Rou Gui Tea, a kind of oolong tea, is named after its cinnamon taste in the tea soup. Rou Gui is sought after by many heavy tea drinkers, for its sharp cinnamon aroma & taste, but also its thickness and sweetness in the tea soup.
Its Tatse, Aroma and Appearance
The Ma Tou Yan area is approximately 425 meters tall and the Rou Gui Varietal has been grown in the region for over two-hundreds of years even before it was made popular it had been praised by scholars for its unique taste and aroma, it was first recorded during the Qing dynasty. The age also means that many of the bushes where the Rou Gui tea cultivar is grown are very old. It is also the reason for its unique taste as the minerally taste of the Zheng Yan area is present in the tea.
The Rou Gui tea is described as having an elegantly shaped leaf with a slight twist and fold. It has a strip style leaf. The dried leaves have an attractive matte dark charcoal black color which is due to the roasting that it got during the processing period.The tea is hand plucked at harvest time which is during the April – May period.
The Rou Gui tea undergoes an oxidation of approximately 50 – 60 percent during roasting. It is roasted using a charcoal fire and a medium roasting using traditional methods, it is done over a period of two weeks. This produces a dry floral or red fruity taste. On the other hand, the aroma is highly fragranced and penetrating. They are smooth and full bodied with a long lasting sweet cinnamon like aftertaste. The brewed tea itself is a bright orange-red color.
How to Prepare Rou Gui Tea
Western method: 12 ounces of 100℃, 5g grams of tea leaves and a teapot. Let the tea steep for 3-5 minutes.
Chinese method: You will need 3.8 ounces of water, 100℃,7 grams of tea leaves and a gaiwan. And there are 8 steeps, first, you rinse the tea, then steep at 10s, 15s,20s, 50s, 80s, 160s, 200s and 300s. taking a total of 5 minutes to brew.
Its Health Benefits
According to recent studies, the Rou Gui tea has been noted to burn fat faster than green tea, and it is said to increase the drinker’s metabolism leading to natural and safe weight loss. This s due to Polyphenol, a substance also found in green and black teas at a lower percentage. It is also said to reduce cholesterol effects, prevents cancer, strengthens the bones and prevents tooth decay and plaque. It is also useful for detoxification and cleansing. On the other hand, it is important to note that it can function as a diuretic and one must be careful of the caffeine levels although it is less than the one present in coffee it is still significant to cause changes in the body.
Caffeine Content of Rou Gui Tea
According to a study by the College of Medicine of National Taiwan University, the Rou Gui tea variety contains approximately 16 – 17mg of caffeine when steep in 100℃ water for 30minutes. This means that you will likely get less caffeine as the tea is steeped for a maximum of 5minutes on a normal basis. Compared to other matured high fired Shuixian teas, Rou Gui is not so mild to weaker stomach. Furthermore, the recent trend of reducing fermentation period and bake time in favor of cost-saving and maximizing aroma in dried leaf teas have made it similar to green in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, it should be an occasional drink and not too often.
When is the best time to drink it?
In terms of food pairing, it is difficult to say but it goes very well with seafood which is a safe option.it is more restrictive in terms of pairing. It should be noted that the Rou Gui tea should not be drunk with the meal but rather after the meal so as not to lose any nutrients from your meal. It should be drunk while it is still hot and the mature ones are milder to the mouth.
Enjoy your tea and ensure that you buy from only well sourced and trusted shops. More informations about oolong tea, check out JK TEA SHOP.
