An extra fruity Rou Gui Oolong with a fresh finish reminiscent of the aroma of rain and snow.
Rou Gui is one of the most popular cultivars for Rock Oolong (Yan Cha) because of its rich aroma and bold character. Rou Gui translates as 'Cassia' which is a relative of Cinnamon because it can often exhibit that sweet and spicy fragrance. However, don't get hung up on finding that particular aroma because great Rou Gui is much more varied than the name suggests offering all manner of complex aromatics.
We have been searching for a Rou Gui worthy of our shelves for many years and for one reason or another (usually exorbitant costs or teas which do not have enough longevity) we have never purchased any. It is such a popular tea and when we visit Wuyi, it is clear that Rou Gui is up there with the most produced varieties (alongside Shui Xian).
Cherry Storm is a uniquely fruity Rou Gui with less of the Cassia spice and more of the cherries and custard apples. Of course, it is rich in the roasty and toasty notes like dark baked biscuits and brownies but the roast has been balanced beautifully to avoid any harsh ar acrid notes in later rounds. In fact, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this tea is the snowy and petrichor (aroma of rain) freshness that it leaves in the mouth.
This Rou Gui is from Yi Xian Tian in the Ban Yan part of Wuyi mountains. Zhengyan tea (grown in the protected nature reserve) can be incredible but the price is very high and it is often disappointing. Ban Yan tea is more affordable but you have to hunt to find some really special brews - I think that this Rou Gui can easily stand up to the great versions from Zhengyan but at a much more affordable price.