Wuyi rock tea Oolong Comparison Set: 4 Soil Types 80g

Soil Environment

In The Classic of Tea by Lu Yu, it’s mentioned that tea trees grow best in different types of soils: “the best grow in rotten rocks, the middle in gravelly soil, and the worst in yellow earth.” Soil with rocks provides good drainage and airflow, preventing both waterlogging in heavy rain and dryness during droughts. It’s rich in minerals, and tea trees thrive in soil that’s both moist and acidic. For example, the finest Wuyi rock teas grow in soil made up of rotten rocks and gravel. On the other hand, lower-grade Wuyi teas, which mainly grow in yellow earth, lack the signature rocky flavor and have simpler, less complex aromas and tastes.

If you want to experience how different soil types affect the flavor of oolong tea, the best example would be a collection of Wuyi Rock Teas from various environments. This includes:

Core Zhengyan Wuyi Tea: Known for its rocky, gravelly soil, represented by the famous Three Pits and Two Streams (San Keng Liang Jian).
Wuyi Zhengyan Tea: Grown in soils rich in sandy gravel rocks.
Wuyi Ban Yan Tea: Grown in thicker layers of rocky red soil.
Wuyi Zhou Tea: Grown in soils dominated by loess (yellow earth).

Products Included:

• Core Zhengyan Wuyi Tea（Core Zheng Yan）20g
• Wuyi Rou Gui (Zheng Yan) 20g
• Wuyi Rou Gui (Ban yan Tea) 20g
• Wuyi Rou Gui (Zhou Cha) 20g

Origin：

• Core Zheng Yan：Wuyuan Jian, Tianxin Village, Wuyi Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province
• Zheng Yan：Tianxin Village, Wuyi Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province
• Ban yan Tea：Jingshui Village, Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China
• Zhou Cha：Xingtian Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China

Master Blender：

• Chen Hui

Processing Time：

• October 2024

Best Before Date：

• 36 months

Tea Variety：

• Wuyi Cinnamon Varieties

Altitude：

• Core Zheng Yan：342 meters
• Zheng Yan：400-500 meters
• Ban yan Tea：about 400 meters
• Zhou Cha： about 200 meters

Soil Type：

• Core Zheng Yan：Gravel Soil
• Zheng Yan：sandy gravelly soil
• Ban yan Tea：red soil dominated by thickly bedded rock
• Zhou Cha： yellow soil

Oxidation Level：Medium oxidation (45-55%)

Roasting Level：

• Core Zheng Yan：Three roasts, heavy fire, 105-110°C (221-230°F)
• Zheng Yan：Three roasts, heavy fire, 105-110°C (221-230°F)
• Ban yan Tea：Three roasts, heavy fire, 105-110°C (221-230°F)
• Zhou Cha：  Two roasts, medium-heavy fire, around 115°C (239°F)

Roasting Method (Charcoal or Electric)：

• charcoal briquetting 

Brewing Recommendations：

Chinese-Style Oolong Brewing
Teaware: Gaiwan or clay teapot
Water Temp: 212°F (100°C)
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1g per 0.7 oz (20ml)
Steep Time: 15 sec (1-3 steeps), add 5-10 sec after
Re-Steep: Up to 7 times

Western-Style Oolong Brewing
Teaware: Teapot, infuser, or French press
Water Temp: 212°F (100°C)
Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1 tsp (2-3g) per 8 oz (240ml)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Re-Steep: 3 times, adding 1 minutes each time