Boutique Rou Gui 精品肉桂 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Wuyi Yancha (Wuyi Rock Tea)
Location: Wuyuan Jian 悟源涧, Wuyishan, Fujian
Harvest Date: May 6, 2025
Cultivar: Rou Gui 肉桂
Roasting Level: Traditional charcoal roast, three stages (July 5, 2025; September 20, 2025; January 12, 2026)
The Story of This Tea
This Rou Gui comes from Wuyuan Jian 悟源涧, one of the revered “Three Pits and Two Streams” 三坑两涧 that define the historic heart of Zhengyan Wuyi Rock Tea. As someone born and raised in Wuyishan, I have always believed that teas from these pit and stream valleys carry a quiet authority. They are not loud at first sip, but they reveal themselves slowly and honestly.
Wuyuan Jian sits deep between rock walls, where dense vegetation provides natural shade and sweet spring water gathers at the valley floor. Summer sunlight is brief, day and night temperatures vary widely, and in winter the cliffs shield the tea bushes from harsh winds. Over time, weathered rock breaks down into permeable soil rich in trace minerals, with balanced acidity and naturally high potassium and manganese. These conditions form the backbone of true Zhengyan terroir and give this tea its unmistakable rock charm.
The tea was harvested in early May and then patiently roasted three times over charcoal. Each roast was carefully spaced to allow the tea to settle and integrate. This slow, traditional approach is essential for pit and stream teas. Rushing would only flatten their depth. With time, the Rou Gui develops clarity, strength, and a living energy that continues to unfold with each infusion.
Aroma and Flavour
This is not a Rou Gui that overwhelms from the first pour. Instead, it rewards patience. Early infusions are calm and reserved, then the tea opens gradually, revealing layer after layer of sweetness, spice, and mineral depth. It is a tea that feels alive in the cup, changing steadily across a long session.
- Aroma: Subtle cinnamon bark, warm wood, dried citrus peel, gentle floral notes emerging later
- Flavor: Deep mineral sweetness, soft spice, and a savoury backbone. Sweet without cloying, fragrant without excess
- Texture: Smooth, structured, and increasingly full-bodied through the middle infusions
- Aftertaste: Long-lasting huigan with a cooling, mineral rock rhyme 岩韵 that lingers in the throat
- Steeping Endurance: 12–15 infusions with sweetness and fragrance sustained throughout
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Hongni 红泥 Yixing teapot for warmth and depth. Porcelain gaiwan for clarity
- Ratio: 6–8 g per 100 ml
- Water: 95–100°C, ideally low-TDS spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse. Start with 5–7 seconds for the first three infusions, then gradually extend as the tea opens and deepens
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml
- Water: 95°C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion. Re-steep once or twice, extending time slightly
Why Choose This Tea
This is a classic Zhengyan Rou Gui from one of the most respected pit and stream origins in Wuyi Mountain. It captures what Wuyi Rock Tea is truly about. Depth over volume, sweetness built on mineral structure, and a rock rhyme that reveals itself slowly over time. For anyone seeking to understand authentic Chinese tea terroir or to buy Rou Gui online that genuinely reflects its origin, this tea offers an honest and rewarding experience rooted in tradition.