Wuyi Yancha – The teas from the cliff of Mount Wuyi
If you came across this article hoping to read more about the miracle weight loss drug, you should stop reading this article. This is the ‘REAL’ Wuyi Yancha, the teas that are grown on the cliffs of Mount Wuyi, not some hyped miracle drug, not that Wuyi teas do not deserve all the publicity in the world.
Wuyi Cliff teas are basically Oolong teas grown in the Mount Wuyi or Wuyishan area, located in northern Fujian province.
By far the most famous of all the Wuyi cliff teas is Da Hong Pao, the great red robe or the great scarlet robe. So much so that its status went from being one of the four famous trees to the first of the famous trees. In fact, Da Hong Pao became a phrase to describe Wuyi Cliff Teas, that is, it could refer to Wuyi Rougui. Iron Arhat, Golden Turtle, etc. as Da Hong Pao-s. So don’t be surprised when you see a Wuyi Rougui box with the words Da Hong Pao and Wuyi Rougui popping up.
The “real” Da Hong Pao, however, refers to the 3 trees (then 6) of which thousands were bred using asexual plant propagation. This results in a broad spectrum in the Da Hong Paos grade that is sold with the 3 wells and the 2 ravines earning a premium. As for the original 6 trees, it is out of the reach of the common man: in 2002, 20g of Dahongpao was sold for 180,000 RMB which was equivalent to about 3 servings.
And it is not just a question of money, it has only appeared in a public auction 3 times (1998, 2002, 2004), with an annual harvest of just over 100 g, it is usually reserved for the highest echelons of the ruling party, no very different ancient times when the harvest was reserved as a tribute to the Emperor. So if someone tells you that they are offering you the ‘original’ Dahongpao, unless the person is Hu Jintao or Wen Jiabao, credibility goes out the window.
Next on the list is White Cockscomb, arguably the next best known Wuyi Yancha. In fact, it has a longer history than Da Hong Pao.
Legend has it that there was a tea producer who brought a rooster as a gift for his father-in-law’s birthday celebration. On his way there, the heat brought him to rest under the shade of a tree and he casually released the rooster. Suddenly, he saw the rooster cry out in pain and drop dead next to the tea tree. A centipede had crawled away, apparently the culprit.
Discouraged, the farmer had no choice but to bury the rooster, no less than under the tree. When he passed the tree some time later, he discovered that the tree had grown taller than the surroundings and the leaves had turned from green to a pale green, almost white. He took some leaves to brew and was blown away by how amazing the tea tasted, so the popularity of the tea grew.
That tale is almost certainly tall, but there’s no denying the unique taste and look of White Cockscomb. It is also one of the most expensive teas out there due to its limited supply.
The other 3 trees are Iron Arhat, Golden Turtle, and Half Sky Demon, the latter being the eventual replacement for Da Hong Pao.
By no means do these 5 teas make up all of the cliff’s teas, there are still Unknown Spring, Rock Milk, Old Handsome Brow, Narcissus, Rougui or Cinnamon and lesser known types like Mei Lan Xiang, Hong Mei Xiang, Jin Liu Tiao and Jin. Shuo Yes.
The cliffs of Mount Wuyi and its rich mineral soils make this an incomparable breeding ground for the best teas in the world. Coupled with the fact that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Mount Wuyi is unspoiled and remains in its natural state, ideal for tea trees.
In fact, state regulation prohibits planting new trees on Mount Wuyi to maintain the natural habitat of the region’s flora and fauna. Therefore, the supply of Wuyi teas is limited and the most famous breeds, especially those grown in the 3 wells and the 2 ravines, can have a high price.
For fans, it is worth every penny: few types of teas can match Wuyi Cliff teas in aroma and strong flavor, which is known as Rock Aura.