Da Hong Pao

Da Hong Pao tea is one of the most famous Chinese teas. A huge number of articles, books, films, and video reports have been made about it, but original Da Hong Pao is very rare. So rare that you will hardly ever taste it unless you are among the world's richest people according to Forbes. The original Da Hong Pao grows on only four bushes in the northwest of Fujian province, in the Wuyi Mountains. In 1972, US President Richard Nixon received 50 grams of authentic Da Hong Pao as a gift, which would be worth $250,000 at today's rate. What is sold in China under the name Da Hong Pao are “descendants” from the mother bushes grown in the same climate zone. Don’t be upset; even if the Da Hong Pao you buy is not purebred, it is still excellent, tasty, healthy, and inspiring tea. The name Da Hong Pao translates from Chinese as 'Big Red Robe.' There are many variations of the legend about its origin. One says that on a memorable day in 1385, Ding Xian was taking the imperial exams. It was an extremely hot day, and passing by a monastery, he suddenly felt unwell and lost consciousness. Fortunately, a monk from Tian Xin Si nearby gave him Da Hong Pao tea. The tea proved medicinal. The young man quickly recovered, passed the exams successfully, and received a red robe with a dragon image. Ding Xian, grateful, first offered the robe to the monk who saved him, but the monk refused, being a Buddhist. Then Ding Xian gave his red robe to the Da Hong Pao bushes.