Tasting Da Hong Pao

[tenuki]

YSLLC DHP that I'm rather enjoying came in this bag which I thought I would share since it picture the same picture of the apparently famous cliff as one of HM's.



In general my comments about variance in weather conditions and momentary personal experience were to point out that the context, surroundings and most importantly the tea drinker himself probably all contribute more variability to the tea experience than slight variance in brewing parameters, so focus on them first. I know they are not as measurable, but that is part of why you need to pay them more attention than that which is.

[TIM]

Xi Qiu, ok I will check it out cos I will be at MLD this week. However, over hundreds of vendor sell Wuyi from various sections, so don't get your hopes up

There seem to be too many vendors but information we get is too small, Puerh and Yixing is encyclopedia comparing to Wuyi. It's important cos quality and price differ a lot depending on what area of rock, what factory it is from.

So in hopes of gathering further info, some basic 101.

Grading Wuyi first needs to understand 3 categories. Zheng Yan Cha, Ban Yan Cha and Zhou Cha.

First, Zheng Yan Cha. The finest grade, grown on rock-surrounding area, 70km2 around the center of Wuyi Shan. Best of all is called Ming Yan Cha. Environment of this area belongs to tropical climate, 700m above sea level, averate temp 18C, rains over 200mm, average humidity 80%.

Areas of Zheng Yan Cha : 天心岩, 慧苑坑, 牛欄坑, 大坑口, 流香澗, 悟源澗

Second, Ban Yan Cha. Also called Dan Yan Cha. Grown on lower altitude than Zheng Yan Cha as larger farms mostly of soil than rock.

Areas of Ban Yan Cha : 靑獅岩, 碧石岩, 馬頭岩, 獅子口, 九曲溪

Third, Zhou Cha, farm tea. Even larger area 200m above sea level. North-west Zhou Cha is famous.

Areas of Zhou Cha : 崇溪, 九曲溪, 黃柏溪


I am sure more data and opinion are needed, and also heard Chinese goverment will be forwarding of grading (like Taiwan?), kinda doubtful without thinking about bribery or Guanxi

I think this could be a bench mark for a good DHP size

[gingkoseto]

This last week I have been drinking Da Hong Pao from 3 different sources.

At least I think the 3rd one is Da Hong Pao

The first was to finish off a canister that I bought in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.



warm, friendly style, no astringency, mellow, woody and earthy

This Brand truly SUX!


Yakkkkk!

After carefully read the small prints I found these two tea cans are from different companies (both state-owned). I don't know why they use so similar packages. But the first one (on HM's package) is Xia Men tea company, which seems to have a more advanced history dealing with tea.

[gingkoseto]

HM's oolong enthusiasm is contagious! I don't really need and can't really handle any more oolong. But recently I had to get something else by express mail from China, so I grabbed some of that "playing ball" dhp and included it in the mail. Theoretically it will take about a week in mail within China and another 3 days from Beijing to Massachusetts

[Herb_Master]

HM's oolong enthusiasm is contagious! I don't really need and can't really handle any more oolong. But recently I had to get something else by express mail from China, so I grabbed some of that "playing ball" dhp and included it in the mail. Theoretically it will take about a week in mail within China and another 3 days from Beijing to Massachusetts

Has it arrived yet? Is it really the same one?

I am on my way back to Malaysia, I booked the flight today, in a shade more than 2 weeks time I will be strolling round Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur.

This time I will be armed with better knowledge, I shall know what questions to ask, which products to seek [and which to ask for them to prepare so that I may sample them ] and which if any to buy! I say if any because there are 6 tea shops in the Kuala Lumpur vicinity that I want to visit and my girlfriend has found even more.

The real joy for me will be driving round the rest of Malaysia and calling in at local tea shops to see what is happening - the one last year in a dusty corner of a backwater on Pangkor island was a treasure - because the owner ran it as a hobby alongside his main business.

I shall be visiting the tea plantations in Cameron Highlands but will have to shed my oolong hat and try some breakfast cuppas!

Back in KL of course I shall be searching out DHP Rock Tea and enquiring as to the possibilties of Mail Order from any who speak good enough english!

[gingkoseto]

Has it arrived yet? Is it really the same one?

I bought the same brand, but something like this (similar package, not exactly the same)


I bought from the factory. The person I talked to, didn't show much interest in doing international mailing. I had to arrange shipping myself. They gave very vague descriptions. Your kind (the paper wrapped kind) is, superior grade, medium-heavy roast. the one I bought is, superior grade, heavy roast. Mine is slightly more expensive than yours, but I guess the price difference is mainly due to the package. The card board box makes it safer in transportation. And your kind, currently they only sell 500g packages

I was told my package will be sent out right today, so I guess I will get it later early next week. When I ordered it, it took a few days for people to really start work (after the new year holiday). Then it took a few days for them to find out the product I ordered （an organic version with better packaging) was not available. Then I re-ordered. Then it took more than one week for it to travel in China (to join my other package for shipping). But once it's on EMS, I believe it will arrive here within a week. I will keep you updated

I wish I had a job like yours with a lot of traveling!

[Herb_Master]

I wish I had a job like yours with a lot of traveling!

So do I

It's not a job

I worked in I.T. for 30 years then fell ill and had to retire at 50 - my pension is a pittance so I work in the local shop - the pay is a pittance.

2 Pittances put together (and no mortgage - my house is all paid for) mean I can afford just a few luxuries now and then. And luxury tea is a lot cheaper than luxury wine.

