Original Dahongpao mother trees, 350 years old. Auction value : 2005 Shanghai Tea Convention auctioned 20g of this tea at 208,000 RMB (USD $34,000). Three large and 2 small remaining trees. How did these Big Red Robe trees get on the cliff?
The oxidation of Wuyi Rock teas reach about 80%，but the raw…
The oxidation of Wuyi Rock teas reach about 80%，but the raw leaves, even after tumbling, remain relatively green. A crisp green apple aroma permeate the facility, as batches go from the 12 hour tumbling process to firing in the rotating hot ‘wok’- at nearly 200 C, this firing can only take place for 10 minutes to 殺青 ‘kill the green’, to fix the leaves. Then a rolling process and then drying through a couple more rounds, and one whole production sequence ends by the next day. Charcoal fire baking will take place sequentially for another 2 months. Wuyi Rocks teas have many production quirks all earned by experience, explained Mr. Zhang, our Wuyi tea master. That’s why few people in the world can make Oolongs, despite delegations coming from other countries to check out the machines and try to learn the process. Everything is done by smell, touch, decades of experience, and built on the backs of thousands of years of tradition.
Arrive into Wuyi mountain and our fabulous hotel is right next to…
Arrive into Wuyi mountain and our fabulous hotel is right next to an ancient Mazu Taoist temple. Here, we ask for some protection.
May our tea adventures run smoothly from here on out. My luggage is currently stuck in Guangzhou some place, but no problem, it could have been me and not the luggage? Everyday is a good day. In this whisper quiet haven at the foothills of Wuyishan, I am counting my blessings, one wisp of cloud at a time.
烏龍Wulong or Oolong means black dragon. ‘Doesn’t it look like a…
烏龍Wulong or Oolong means black dragon. ‘Doesn’t it look like a black dragon?’ Said the locals. It was named this because of the way it’s made: twist leaf, charcoal baked very dark. It had nothing to do with a legend involving a black dragon encircling the tea field, nor the Cantonese version where wulong means ‘confusion’. As most farm names go, the most simple and direct is the fact.
As far as Wuyi Yancha or Cliff Rock teas go, there are about 700-800 old and new varietals. Outside the area, it was all called ‘Big Red Robe’. It gave outsiders a headache to even attempt to understand all the different varietals. Could you tell the difference in those cups of teas above? Drinking each, one can tell a distinct difference. Looking at the leaves, even the tea master himself can’t tell the difference!
I said that’s ok, my customers still ask us ‘So is oolong a green tea or a black tea?’ Never mind there are dozens of major types of Oolongs, parsing down to 800 varietals of just Wuyi Rock oolong!
Traveling in China, buying train or plane tickets, is more nerve…
Traveling in China, buying train or plane tickets, is more nerve wrecking than the stock market. Frequently, tickets are sold out quickly. There are simply too many people, buying online, lining up days ahead of time, etc. I have discovered the secret : buy standing only tickets. They are always happy to stuff you in.
That ticket will cost 1/3 of
normal. With the remainder, order lots of food, sit down in the dining car, and you’ll be sitting down, after all, with a table full of food.
Interminable wait times and long transportation between each place- today is all day traveling to Wuyi. Too early for harvest but that’s one popular and over crowded area once harvest begins in 2 weeks. Well, it’s been years. Time to see if I can get some good Rougui and Shuixian to replace the Big Red Robe/ Da Hong Pao. It’s market DHP anyway, hardly worth the price. Not a tea we are known for, but let’s see if anyone is doing anything interesting and not all the inflated market stuff. And no, not a fan of 金俊眉 Golden Eyebrows tea. Have yet to meet one that’s special.
Traveling in China is really, really strenuous. Chaotic, messy, unorganized, packed with people everywhere, systems that make no sense. Not recommended for anyone.