Dahongpao Jade Lion Cliff 2014
This True Cliff yancha is a blend of three varietals: Rougui, Shuixian and Meizhan. Its name, "Dahongpao," or "Big Red Robe" is a reference to a famous story that describes how Wuyi Mountain teas became protected tribute teas for emperors. It reminds us of the 6 original mother trees in this region, which were once cloaked in red robes at the request of the emperor, so that they would be cared for like an extension of his family.
This "Dahongpao" is an experimental tea, crafted to reference what the tea of Big Red Robe might taste like. While no one is allowed to harvest leaves from the original mother trees anymore, this tea comes by its name honestly: the artisan who crafts it is named Dahongpao, after original Wuyi Rock tea.
He modeled this tea after what people imagine Dahongpao would have tasted like almost a thousand years ago. It is True Cliff, from Qingshiyan, or "Jade Lion Cliff," inside the boundaries of Wuyi Nature Reserve.
Qingshiyan (Jade Lion Cliff) is situated close to Shuiliandong (Water Curtain Cave). Its name reflects the shape of the Cliff, which looks like a crouching lion. The tea trees of Qingshiyan are shaded by bamboo trees and surrounded by a high diversity of flora and fauna. A stream flows continuously at Qingshiyan, throughout every season. The water accumulates at the bottom of the cliff, forming a small pool that is always present, whether it is winter or summer.
The craftsmanship of this tea acknowledges a generational understanding of what constitutes an excellent True Cliff oolong. The quality of the three teas used in this tea, as well as this experiment in cultural memory, make this yancha particularly captivating.
It is explosive on the palate, as the complexity of all three varietals come forward at once. Its exponential mineral notes wake up the senses, acting a bit like sake kasu or umami in that it makes us taste more. This opening and expanding quality is true for the energy of the tea as well: it has an extroverting effect, and one that broadens our awareness of what surrounds us. There is great imagination in this Rock Oolong.