Thanks to Tea Urchin for this generous free sample. Da Hong Pao, sometimes referred to as The King of Oolong, is widely considered the most impressive of the Wu Yi cultivars. At its best, it delivers a commanding combination of strength, balance, and charm. I haven't reviewed any Da Hong Pao on this blog yet, and it will be a pleasure to review this one.
The dry leaf is fairly dark, well twisted, and just a bit shorter than I was expecting. Once wet, the muted green/brown leaf appears rather heavily bruised, with a fair amount of it torn. The colors indicate a medium degree of oxidation and a medium-to-medium-heavy baking.
The leaf brews up a deep amber-red, and the tea possesses a classic, sweet, and deep aroma with definite varietal character. It even has some floral character, which I found surprising in a tea with this degree of processing and aging. This tea must have been carefully aged and well sealed, as it carries few of the aromas often found in teas held in this humid part of the world.
This is a very smooth tea with a medium-heavy body. It's full flavored and balanced, with an unmistakable Da Hong Pao flavor. It's fairly deep and mellow, yet surprisingly vital and tangy for an aged tea, with much of the fruit and floral character still intact.
The tea leaves a nice coating in the mouth, with a dose of tartness and a nice chalky dryness. The aftertaste is strong, though not exceptionally so. It is, however, very persistent, with a nice richness and a hint of cocoa.
The dry cup aroma is strong, complex, and sweet.
This tea can be brewed many times.
I am quite impressed with this tea. While it's fairly big, it's not the sheer impact of the tea that impresses, but its quality of processing and balance. Unlike some of the more heavy-handed examples, this one is complex without being particularly resinous, and it's carefully roasted to achieve depth, sweetness, and roundness, without leaving signs of burning or excessive smokiness. If you are a Da-Hong-Pao fan who favors a full and mellow cup, you might want to give this one a try. At $38 for 100 grams, it certainly isn't cheap, but it's definitely good.
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