★★★★★
A great Oolong to enjoy in a traditional gongfu brewing session.
From the WuYi Mountains in Fujian, China. These oolongs are highly prized for "yan yun" or "rock taste." Rich aromas of roasted vegetables, sweet honey, river stones. Delicately spicy, rounded texture, pit-fruit flavors, and subtle peach juiciness.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Wuyi Da Hong Pao, including flavor, aroma, preparation preferences, strength, and how the tea fits into daily routines. Browse the full review history page by page to compare tasting notes, steeping tips, and favorite ways to enjoy this tea.
A great Oolong to enjoy in a traditional gongfu brewing session.
It's very bitter and not much to write hone about.
Lovely orchid and mineral fragrance upon brewing. The notes that I get are mostly mineral and the slightest bit of floral. I usually prefer greener oolongs, but this one is definitely worth enjoying!
I put this tea in a taste test against the Wuyi ensemble. It was actually very hard for me to taste much of a difference at first. This tea might've been a little more robust with slightly more depth, but again very similar. Once these 2 teas started to cool down however there was a very noticeable difference. The cooler this tea got the more like veggie water it began to taste. Meanwhile the Wuyi ensemble continued to stay smooth and yummy right up until the last drink. Don't get me wrong this is one of the better Oolongs out there. I just Can't give 5 stars to a tea that just got beat in a taste test by a product that costs 3 times as less.
Not only did I find the taste to be good, but so did the people who I shared this tea with.
As long as you don t oversteep it, this is a very pleasant tea. I find it to be relaxing, with subtle earthy tones. I usually like sweetener in my tea, but this one doesn t really call for it. @adagioteas
This is a gentle tea, relax with a cup of this tea for some simple down time.
Very mellow and comforting tea. I just keep it steeping in my cup and add more hot water into it. It s strong enough this way for 2-3 cups. @adagioteas
I love the spice flavor of the tea! There are so many layers to this tea and it is very delicious! It also re-steeps well for a more mild cup! It is an excellent warm cup!
Really nice tea with good flavors, really lovely.
I really like this tea! Glad it came back in stock. It’s often not available.
Not a big fan. I expect smokey or a mineral taste in my oolongs and this one has neither. It actually has more of a spice taste like a Chai. Not my style so won't be purchasing again.
Update: I finally revisited this tea and was able to get better results by using more leaves (I think a weight measurement vs. a tsp works better with this type of tea, the leaves are so big and light that one tsp is just not enough for one cup. With that worked out, this was a much more flavorful cup of tea. Those notes in the description were more accurate and it earned another star.
Original (12-30-20): This tea was fine, but not overly special. It had a very toasty, earthy smell when dry. When brewed it still had some of those same notes, but not as pronounced. It was very light in flavor, and a little more grassy than I prefer. The second steep did not produce much flavor at all. It's drinkable, but not worth the price.
This was the most refined, delicate tea I have tried yet. The after tones are floral heaven. @adagioteas
It was just ok. I was hoping for a replacement for the wuyi oolong that s been out of stock for so long. It did not have the mineral taste I was looking for. @adagioteas
The golden liquor that comes from steeping this tea is a gorgeous orangish hue. No bitterness, only sweet vegetal and, yes, like the mineral taste of small stones in your mouth.
It's a bit interesting to brew since this is one of the teas that come with the leaves dried in long and crooked shapes rather than small or curled shapes. So it's actually a bit difficult to make sure you put in the right amount to brew, but it is very worth it.
Note: The tin will say 212F/100C for 4 minutes. Ignore that and follow the recommended time on this page of 195F for 3 minutes.
