«The White Cockscomb» is one of the oldest Famous Wuyi Cliff tea along with Da Hong Pao, Shui Jing Gui and Te Luo Han. This tea variety can rightly be called “cliff”, because it grows only among the cliffs in a limited area of the Wuyi National Park.
What is special about Bai Ji Guan Yan Long
It is relatively rare one, or, as they say in China, “Xiao Ping Zhong”, oriented to a narrow circle of sophisticated lovers and gourmets, because its manufacturing requires a great skill. In appearance, the tea tree of Bai Ji Guan is very different from others: its spring shoots of a very light salad shade grow close to each other, resembling a cock's comb.
The tea legend explains this similarity by the miraculous transformation of the white cock that died in the fighting with the eagle. The monk, who seen a cock that sacrificed his life while protecting his chick from an eagle, was touched by its courage. He buried the cock in the monastery garden and from that spot, the Bai Ji Guan tea bush grew.
"Bai Ji Guan Yan Long" is made by master-technologist Yan Long (Cliff Dragon). During manufacturing the tea leaves were exposed to moderate fermentation and baked on charcoal in traditional style (medium heat).
Bai Ji Guan Yan Long is rare tea for sophisticated connoisseurs
“Yan yun” (“Cliff Melody”) sounds in it in its subtle, floral mood, shimmering with fleeting tinges.
"Yan Yun" (岩韵) or "Cliff Melody" is a term used in Chinese tea culture to describe the unique and desirable flavor profile that certain high-quality rock tea (Yan Cha) from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian province, China, can possess.
The term "Yan" means rock or cliff, and "Yun" refers to the lingering aftertaste or aroma of the tea. The term "Yan Yun" thus represents the distinctive taste and aroma that results from the unique terroir and production methods of Wuyi rock tea.
Wuyi rock tea is grown in rocky soil in a mountainous region with a specific microclimate. The tea bushes absorb minerals from the soil, which contribute to the tea's flavor and aroma. The tea is also roasted over charcoal, which adds a smoky and earthy flavor to the tea.
The flavor and aroma of Wuyi rock tea can be complex and layered, with notes of fruit, floral, and mineral flavors. The "Yan Yun" of a high-quality Wuyi rock tea is said to be long-lasting, with a smooth and pleasant aftertaste that lingers in the mouth and throat. The term "Yan Yun" is often used as a way to describe the quality and unique characteristics of this type of tea.
Aroma / taste profile
Dry leaf: lengthwise twisted, middle size, olive-green and light-brown color. The aroma is intensive, ginger-biscuit. The liquor is transparent, meadow honey color.
The brewed tea has bright, spicy-biscuit bouquet with woody, berry and floral hints. The aroma is spicy-floral, complex and enigmatic. The taste is full-bodied, juicy, silky, sweetish with a tender tartness of dried berries, transforming into lingering finish.
How to brew Bai Ji Guan Yan Long oolong
- Brew tea with hot boiling water (90-95°C) in a porcelain gaiwan or a teapot of porous clay.
- The proportion is 4-5 g per 100 ml.
- The time of the first steeping is about 6-8 seconds.
- After that do short steeps (just for 2-3 seconds), increasing steeping time for each subsequent step, if necessary.
- You can steep the tea up to 7-8 times.