Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
“According to legend, the mother of a Ming Dynasty emperor was cured of an illness by a certain tea, and that emperor sent great red robes to clothe the four bushes from which that tea originated. Three of these original bushes, growing on a rock on Mount Wuyi and reportedly dates back to the Song Dynasty, still survive today and are highly venerated.”
Da Hong Pao is a Wuyi Oolong that has been known to sell for $1,250,000 per kilogram. Ours is infused with delicious organic pomegranate flavor and blended with real freeze-dried pomegranate arils. Thankfully it’s not anywhere near $1.25-million, but we do have only a limited supply.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Hmm … an interesting tea, this Pomegranate Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea from 52Teas! I wasn’t too sure what to think of it, given that Da Hong Pao is not my favorite when it comes to Oolong. I love Pomegranate … but, Da Hong Pao is one of those Oolong teas that I can take or leave … and sometimes, I’d much rather leave it. I’ve come across some Big Red Robe Oolong teas that I’m just not too fond of … while others I’ve liked alright. Some I’ve actually really enjoyed. But, none of them will ever compete for the place that Oolong teas like Ali Shan have in my heart.
But, because I do love Pomegranate, I decided to give this one a shot to see how well the flavors of Big Red Robe meld with the tart and tangy notes of pomegranate. And I like it.
Again, it’s not my favorite VIT (Very Important Tea) from 52Teas – but I guess they can’t all be my favorites. But it is certainly enjoyable. And I’m finding that as it cools, I’m enjoying it more. The fruitier qualities of the Oolong are starting to emerge now, and these unite quite nicely with the pomegranate notes.
The hints of smoky tones from the Big Red Robe add a really interesting element to the cup as well. I like the way this mingles with the pomegranate. The sip starts with a sweet, caramel-y undertone, and then I notice the notes of earth and smoke. The tangy notes of pomegranate begin to reveal themselves, and then as the sip comes to an end, I notice a sort of “charred wood” kind of taste and a mineral note that is quite interesting. I find the layers of flavor here to be very compelling. The aftertaste is sweet and slightly smoky, with a tart “tingle” that tickles the tip of the tongue. (How’s that for a tongue twister? I think even my fingertips got a little tongue tied!)
Overall, I am enjoying this cuppa. Not my favorite 52Teas blend … but certainly not a disappointment either – on the contrary, I’m enjoying this much more than I expected to! As I write this review, I see that there are only eleven pouches of this one left, and it is certainly worth a try – so you better hurry and grab yours while you can!
This is not the sort of tea I’d think of as using as a base for a flavored oolong…not only because it’s a high-end oolong, but also because I think of it as one that has a natural flavor that would be hard to blend well with other flavors. But I’ll suspend judgment until trying it.
I was skeptical at first too, but, I really like the way the pomegranate works with the Da Hong Pao. It’s very unusual, but, I like it.