Ask any Chinese where the best tea in the world comes from, and they will say the Wuyi Mountains (Wuyishan) in Fujian province. According to legend, immortals have come to sip Wuyi Rock Tea in these misty mountains for over 2000 years. Lucky for us mortals, these days, anyone can dip into the glorious tea and tea culture of China’s ancient tea capital.
For some, tea is the only reason behind a trip to Fujian province.
Today, every other shop in Wuyishan seems to be a tea shop. After spending your days hiking or bamboo rafting between the stunning karst landscape of Wuyishan National Park, you really must pop into one of these tea shops for an authentic gong fu cha (kung fu tea) ceremony.
The tea master will brew pot after pot of Wuyi rock tea, Oolong, Da Hong Pao and black tea for you until you have found (a very well-caffeinated) zen state of mind.
Wuyi Rock Tea Character
Wuyi Rock Tea (or Yan Cha) is a Chinese Oolong that grows only in the Wuyi Mountains. It is called rock tea because the tea bushes grow in the mineral-rich mountains’ rocky valleys, ravines, and cliffsides.
Each valley and cliffside has its micro-climate and individual soil, resulting in hundreds of boutique teas unique in flavour and character.
You’ll accidentally glimpse all living beings when you drink a cup of Wuyi Rock Tea. It’s so much more than just a cup of tea.
The tea bushes bask in the sun, hide in mountain shadows and soak up rain to grow. The Nine-Bend River carries minerals to the soil, and the mountains block or alter winds between these tea gardens. Birds and insects make their homes here. Farmers pluck tea by hand, which is then roasted on flames. You’ll find a glimpse of all these lives in a cup of rock tea.
What Does Wuyi Oolong Taste Like?
The short answer: It tastes damn good.
The long answer: Wuyishan Oolong is known as rock tea because of where it grows, but it also has a rocky character due to the minerals in the soil. Imagine a hot sip of sweet, earthy and smoky that lingers in your mouth after swallowing.
Rock tea has quite a complex flavour profile. Your first sip will be on the bitter side, and then after a second, wood, charcoal, coffee, caramel, tobacco, cinnamon, and whiskey notes begin to develop that leave a sweet aftertaste in your mouth.
This robust tea is quite unique and addictive. After Da Hong Pao, every tea you drink will surely be bland.
Drinking Tea in Wuyishan
Tea is everywhere you go in Wuyishan.
If you’re buying tea to take home (YES, YOU SHOULD!), any teashop in town will gladly get you hooked on their best pot.
The tea master will start with a brew, describe its character and where it grows, and then after some smelling and sipping and ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing, make a few other recommendations, and then the process starts all over again. Plan to spend at least an hour relaxing, learning, tasting and finding the perfect tea for you.
You only need to pay for the tea that you’re buying. Choose a tea you like, not because of the backstory or how famous it is. Remember, you’re also paying for the experience, so buy at least something small.
Popular Rock Teas to Try:
- Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe)
- Shui Xian Oolong (Water Fairy Oolong)
- Rou Gui Oolong (Cinnamon Oolong)
- Qi Lan (Rare Orchid )
Drinking Da Hong Pao in its Natural Habitat
We had the most enjoyable pot of tea when hiking the Rock Tea Trail. Walking from the Da Hong Pao tea garden to the Water Curtain Cave, we stopped at the Wuiyuan temple and made a small donation to the temple in exchange for tea.
We sat drinking tea with the monk, played with his puppies, listened to the wind rustling through bamboo and birds chirping in the distance. Life was simple but perfect.
We reached Zen (with a cinnamon aftertaste lingering in our mouths) soon after
While the teashops in town will wow you with seemingly endless choices of tea to try, we think that the best place to have rock tea is in its natural habitat – between the mountains and fresh air. It’s difficult to put the beauty of that simplicity into words, but you know what I mean.
Da Hong Pao Ice Cream & Milk Tea
Tea is not supposed to be a pinky-in-the-air affair. While one can sip the best tea in the world until the cows come home here in Wuyishan, drinking tea is also a simple pleasure.
Keep your eyes peeled for Da Hong Pao ice cream – it’s perhaps the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Da Hong Pao milk tea or bubble tea is equally heavenly, either hot or cold.
Keep Calm & Drink (Rock) Tea – Visit Wuyishan
Tea, nature, and culture lovers will fall head over heels for Wuyishan. Magnificent mountains, rivers, forests, hidden temples, and a free flow of the world’s best tea await. It’s one of our favourite places in China.
How I Shot This Guide
Every photograph in this article was taken with the exact same gear I carry on every journey. It is a setup refined over years on the road to keep travel light without compromising the final image.
- Camera: Sony A7 V
- Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art.
- Storage: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
- Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic
- Outerwear: My North Face Canyonland jacket was lightweight and warm, perfect for travelling in Fujian in December
Enjoyed the article and was little funny. Especially the part you mentioned to drink the teas in their natural setting and to find zen. I was lucky to receive da Hong pao from a friend in the past and enjoyed it a lot. It was the unique after taste and the dark strong flavor. If you have a chance try visiting Alishan in Taiwan for high mountain oolong tea. That is another one of my favorites.
Glad you like tea (and our story), Gary. We will definitely go to Alishan when we’re in Taiwan. We were told that Taiwanese Oolong is fantastic.