Da Hong Pao
Da Hong Pao is the most famous Wuyi rock tea — but what exactly is Da Hong Pao?
Wuyi rock tea (also known as yancha) is a distinctive type of oolong tea from the Wuyi Mountains, known for its long history and unique character. One of its defining features is a pronounced mineral note, reminiscent — at least to me — of warm stone after summer rain. The tea is aromatic and complex, with layered flavors that reveal warming floral and fruity notes and a long, lingering finish. There are hundreds of different types of Wuyi rock tea, each offering its own nuanced flavor profile.
Da Hong Pao gained fame for its reputed medicinal properties. According to legend, this tea once cured a scholar on his way to imperial exams. On his return, he covered the tea bushes with his red robe in gratitude — giving the tea its name, which translates as “Big Red Robe.”
The original Da Hong Pao was never sold commercially. It could only be harvested and processed by highly skilled tea masters, and was reserved for emperors or presented as a gift to high-ranking officials.
To this day, only six original mother bushes remain. Until 2007, they were harvested once a year, but they are now strictly protected and no longer picked. The last 20 grams of authentic Da Hong Pao harvested from these bushes were sold at auction for around $21,000.
So what is the Da Hong Pao we find in shops today?
The original Da Hong Pao refers to the six legendary mother bushes mentioned above. DHP is not a tea cultivar. Genetic analysis shows that these six original plants are not identical, and they are estimated to be 300–500 years old. This tea is not available for purchase.
From cuttings of these original bushes, the cultivars Qi Dan and Bei Dou were developed and began to be cultivated in the 1990s. These are relatively young Wuyi rock tea cultivars and they are still produced in limited quantities.
To meet global demand, producers often blend different Wuyi rock tea cultivars to recreate a flavor profile similar to Da Hong Pao. These teas are commonly referred to as blended Da Hong Pao.
If you want to taste tea closest to the original, look for the cultivars Qi Dan or Bei Dou, as they are derived directly from the original bushes.
That said, a well-made blended Da Hong Pao — while not technically “true” DHP — can still be exceptionally aromatic and enjoyable.
If no specific cultivar is listed on the packaging, the tea is most likely not true Da Hong Pao, but another Wuyi rock tea — most commonly Shui Xian or Rou Gui. These teas are also excellent. Flavor depends not only on the cultivar, but also on the microclimate and the nuances of processing. For beginners especially, it is not essential to start with Da Hong Pao — many Wuyi teas offer a similarly rewarding experience.
At first, many of these teas may taste quite similar, and the name “Da Hong Pao” is often used in marketing to sell lower-quality Wuyi teas at a higher price.
You can also watch the documentary Tea: The Drink That Changed the World (2024) on YouTube channel, where Wuyi teas are explored in depth, including footage of the original Da Hong Pao bushes.
At the moment, Tejo.lv does not offer Da Hong Pao, but we do have two outstanding Wuyi rock teas — Shui Xian and Qilan. Use the code WUYI to get 15% off.