This is, by far, the best Da Hong Pao I ve tried. It s light and sweet, honey and floral, deep and complex with a long, lingering aftertaste of orchid-lily. Other varieties of DHP have such a harsh, highly oxidized taste that I feel like someone slipped in coffee grounds. Even the Wuyi Ensemble has a harsher aftertaste comparatively, and while that one is sweet and fragrant, it doesn t achieve the orchid floral notes I ve read about and looked forward to in a high-quality Da Hong Pao. This Master s version is the first DHP which lived up to my expectations - it is mineral and a little salty, and by the third brew it tastes like water poured from a seasoned Yixing teapot even when its brewed in porcelain. Brew this tea with soft filtered water, as hard tap water will make it fall flat and taste like a rock. Compared to the Dacong Aria, it is equally sweet but has more depth and more floral component. This tea is very similar to Adagio s Formosa Red Oolong, but not as complex or layered, and does not re-brew as strongly. Overall, the Red Oolong has a more roasted sugar depth while the Da Hong Pao begins more floral and ends more mineral. This is the only Da Hong Pao I have enjoyed and I will greatly enjoy drinking it again, but in terms of taste and price point, I will be sticking to the Red Oolong for re-orders.
I am not sure about this tea. It does taste like rock, which I think it is supposed to be, but that is it and nothing more than that.
Really savory and smoky, and yes, it does have a rock taste to it. It's a really nice, unique experience.
This oolong was superb. I was able to enjoy multiple steeps with each steep showcasing different flavors. I also tried it chilled and it was refreshing. If you love oolong, put this one in your cart. Happy sipping!
I was SO disappointed in this tea. There is a bitter aftertaste that makes it undrinkable.
Very good. A little pricey for me since I already love other pricey teas, but I'll put this on my rotation list to buy when I have pts accumulated and can get a discount.
I can’t remember much about this one. I haven’t ordered it since.
Rich, complex flavor. My husband's comment was 'Oh my.'
This is a really nice, deep tea. Love it in the morning or a mid day pick me up.
My new favourite dark(er) oolong, easily. The mineral notes here truly contribute, without being overbearing in cases like fujian rain, and the depth of the flavour seems never-ending during the experience. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would, and only wish that the price meant that it could be more than a very rare indulgence.
Nice oolong, quite different than others I’ve tasted. Adagio’s description of the tea is truly spot on, I can’t describe it any better than that.
This tea also transformed with each steep. First steep had more of the peach and vegetal flavors, second steep was much more mineral.
One note: the bottom of my tin said to steep this at 212 for 4 min so that’s what I did. The website suggests 195 for 3 min. I’ll try that next time and see if it makes a difference. This tea may be more temperature tolerant, or different preps might bring out different tastes. Or one of these instructions is just wrong and suboptimal?
Update:
I’m comparing this tea to Wuyi Ensemble from the oolong portions sampler. I can see many similarities, both have strong mineral tastes. I’d say Wuyi Da Hong Pao has more complexity since I tasted more fruitiness among the minerality, although the taste changed with repeated steeping and became more mineral. Both are good, just slightly different. I’d give both 4/5 stars and it’s hard to say which is “better”, it depends on mood, and if I’m seeking more adventure or consistency.
I could never quite put my finger on a description of why I love oolongs until I read about (and then tried) this tea. The minerality! I love that rich, stone taste (not earthy, no dirt). This tea has the most subtle floral note which I at first thought would go full jasmine but didn't. Pleasantly surprised and definitely a fan!
Bought this for my s/o, he says it’s super tasty, he drinks it almost daily now
The description really is pretty spot on for this one. Tastes like rocks and peaches. The minerality is as much a texture as it is a taste. A bit strange at first, but definitely interesting. There is much to dissect with this tea - lots of flavors at play, but none that dominate. Like I mentioned earlier, there is some peach, although it is quite warm and mellow (but at the same time not particularly sweet). More like canned peaches than fresh peach. There's also a bit of spice (black peppercorn, cinnamon) and notes of tobacco. As snobby as it may sound, this is a fun tea to just sip slowly and contemplate. Each sip comes with a different flavor to focus on. Not a tea I would drink every day, but each time I pull this one out, it's the main event.
