Da Hong Pao

Best Tea House sells a first generation DHP (as distinct from the ORIGINAL DHP plants, from which tea is no longer sold) for $120 USD per

100g. By first generation it is meant that they are the first transplantation from branches taken from the original DHP plants.

Where did you taste your DHP, and what was it? Most online vendors sell low grade DHP that isn't worth their $$ and you are likely to be disappointed if you tasted something pretty good.

MarshalN

The price of the Best Tea House stuff makes me think that I have probably never had real DHP. You are referring to

right? This is the first time I've ever heard of this vendor.

Ah, the tea museum tea shop. I've been there, but never bought anything.

I'd imagine it's of the heavier variety -- woody and dark?

BTH doesn't really do online sales... not really anyway. I'm not even sure if they answer emails. Was it Rosa or Tiffany who was there when you visited, or both? They are rather generous with tastings.

MarshalN

They are by no means cheap. They do, however, have a good variety of stuff.

You can find stuff that is somewhat comparable in different aspects here in Beijing for less, although Da Hong Pao...... really run the gamut and there's a huge range in terms of taste and prices. Higher priced is not always better. It really depends on what you want out of the tea. These days I'm drinking stuff that are about $40 USD for

500g. It's just fine.

MarshalN

Found it in the Tea Museum Tea Shop in Hong Kong park - brilliant. Dont know what particular variety is was - but the lady suggested it was 'very rare' and 'high quality'. She did not know (or I couldnt understand) which generation of plant it came from. My wife and I tasted it and ye gods, what a delightful experience it was. A word was not uttered between us before

100g was nestiling in the bottom of our carry bag !

We visited the Tea Museum after we had been to BTH in TST - but we were chasing Pu-er at the time. It did not occur to me to eqnuire about oolongs at BTH (we had a list and was working through it!).

But thanks for the heads up, I'll check out their website. BTH is one of the shops's I'd trust now after being there. Very helpful, informative and patient - offered lots of teas to try with no apparent pressure to buy.

Cheers Mal Oz

means cheap. They do, however, have a good variety of

I wasn't into Wuyi tea at all when I lived in China, so I don't really know what's available everywhere else, but if it's anything like Anxi oolongs or pu'er, I'm sure you can buy crap for a fortune or gold for a pittance depending on where you go and how stupid you look. As for internet dealers, I've had what I consider to be decent DHP from Jing's and Hou De, and some really superb Shuixian from Jing and Stephane Erler - definitely enough to keep me going. Stephane's aged SX is particularly good. It would be interesting to try some absolutely top-grade DHP though.

What I am really dying for is good tieguanyin. There appears to be a real gap in the English-language market there.

It's not difficult to find good Wuyi tea here at all for very little money. They're everywhere and you can tell right away which one's good and which one's not, provided you have some idea of what you like and what you're drinking.

MarshalN

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Hi,

In my experience, among the various teas, Da Hong Pao together with WuYi Shui Xian are perhaps the trickiest to get hold of. So many choices, and so many variables lead to so many failures. I am going to see about getting my hands on the first generation DHP that you mention, although I might already have drunk it. If so it was quite good. (I will know by the end of the day.)

At best, these teas leave an impression on your throat that is at once sweet and complex, and a mouth feel with a sense of body that delights the senses. Also, an aftertaste that lasts long and changes as the seconds pass. Good WuYi teas are worth the effort to find, but so many are dull and listless. Those are my humble opinions.

Michael

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Hi Alex,

The owner of the Best Tea House is the tea teacher of Michael and Winnie at The Tea Gallery in NYC. They will be our best source of information and samples of BTH offerings. I'm glad MarshalN brought it up.

Michael

Thanks Michael. I will have to get over there one of these days. Also it's probably more convenient than ordering from Best by fax.

I'm drinking some very nice heavily roasted Anxi TGY right now, but I can barely taste it because of my cold. The heavy roasting gives it some fruit and smoothness that is reminescent of Wuyi teas.

Actually it's French, from "le lieu Anglais."

--scott

I came across this AskOxford explanation about other French origins:

Jim

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Wonderful!

Rosa & Tiffany are back on TST shop? Fantastic! It's such a chore to look them up in Tai Koo City whenever I'm in town! Must call them to chat soon...

BTH does online sales. I think Penny handles these things. There are 2 BTH companies: 1 in Hong kong, another in Canada - presently in Vancouver; these two are related. You may want to check with Penny if it is easier for you to purchase from the Canada store.

Hmm, didn't Tiffany dyed her hair?

:") miss those ladies!

Danny

I searched for a year trying to find some higher grade Da Hong Pao on the mainland and didn't find anything but the following disclaimer: It is nearly impossible to find very high grade stuff unless you are a local leader in the area it's produced.

Good luck in your search.

The Tea Gallery does NOT get their Wuyi teas from the Best Tea House. They have some other source for it.

MarshalN

Alex,

Was the shuixian from Jing the Laocong, or the "standard"? They're both priced identically. Also, the only shuixian that I see from Stephane Erler is the 2005 at $11.90/150g - is that the one? I suspect it isn't, as you mentioned "aged".

Thanks in advance; I've been chasing a good narcissus. :)

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

I can find some great Wuyi in Beijing. Maybe you were looking in the wrong area of the country?

MarshalN

I was told by a friend of mine that high quality tea are usually export or sold to people who can offer higher price, so I doubt most tea shop in Beijing will have the highest quality da hong pao.

MarshalN wrote: