hong Pao mother bushes grow on a cliff face in Wuyi — so famous they are guarded by the Chinese government. The tea sold today is made from vegetative cuttings of those original plants, carefully managed in the surrounding Zhengyan zone.
The Wuyi Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The mineral-rich volcanic soil and mountain mist give rock oolongs their distinctive yan yun — a quality described as a mineral sensation that lingers in the back of the throat.
We source from a family in Wuyishan city who has produced Da Hong Pao for four generations. The charcoal roasting is done by hand over an open fire pit — an increasingly rare technique.
Complete Your Ritual
Pair with teaware.
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