It's nice. I really enjoy the minerally taste. I am happy that adagio offers such high quality teas to try out.
very delicious tea! Very smooth and delicate. Oolongs are my favorite
Might be my new favorite oolong tea. Love the subtle hint of honey.
Hands down the best oolong I have ever tasted. Well worth every penny. So rich and flavourful, lovely mineral taste without being weird. Made me go wow when I first tasted it, and understand why people are so passionate about oolong.
My favorite tea. Of course, it's also the most expensive (I believe). I got the 10 cup package this time just to remember the taste. There's nothing quite like it - so beautifully deep and oolong - with a 'mineral' (distinctive) aroma - it is truly a sophisticated tea. There's real magic in this.
My best example is the difference between truly great Champagne and sparkling wine. When you taste something like Moet Chandon, there is a spirit in it that is happy, it makes you happy when you drink it. It must come from the land. It is there, though you can't explain it. To me, Da Hong Pao is similar - not so much 'happy,' but a spirit that's deeply balanced and true. It is a perfect tea. It is utterly distinctive yet has the the essence of oolong.
It's a rather bulky (big dried leaves) so it's hard to get the right measure for a cup. It's more than a teaspoon for a cup. Two big 3-fingers-and-a thumb pinches in a 2 cup pot. Then boiling water and a quick wash - dumping out the first liquid (just to clean the leaves). then fill the pot or mug and leaves with the boiling water. At my high altitude it takes about 2 minutes to get the perfect color and aroma. I gently raise and lower the basket in the water to get some water pressure on the leaves and release the liquor. If you use enough leaves you can re-brew it once (about 3 minutes) - but the full bouquet is mostly in the first brewing. I realize, this is mostly subjective so I hope you find your way to the full expression of this tea.
Not that good. Only the initial steep has pronounced flavor. Second steep which ought to be the best turned out to be very disappointing.
Perfect for a tea party for a 100 yr old grandma. I loved the flavor w/out adding cream or sugar
First steep is an amber color that definitely has a mineral taste, almost like you are holding a piece of granite under your tongue. The dry smell is super unique, almost like a pile of wet leaves after a storm. The second steep is a bit more mellow, with the secondary flavors of peach pit coming through a bit more to the front. A super interesting tasting tea, glad I tried it. Don’t know how much I love it thought
I was really looking forward to tasting wet stone in this but I don't, my palate might just need practice. It's really nice though, very soothing and good as a daily drinking tea. Very faint hints of peach and floral notes
I really enjoyed this tea. It had a great flavor and held up for a second steeping.
I would recommend to anyone who likes black tea
Wow.. what a unique tea. I bought a Gaiwan to brew it in smaller quantities over several infusions to appreciate how the flavor changes with each steeping. The first infusion is rich and has a stronger mineral taste and a leaves a nice after taste in the mouth. In the later infusions I can definitely taste the rock flavors emerge. A great experience all around.
Brewed gong fu style, very good. Not the best oolong I've ever had considering the price, but still very good.
darker and heavier than other oolongs, this is heavily oxidized and that lends it more of a toasty, bready nature that balances nicely with the floral sweetness of a typical oolong
Very refreshing with a mild mineral taste. Will definitely put this in the wish list!
Love the flavor! I prefer this tea over Pu-erh. This tea leaves clean taste if you don’t mix in anything. I love watching Korean dramas on Netflix sipping this tea after dinner :)
Like it says, it does have a mineraly taste. Different, and I appreciate that, but not one that I'd go to in a pinch.
This is a smooth, soothing tea. I enjoyed the slightly earthy undertones as well. If you do not allow your water to be above 190 and steep a little longer than you might think the mix of flavors will be enhanced.
This tea is wonderfully complex. Earthy and mineral notes pair well with a fabulous oolong flavor. This is a top tier oolong for certain.
I really loved drinking this Oolong. It totally tastes like rocks and peaches!
this tea is just great. it's like the best parts of oolong tea with the best part of black tea