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Organic Rougui

Rougui Oolong is a unique Wuyi Yan Cha, famous for its distinct cassia taste when brewed properly, giving it a warm and spicy personality. The aroma of the tea is sweet, with a spicy chocolate and gently roasted profile. The taste is very true to its name: strong notes of cinnamon and nutmeg blend with cocoa, mangosteen, and a pleasant roast. Some Yan Cha have a very strong flavour of smoke or coal; this one, while strongly roasted, does not have an overbearing taste, so is perfect for people who like their Yan Cha mellowed. Moreover, this Rougui is from one of the only organic Wuyi Rock Oolong tea factories in the Wuyi Mountain region!


Wuyi Yan Cha – the tea from the rocks
Wuyi Yan Cha, aka Wuyi Rock Tea or, more properly, Cliff Tea, is an ancient oolong tea (one of the six tea categories, halfway between green and black teas). Rock tea is produced in the northern Fujian province.
Wuyi Yan Cha are complex teas. The typical mineral savour shares the field with the strength from roasting and the delicate floral and fruity hints.

  • ORIGIN:  Tian Xin Yan, Wuyishan, Fujian, China
  • MEANING:  Cinnamon (rougui)
  • CULTIVAR:  Rou Gui
  • HARVEST TIME:  Spring 2017
  • TASTE:  Softly roasted, mineral, cinnamon
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Preparation

IN THE TEAPOT
  • Quantity: 6g / 500ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • Infusion time: 4 min
GONGFU CHA METHOD
  • Quantity: 3g / 150ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • 4 infusions: 45, 60, 60, 90 sec

For best results in gongfu cha, brew in a traditional gaiwan or in a Yixing teapot. The tea will be bitter if brewed at higher temperature.

Additional Information

Authentic Wuyi Yan Cha is produced in the Wuyi Mount region, a UNESCO natural heritage site. The dramatic gorges of the Nine Bend River are surrounded by a largely intact subtropical forest and smooth cliffs of black-brownish rocks. The tea plants grow in narrow valleys, next to the cliffs, in a mineral-rich soil.

The Nine Bend River
The Nine Bend River
Tea bushes next to the dark cliff
The rock cliffs, a close view
Tea leaves have been processed here for at least a thousand years. From the 11th to 16th centuries, when Oolong tea was yet to be invented, there was an imperial tea farm on the mountains, producing green tea for the imperial court. Oolong production was boosted in the 17th century thanks to the great export demand from Europe. At that time, Wuyi was known in England as “Bohea,” and the tea imported from this region was labeled black tea. Note that black tea, as we know it today, was created centuries later.
Today Wuyi Yan Cha is one of the most valued teas in China. Because it has become a status symbol, many wealthy Chinese are willing to pay a fortune for it without even knowing how a proper Wuyi Yan Cha should taste. The result has been prices inflating to unjustified level and quality often sacrificed for quantity.
Unique to the Wuyi Yan Cha is a mineral savor coming from the soil and the surrounding cliffs. Being the oolong with the highest fire finish, fresh Yan Cha may as a result be strong and pungent. Sharpness and too-prominent astringency subside upon ageing. Premium high-fire Yan Cha tastes better after a few years of storage. Use a Yixing teapot to soften the tea, should it be too astringent for your palate.
The overall tasting profile is rich, complex, and deep. Depending on cultivar and environment, the mineral-roasted flavor is refined by floral, fruity, nutty or woody accents.
Si Da Ming Cong, literally “Four Big Famous Bushes,” is a list of legendary Yan Cha varieties. The list usually includes Da Hong Pao, Tie Luo Han, Shui Jin Gui and Bai Ji Guan. Ban Tian Yao is also a well-known Wuyishan Oolong, often included in the list. Finding high-quality Ming Cong for a reasonable price is a real treasure hunt! Other varieties yield superior Yan Cha and gained popularity. Worth mentioning are Rou Gui, literally “cinnamon,” Shui Xian, Bei Dou, Qi Lan, Dan Gui und Fo Shou.