Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) — Loose-Leaf Oolong Tea, 50 g

Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) — Loose-Leaf Oolong Tea, 50 g

€35,00
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Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) — Loose-Leaf Oolong Tea, 50 g

Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) — Loose-Leaf Oolong Tea, 50 g

€35,00

Overview

Da Hong Pao, the 'Big Red Robe', is one of China's most prized oolongs — a Wuyi rock tea grown among the steep cliffs of the Wuyi mountains in Fujian, the only place in the world where this tea plant grows. THÉROIR's Grand Cru 2023 (30–60% oxidation) offers near-black slender leaves, a bright golden-orange liquor, and a round, rich palate of roast and rock minerality. €35 for 50 g (incl. VAT).

Grand Cru 2023 · Wuyi rock teaWild-variety tea plants

Product facts

Tea type Oolong (Wuyi rock tea), 30–60% oxidation
Origin Wuyi Shan (Wuyi Mountains), Fujian, China
Vintage Grand Cru 2023
Harvest A single annual harvest, in May
Tea plants 15 to 100 years old (wild varieties)
Terroir Rocky area at 300–400 m with limited sunlight; iron-rich rocky soil lending unique minerals to the plant as it grows; the Wuyi Mountain is a protected area
Format & price Loose leaf 50 g — €35 (incl. VAT)
Brewing 5–6 g / 200 ml, 100 °C, 30 sec–1 min, 3–5 infusions

Terroir & origin

The Wuyi mountains in Fujian are the only place in the world where the Da Hong Pao and Lapsang Souchong tea plants grow. Da Hong Pao grows among Wuyi's steep rocky cliffs, which give the leaves their distinctive character; its origins are said to date back to the Ming dynasty. Limited production and very strict growing conditions make it a highly precious tea — one of the ten most famous teas of China.

Expert tasting note

“Shades of cold tobacco, of smoke and cigar at first scent, with orchid and herbal notes. Its taste is round and rich, with small notes of green tea.”— Philippe Chatillon, pioneering Jura winegrower, a longtime advocate of biodynamic viticulture

Tasting notes

Dry leaf: long, slender, wrinkled leaves of a dark anthracite close to black; an intense grilled note, flintstone, black-fruit aromas.

Liquor: bright golden orange; warm, toasty notes and full-bodied cinnamon flower on the nose; rock minerality on the palate with the texture of tea tannin. A light cocoa aroma, a bright amber liquor, dense with a hint of minerality.

How to brew

Water temperature100 °C / 212 °F·Dosage5–6 g per 200 ml (20 cl)·Infusion time30 seconds to 1 minute

3–5 infusions.

FAQ

What is a 'rock tea'?

Rock teas (yancha) are oolongs grown in the rocky terrain of the Wuyi mountains. The iron-rich rocky soil lends unique minerals to the plant during growth, giving Da Hong Pao its signature rock minerality.

Why is Da Hong Pao considered precious?

Its origins are said to date to the Ming dynasty; production is limited and growing conditions are extremely strict. It is one of China's ten most famous teas. THÉROIR's lot comes from wild-variety plants aged 15 to 100 years.

How many times can I infuse it?

3 to 5 times, with water at 100 °C and short steeps of 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Where can I buy it?

Online at theroirtea.com (shipping across Europe, orders dispatched within 5 business days) and at THÉROIR, 9 rue Saint-Roch, 75001 Paris. Unopened products can be returned within 14 days.

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