A wonderful addition to Sparrowtail's line of Wuyi Oolongs, this Rou Gui has an intensity of flavor and aromatics that set it apart from the rest.
Grown in the rocky high-altitude tea gardens of Fujian's Wuyi mountain region, the name in English literally means "Cassia", a type of cinnamon, whose flavor the tea is reminiscent of.
Rou Gui is a heavily roasted and well-oxidized oolong. This premium grade of Rou Gui, called Zhengyan (meaning "full rock", signifying that it was grown in one of the rockier regions in Wuyi) brews up a heavily aromatic cup with cinnamon and fruit like flavors up front, with pronounced mineral and charcoal notes that fade somewhat in later steeps. It is a bit more infuseable than most other Wuyi oolongs; when prepared gongfu style with short steeps (recommended), it can withstand 7 or more brewings before the flavor noticeably drops off.
We recommend using very hot water (200f and above) to brew this tea.
Spring 2023 Harvest.