I have a Malaysian girlfriend I get one 3 week holiday a year in Malaysia and she gets 1 3 week holiday a year in England/Europe.

[gingkoseto]

[quote="Herb_Master"][/quote]

Nice! Tea and Romance -Even better than business traveling!

[Herb_Master]

Nice! Tea and Romance -Even better than business traveling!

Even better that we have so many interests in common - and now she is getting in to tea - she has just added some new Gaiwans to her collection - we are off to the Cameron Highlands primarily for Jungle Trekking and Mountain hiking in weather that is cool enough for me But with her growing love of tea she won't mind us visiting the tea plantations as long as I agree that we can visit the Strawberry farms and flower gardens.

I will also be drinking the local speciality of 'stretched tea' [teh tarik] not a gourmet delight extra thick, strong, black tea poured from a great height with condensed milk from one jug to another until it is almost more froth than liquid.

[gingkoseto]

Ah! My package with the "playing ball" da hong pao arrived today, and I am having it now. Since it's the first brewing, I am still feeling my way about infusion time. But this tea doesn't seem to be picky on infusion time. I like it very much. It's a heavy roast, not much fragrant kind of flavor, but has very warm kind of feeling. This is the most "comfortable" tea I've had recently. It makes me feel very warm at throat, and brings moisture and clearness to the mouth. Normally heavy roast is not my favorite among all, but I thought if I had to pick one tea to try about a da hong pao line, got to try the heavy roast first

After about 8 infusions, I am trying to "cook" the tea by boiling it in water. It's the first time I've ever done this kind of thing

I took some photos and will transfer them later.

[Herb_Master]

This is the most "comfortable" tea I've had recently. It makes me feel very warm at throat, and brings moisture and clearness to the mouth.

Glad you are enjoying it! Looking forward to hearing and seeing more about it!

I am off to Malaysia in 7 days time so will keep an eye out for more good things.

Enjoy your quote, it is a way of describing tea that I can understand, I have difficulty reading tea reviews that go on to explain in detail the 5 or 6 flavours that a tea has - like - "Initial flavours of Chocolate, Tobacco and Sandalwood, developing into Liquorice and Rosewood with an aftertaste of Seqoia Bark and Warm hemp" - mmmmn! how can someone detect all that!

My Palate may not be trained/attuned to discern the myriad of flavours that others find - but my emotions do talk to me in a way such as you describe.

[gingkoseto]

I took some photos of the xi qiu ("playing ball") brand DHP I got recently, but found the photos didn't really tell much about the tea. But will show some anyway

Dry tea


1st infusion


2nd infusion


The tea's package is very interesting and safe. Within a larger box package, there are 10 small packs in the shape and size of cigarette packs. Within each "cigarette pack" there are 2 sealed bags, each has 8g tea (8g is not a convenient mass for me though).


This tea, with its 90$ per lb. price, is not a high price for da hong pao and shouldn't be the pure breed (which I don't think I've ever had). But it's somewhat a comfort to see the name of Zhang Tian Fu on the inner bag. He is one of the Wu Yi tea "god father" kind of figures. Well it's part of the commercial trick to convince people about quality of some tea, but at least we can assume the "god father" kind of people won't randomly put his signature everywhere.

After around 8 infusions, I boiled the tea. I heard people talking about boiling DHP (in the way people boil herb medicine) after ample infusions, in order to get all out from it. I thought it would be interesting to try. First I couldn't find any vessels to use, and eventually used some metal (maybe pewter?) pot that has been a decoration in my house (I am not 100% sure if it's food safe )






The result, it tastes like some mild herbal medicine which is also called some "herbal tea" in Guangdong. I guess it's healthy but after my 8 infusions, I was not impressed with the taste of herbal medicine. My husband (who generally doesn't drink tea) likes this herbal thing and he happily finished all of it with big chunks of "ice sugar" added.

[gingkoseto]

I don't know how much more I would like to do this boiling tea thing. But for boiling tea or water, I have been thinking about this equipment. It looks nice and convenient, and there are brick clay versions, which is cheaper but actually may be even better than faux yixing. Such a set costs only about $15 in China. But I can't imagine how much it takes to internationally transport this 6lb. thing, shipping costs, potential damages...

[gingkoseto]

I've posted too many photos today. But, a few more about "small red robe" (xiao hong pao). I would put them in a separate post so to distinguish it from the "big red robe". The "small red robe", I've never figured out what it is. But I guess I didn't quite figured out what "big red robe" is either.

I got the "small red robe" (XHP) from the same factory that produces the above "big red robe" (da hong pao). I took only one try. This XHP is not labeled with "superior grade" or any grade information. So I guess it's at a lower level than the other DHP product from the beginning, so the 2 are not at the same level to be compared. But overall I think this XHP is pretty good too, last a few less infusions than the DHP (which needs to be confirmed after more tests), leaves are a little more broken than the DHP (it doesn't come in individual small packs), but very much worth its price (less than 1/4 as much as that of the DHP).

With interference of the changing natural light, I didn't get good comparable photos of the XHP to contrast it with DHP. And many of my tea leaves show dark green-blueish color through my camera. Will try to do better next time

[Herb_Master]

Some interesting photos, and quite a tea journey that you are having.

AS to your valiant efforts in direct ordering from Chinese suppliers, I am more than impressed. Might we find you repeating the procedure with other tea manufacturers ?