Zheng Yang Rou Gui oolong

ZHENG YANG ROU GUI OOLONG
MOUNTAINS WUYI, FUJIAN, CHINA
SUMMER HARVEST 2024

Rou gui in Chinese means cinnamon.
The main characteristic of this oolong rou gui tea is to have sweet cinnamon notes in infusion.
This is due to both the cultivar and the particular processing of the leaves. It is a very pleasant oolong, sweet on the palate with light mineral notes in the background due to the rocky soil from which this tea comes. It is in fact part of the Yan-Cha or rock tea family, a particular sub-variety of oolong that grows among the rocks of the Wuyi Mountains, a natural reserve in the Chinese region of Fujian. The rou gui tea has recently been added to the list of the best oolong teas from the Wuyi Mountains: -Da Hong Pao -Tie Luo Han -Shui Xian -Bai Ji Guan.

The prefix Zheng Yan (正岩) is given only to teas grown in the most protected area of ​​the Wuyi Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is often synonymous with high quality as this is the area where these cultivars perform at their best.

Unlike other Wuyi oolongs, rou gui is decidedly sweeter, less floral, and recalls notes of honey and wood. The processing method is also different from the classic Wuyi oolongs like Shui Xian. The leaves tend to be exposed less to the heat of the fire (pan firing or high pan firing). Thanks to these characteristics, Wuyi oolongs can be aged. While most pure green or black teas are best consumed within the year, Wuyi oolongs can be aged and matured.

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