Rougui Xiang

Not to be confused with the Wuyi yan cha (and its associated cultivar), Rougui Xiang offers its namesake fragrance in a mild aftertaste—think sprinkled cinnamon powder—after a bouquet of florality and a mild and sweet infusion. The long, twisted leaves revealing just a border of oxidation when steeped, they have been tuned to be refreshing, with the flavor of crisp green apple and a drop of wildflower honey complementing the woody side. It's an extremely approachable Dancong that will delight with its aromatics without overwhelming, and shows a mastery in the craft of producing these delicate oolongs.
  • ORIGIN:  Fenghuang, Chaoan, Chaozhou, Guangdong, China
  • MEANING:  Cinnamon fragrance (rou gui xiang)
  • CULTIVAR:  Rougui Xiang
  • HARVEST TIME:  Spring 2020
  • TASTE:  Cassia, green apple, wildflower honey
1
$16.00

Preparation

IN THE TEAPOT
  • Quantity: 6g / 500ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • Infusion time: 5 min
GONGFU CHA METHOD
  • Quantity: 3g / 100ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • 4 infusions: 45, 60, 60, 90 sec

For best results in gongfu cha, brew in the traditional gaiwan or in a Yixing teapot. Too high water temperature would burn the leaves, resulting in bitter taste.

Additional Information

Tianyu Chaye and Ye Hangzhong

When farmers in Chaozhou tended to sell their tea only locally, to a limited number of customers, Ye Hangzhong was someone who saw the potential in the fine Fenghuang Dancong oolongs, and has helped to bring the category to wider worldwide attention. Leveraging his many connections and deep knowledge of Dancong, he gathered many quality examples to offer them under his brand, Tianyu Chaye, becoming a famous figure in the Dancong world: a member of the Chaozhou's tea bureau, active in the major tea events in the province, and a referee in many tea competitions. When Gabriele visited him in 2014, he was amazed by the quality of the teas, which were at the time prohibitively expensive for our fledgeling business. Now, almost ten years later, we are delighted to be able to offer teas from this premium brand, selecting (with difficulty!) six out of a dozen samples to offer our customers.

Ye Hanzhong pouring a flight of teas to taste