Rou Gui 肉桂 (2022)
Tea Profile
Type: Wuyi Yancha (Rock Tea)
Location: Shui Lian Dong, Wuyishan, Fujian
Altitude: Approx. 600–700 m
Harvest Date: May 2022
Cultivar: Rou Gui 肉桂
Roasting Level: Four-time traditional charcoal roast (2022–2024)
The Story of This Tea
This Rou Gui was harvested from Shui Lian Dong (Water Curtain Cave), one of Wuyishan’s most famous rocky enclaves where mist and mineral cliffs nurture complex, full-bodied teas. The leaves were first roasted twice in 2022, rested for balance, then refined through two further charcoal roastings in 2023 and 2024. Each firing followed long periods of quiet aging, allowing the fiery energy of charcoal to transform into deep maturity. Today, its aroma is no longer sharp or showy but mellow, resonant, and layered the mark of a carefully nurtured Yancha.
Aroma and Flavour
When brewed, this tea first opens with a faint trace of charcoal before revealing its true aged character. Warm, spicy, and softly mineral. The liquor is rich yet silky, glowing amber in the cup. It carries a comforting cinnamon-like warmth and lingering sweetness that unfolds over many steeps, offering the satisfaction of a deeply roasted, patiently aged rock tea.
- Aroma: Charcoal toast, aged wood, warm spice, faint incense
- Flavor: Spicy cinnamon bark, dark sugar, mineral depth, gentle lingering sweetness
- Texture: Smooth, velvety, rounded
- Aftertaste: Long, warm, slightly cooling with sweet mineral echo
- Steeping Endurance: 8–10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Hongni 红泥 teapot to enrich sweetness and depth, or porcelain gaiwan for clarity
- Ratio: 6–8 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95 to 100°C, ideally soft spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse, then 5–7 seconds for the first three infusions, increasing gradually
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot; a small Zisha teapot enhances roundness if preferred
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95°C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion; may be re-steeped twice with slightly longer times
Why Choose This Tea
This Shui Lian Dong Rou Gui represents the pinnacle of traditional Wuyi Rock Tea craftsmanship. Slow charcoal roasting, natural resting, and balanced aging. Its deep warmth and smooth texture express the rocky terroir beautifully. For those who enjoy authentic, richly roasted Yancha, this is an excellent tea to buy online and savour over time as its maturity continues to unfold.