Da Hong Pao Tea Introduction

Imperial Da Hong Pao (also known as Red Robe or Ta Hong Pao Rock Tea) is an expensive oolong tea surrounded by legends. It is often served to honored guests in China, hence its royal reputation. Due to rising public interest, companies saw an increase in competition and started investing in Da Hong Pao tea processing, raising both the price and quality. Coming from the famous Wuyi Mountains in China, this tea is popular among tea connoisseurs all over the world who delight in its flawless taste. It is hard to find an oolong tea that tastes better than imperial Da Hong Pao.

Tea Details

Taste and Smell Profile

• Flavor: Mineral rock with a hint of peaches and spices
• Color: Dark brown
• Smell: Floral with a mix of charcoal

Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea Profile

• Before Brewing: Hard, slightly compressed, dark gray
• After Brewing: Soft and gray in color

About AiryTea Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea Package

• Tea Type: Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea
• Weight: 70g
• Shelf Life: 18 months

• Tea Storage Recommendation: Store it in a cool and dry place away from sunlight.

The History of Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea

This tea belongs to the category of artisan teas which are considered to be very valuable and have a long and interesting history. Although Da Hong Pao is only a couple of centuries old, there are many legends surrounding it and all refer to a mysterious red robe. The first legend tells a story about a student going to do the city in order to take an imperial exam which he wished to pass. However, on his way there, he got very sick and weak which prevented him to continue his journey. He had to stay in Tian Xin Temple, hoping to recover as soon as possible. The Buddhist monks at the temple were very kind to the scholar and gave him some of their special tea. Once he drank the tea, he immediately felt better and went on to be the only one to pass the exam successfully. As a reward, he received a beautiful red robe which represented his great scholarly success. The student wanted to thank the monks from the temple for healing him because without them and their magical tea, he could never pass that difficult exam. He decided to give them the large red robe as a thank you gift and that’s how the monk’s tea got its unusual name. Another legend speaks about the mother of an Emperor that have gotten very sick.

The Emperor did everything in his power to help his mother and provided her with the best medicine he could find but nothing seemed to help. He felt helpless while his mother became increasingly ill. Then one day, a poor villager offered him local tea that was known be very medicinal. The Emperor gave the tea to his sickly mother who wondrously recovered in one day. It was a real miracle. To express his gratitude, the Emperor gave a big red robe to the villagers to cover the magical tea plants. There are some truth to these legends because it is known that monks were the first ones to grow this unique tea and it is known for its medicinal value ever since. Tian Xin Temple is also a real place that you can visit if you ever you’re yourself traveling through China. This kind of tales and local legends add a unique dimension to the imperial Da Hong Pao tea and it is no wonder it is so popular and sought after. It is important to note that some of the original tea bushes this tea was made from are still in existence and are preserved. It is no longer allowed to pick any leaves from the plants, but you can see them as a popular tourist attraction.

Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea Features

Now that we have covered the history and the making of this tea, let’s move on the most important aspects of Da Hong Pao – its flavor, taste, and main features. Before you taste the tea, you will first encounter an interesting aroma which is a mix of sweet and charcoal scent. What is unique about the flavor of this tea is the hint of mineral rock which is the consequence of the bushes growing on the Wu Yi Mountains. You can also taste some spices and sweetness which makes this an interesting combination. To experience the full flavor of this tea, we recommend that you always buy organic Da Hong Pao. Since this oolong variety contains caffeine, it can also be an interesting coffee alternative. It is certainly much healthier and won’t make you jittery.

How is Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea Made?

The production process of Da Hong Pao imperial tea is everything but simple and ordinary. It is a very meticulous job and everything has to be done just right in order for it to be called Da Hong Pao. Firstly, it is important to note where this tea is grown and harvested because it has a big influence on the flavor and aroma. The birthplace of Da Hong Pao tea is the notorious Fujian province in China, more precisely Wu Yi Mountains. These mountains are responsible for the unique mineral rock flavor this tea has.

The production begins by harvesting the leaves. Only young buds with two accompanying leaves can be picked. The young leaves are then withered and bruised in order to start the oxidation process and improve the flavor. After that, the leaves have time to oxidize even further, but not more than 40%, which is why this tea is known to be half-oxidized. The oxidation process is then discontinued by baking and the leaves are finally rolled and dry. Although this process might seem simple and quick, this is just a short and simple version of it. It takes a lot of effort to make Da Hong Pao tea.

Health Benefits of Imperial Da Hong Pao Tea

Apart from being one of the best and most praised oolong teas that you can buy, Da Hong Pao is also known to have amazing medicinal benefits. Anybody who is trying to lose some extra pounds will be happy to know that Da Hong Pao is a great weight loss tea. We all know that the path to a healthy weight is having a good metabolism and exercising regularly. Da Hong Pao can help you with both, as it speeds up the metabolism and the caffeine content gives you more energy to work out and lead a more active life. If you have problems with digestion due to a poor diet, this can also be solved by drinking Da Hong Pao tea regularly. It makes your body process food much more easily. Since Da Hong Pao contains caffeine, it is a great tea for improving cognitive abilities and concentration. It will certainly make you more alert, energized, and focused. Unlike coffee, Da Hong Pao will not make you overstimulated, you will simply feel more energy but with the added mental calmness. Drinking a few cups of Da Hong Pao a day may also reduce the risk of heart disease and make this important organ even stronger. It also reduces cholesterol which keeps your heart healthy. Another great health benefit of Da Hong Pao is skin health. Dark spots on your face and body will slowly start to disappear and you will notice that there’s less blemishes and redness. This variety of oolong tea also makes your skin more elastic which prevents wrinkling and makes you look more youthful.

To read about Oolong tea benefits, see this page.

How To Brew Oolong Tea?

Did you know that oolong tea can be consumed both hot and cold?

- Water is the soul of good oolong tea so make sure you prepare it correctly. Heat the water until just before it reaches boiling point (at around 180 - 200* F / 80 - 90* C).

- Add a teaspoon of leaves into your cup of choice and pour the hot water.

- Let it rest for around 1 minute and then keep tasting every 30 seconds to find a taste that you are happy with.

Oolong Tea Shipping Times

We are proud to offer two great shipping methods that will suit everyone’s needs.

Flat Rate Shipping

- Great for people who are not in a hurry and want to save on even more for oolon tea. This method will take around 10 to 30 days to arrive.

Express Shipping

- For everyone who wants to try our oolong tea as soon as possible, pick this method and get your tea in just 1 to 5 business days.

Please note: this excludes handling time, which is usually less than 24 hours. However, if there are certain situations beyond our control (such as the post office being closed) it may take up to 72 hours for your package to be shipped.

Return Policy

If you have changed your mind regarding the tea, you can return the unopened package to us and we will be more than happy to give you a refund. Please contact us (with your order number) to proceed with the request.