Da Hong Pao, Big Red Robe Oolong: easy guide, top 7 best teas ⋆

Last updated: February 14, 2020 at 10:58 am

Da Hong Pao aka Big Red Robe Oolong is one of the most famous and expensive teas on the market. This spring-harvested Wuyi Mountain oolong is popularly regarded as the ‘King of Tea’. Its characteristic combination of one bud and three leaves is charcoal roasted and oxidized for a unique balance of flavors.

The birthplace

The Wuyi Mountain region in the northern part of China’s Fujian Province holds a special place in the hearts of tea drinkers worldwide. This is where the Da Hong Pao Wuyi Mountain oolongs are produced. These darker oolongs are grown in very limited quantities on rocky, mineral-rich terrain, thus acquiring the name rock tea (yan cha). Wuyi oolongs are traditionally well-fermented and charcoal fire-finished.

Why is Da Hong Pao tea so expensive?

Da Hong Pao or Wuyi Oolongs are often listed among the most expensive teas on the market. But while it’s true that the finest Da Hong Pao teas can cost thousands of dollars a pot, there are plenty of affordable variants that you can find online. Decent Wuyi oolongs can be purchased for around $50 a pound. If you’re wondering what the hype around these teas is all about, the answer lies in their source. The karst landscapes of Wuyi Shan are replete with minerals, which in turn are delivered to the soil by a range of mountain streams and waterfalls. These minerals impart a distinctive, hearty flavor to Wuyi oolongs – a flavor that only gets better with time. Antique Da Hong Pao teas are extremely rare and essentially priceless today, because there are hardly original tea trees left.

Tasting notes and reviews

Da Hong Pao oolong is heavily fired, rich, full-bodied, honeyed, with mineral notes and light smoke undertones. Its texture is interesting, “prickly and roasty on the tip and sides of the tongue” and “sweet and smooth at the back of the sip”. Its aroma “starts out earthy and musky”, slowly softens to a “dark fruit/malt flavor”, and “develops a taste of nori” by the third or fourth steeping. Many Da Hong Pao drinkers identify “bitter chocolate and seaweed” in its initial fragrance, which slowly mellows into a “fruity aroma like grape or plum”.

Tea tips

Like other premium Wuyi Mountain oolongs, the fragrance and flavor of good quality Da Hong Pao will be smooth and gentle – never too strong, sharp or burnt. This serves as evidence that the tea has been correctly baked or charcoal-fired. For the same reason, the tea leaves shouldn’t be too green (which suggests inadequate oxidization). The dry tea leaves should also be free from any unpleasant moldy smells. Another characterizing feature of premium Da Hong Pao is its ability to last through more than 3 infusions, gradually evolving in flavor and aroma. If what you smell and taste is weak, flat and unchanging, it’s probably not the real thing.

7 best Da Hong Pao Oolongs to buy on Amazon and beyond

We earn from qualifying purchases: Affiliate Disclosure>>

How is tea priced?>>

Teavivre Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) Wuyi Rock Oolong Tea Fujian Loose Leaf Tea

This wuyi Da Hong Pao is made in spring from tea leaves with standard of one bud with three leaves from C.sinensis cv. Dahongpao. Roasted with traditional wood charcoal for three times, this tea is well-balanced of baked aroma and floral fragrance. The tea liquor is of high aroma, and the tastes of the first 6 infusions changes as: sweet refreshing and brisk mello..

$$ shop_here

The Republic Of Tea Wuyi Oolong Full-Leaf

This hand-picked tea is prized for its large silver-tipped leaves and pure peach flavor. Highly aromatic, completely lacking in astringency, this oolong has the flowery upper register of a top-grade Darjeeling, but with a rounder, deeper, fuller cup. Its flavor has been compared to chestnut, honey and peaches. Use 1 teaspoon of Wuyi Oolong Full-Leaf tea per 6 ounces o..

$$ shop_here

Wuyi Oolong

Organic Oolong Tea. Long, beautiful leaves unwind and unfurl when steeped to release a smooth, rich flavor. A wonderful choice for educating the palate to the time-tested taste profiles that make our Wuyi Mountain Oolong tea so unique and refreshing. Our Wuyi Oolong is 60-80% oxidized, and steeps a deep golden hue with crisp and earthy tones and a slightly peppery..

$$ shop_here

Wuyi Ensemble

Wuyi Ensemble, known as Da Hong Pao or Wuyi rock tea, is a roasted oolong tea from the Wuyi mountains in Fujian province, China. The high fire treatment gives Wuyi oolong its specific smoky and minerally character. This is a beautifully balanced and complex tea with a deep, yet faint, ripe fruitiness in the background. The flavor is slightly honey-floral and nutt..

$$$ shop_here

Fujian Rain

Shui Xian, which translates to "Water Sprite," is an oolong produced in a similar style to Wuyi Oolongs. Therefore they share some similar traits, such as peachy-honey notes and a mineral "rock taste." This high-fired, medium grade version results in a rich tasting amber colored cup with the nuances of minerals, apricots and spice. Great for an everyday oolong op..

$$ shop_here

Dark Roast Oolong, Organic

Premium Organic Oolong Tea Origins: China. If you're looking for a roasty oolong tea, you need look no further. Large, wiry tea leaves produce a deep amber cup, with a rich flavor. Dark Roast Oolong's warm and earthy aroma is reminiscent of a late harvest wine. The complex flavor profile has hints of honeysuckle and roasted barley and nuts. Expertly dark roasted,..

$$ shop_here