Wuyi Rock Rou Gui Oolong Tea: Brew, Taste & Buy Guide
Wuyi Rock Rou Gui Oolong Tea, also known as Rou Gui Tea or Cinnamon Oolong, is famous for its warm, rich, cinnamon-like aroma. When people hear “cinnamon,” they might first think of the kitchen spice used in stews or baking—yet this tea’s character comes solely from a unique varietal native to Wuyi Mountain’s volcanic soil (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Rou Gui tea trees are shrub-type plants, propagated asexually from a mother plant. This means all Rou Gui trees are genetically almost identical, like members of the same “family.”
Among the many varieties of Wuyi Rock Oolong tea, Rou Gui tea has a relatively short history. It is generally believed to have originated in the mid-18th century (around 1750), approximately 275 years ago, and large-scale cultivation only began after 1985.
Thanks to its delicate combination of floral, fruity, and cinnamon-like aromas, this Wuyi Rock Oolong is regarded as the most aromatic variety in the series.
So, how can it be brewed to fully reveal its unique aroma and flavor? Today, tea masters from the Chinese Tea Group will share the most authentic and traditional method to bring out the best qualities of Wuyi Rock Rou Gui Oolong.
Video Note: Explore the authentic way to brew Wuyi Rock Rou Gui Oolong Tea. The following step-by-step guide helps you unlock the tea’s rich aroma and layered flavors.
How to Brew Wuyi Rou Gui: 4 Key Steps
Use Boiling Water (95–100°C)
For Rou Gui tea that has undergone high-temperature roasting, using boiling water is essential. Only sufficiently hot water can release its floral, fruity, and caramel-like aromatic compounds. If the water is too cool, the tea’s characteristic “rock rhyme” and rich aroma will not develop fully.
Preheating Tea Ware
For teas requiring high temperatures, preheating tea ware (such as a gaiwan, fairness cup, or teacups) is crucial. This prevents the first infusion from losing heat to the vessel, ensuring the leaves steep at the optimal temperature to fully release their aroma and flavor.
Awaken Aroma by Shaking Leaves
Place 8 grams of dry Rou Gui Rock Oolong Tea into the preheated gaiwan. Cover it and gently shake three times. This “awakening” motion helps release the tea’s fragrance. Lifting the lid reveals the unique aroma developed during roasting.
First Infusion: Pour, Skim & Discard
Pour boiling water onto the tea leaves at a fixed point. Use the lid to skim off the surface foam, which is tea saponin. Skimming cleans the tea liquor and “awakens” the leaves. Quickly pour out the infusion, ensuring all liquid is drained. Lifting the lid allows you to smell the aroma as the leaves begin to unfurl. (This first infusion is typically discarded.)
Flavor Evolution: 2–10 Steeps
Steep 2: Amber Liquor & Floral Sweetness
Pour boiling water just over the tea leaves, steep for 3–5 seconds, then pour into the fairness cup and distribute into tasting cups. The tea liquor is amber in color.
Tasting: smooth and mellow, with rich floral fragrance, a slight spiciness, and a noticeable sweet aftertaste. The aroma lingers in the cup.
Steeps 3–6: Full Flavor & Rock Rhyme
From the third to sixth infusions, the tea leaves are fully unfurled, releasing more compounds. The tea liquor feels thicker and more viscous, floral aromas intensify, and the sweet aftertaste strengthens. The leaves appear glossy and slightly oily.
Steep 7: Gold Hue & Rock Nuances
Steep the leaves for about 20 seconds. As the tea’s energy diminishes, slightly longer steeping is needed. The leaves remain soft and glossy, while the tea liquor changes from amber to golden. Tasting: light, refreshing, with a gentle floral aroma.
Steeps 8–10: Light Florals & Lingering Essence
From the eighth infusion onward, steep for about 30 seconds. While the second to sixth infusions are rich and full-bodied with a strong aftertaste, the later infusions offer a lighter, floral, and refreshing experience, showcasing the layered complexity of Wuyi Rock Rou Gui.
Expert Tasting Notes & Pro Tips
Savoring Rou Gui tea brings the perfect sip: rich floral aroma and lasting sweet aftertaste. Regardless of the price per infusion, the true value lies in the experience—the body recognizes it. Drinking this medium-roasted tea is both pleasurable and satisfying. Any tea that makes you want another cup and lingers in memory is truly exceptional: Wuyi Rock Rou Gui.
Ready to explore the full range of Wuyi Rock Oolong teas? Browse our curated collection for premium selections.
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