DA HONG PAO 大红袍
Big Red Robe — The Grande Cru of Tea
Discover Why It's the World's Most Expensive Tea
What makes DA HONG PAO (or Big Red Robe) the world's most expensive tea? Da Hong Pao is the founding varietal of Oolong, and it comes with its fantastical legend. Meet the Mother Trees of Da Hong Pao, rooted in the mystical Wuyi Mountains.
Wuyi Shan is famous for producing the world’s most prized tea — Da Hong Pao, an Oolong tea valued at more than $32,000 per ounce, according to the third and final auction held in Hong Kong in 2004. This auction marked the final harvest of tea leaves from the Da Hong Pao mother trees.
Also known as Wuyi Rock tea, Da Hong Pao is synonymous with Wuyi Oolong. This is the origin of Oolong tea, a semi-fermented tea invented by the monks at the Mother Temple in Wuyi Shan during the Qing dynasty in the mid-17th century.
This old Buddhist temple from the Tang dynasty is forever immortalized. It’s said that the famous poem “7 Cup” by Lu Tong was inspired by tasting Wuyi Rock tea, also known as Wuyi Oolong.
The height of tea mysticism, Da Hong Pao Oolong is steeped in a fantastical origin story that inspired the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World. The three Mother Trees stand as China’s national monument. It was said that these celebrated tea trees were guarded by the Red Guards, 24/7, during the Cultural Revolution.
DA HONG PAO OOLONG VARIETAL
GONG FU CHA is used to taste Da Hong Pao properly, homegrown in Wuyi Mountains, Fujian China.
Da Hong Pao, a founding variety of Oolong tea, is the most complicated to make among all six types of tea. This is why Da Hong Pao is one of China’s most famous tea brands.
Learn more about the traditional art of tea-making.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DA HONG PAO
What is Da Hong Pao tea?
Da Hong Pao (大红袍, "Big Red Robe") is the founding varietal of Oolong tea (乌龙茶) and the world's most expensive tea, grown in the Wuyi Mountains (武夷山) of Fujian Province, China. Invented by Buddhist monks at Tianxin Miao (天心寺, "Temple of Heaven Heart"), also known as the Mother Tree Temple, in the mid-1600s during the Qing Dynasty. Da Hong Pao is classified as a Wuyi Rock Tea (Yancha 岩茶) — celebrated for its complex flavor combining floral, fruity, roasted, and mineral notes with a signature "rock terroir" aka "rock rhyme" (Yan Yun 岩韵) that comes from its famous Danxia landform sandstone cliffs where the tea trees grow. Discover Da Hong Pao's full story in the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
Why is Da Hong Pao the most expensive tea in the world?
Da Hong Pao is the world's most expensive tea because of its extreme rarity, illustrious origin story, and legendary Wuyi Mountains provenance (a Mixed UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site). Today, only three original Mother Trees still grow on the Jiulongke (九龙窠, "Nest of the Nine Dragons") cliff face in the Wuyi Mountains, joined by three propagated clones in the 1980s. Since 2006, the Chinese government has banned all commercial harvesting from these Mother Trees, preserving them as national cultural heritage. The proof of Da Hong Pao's astronomical value came at its third and final auction in Hong Kong, held in December 2004, where 20 grams sold for HK$166,000 (approximately US$21,000) — equivalent to US$32,600 per ounce. At the time, gold was US$436 per ounce, which meant Da Hong Pao sold for 75 times the price of gold. Discover Da Hong Pao's mystical origin story in the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
What is the most expensive tea in the world?
The most expensive tea in the world is Da Hong Pao (大红袍, "Big Red Robe") — a legendary Oolong from China's Wuyi Mountains. At the third and final auction in Hong Kong on December 12, 2004, 20 grams of Da Hong Pao from the original Mother Trees sold for HK$166,000 (US$21,000), equivalent to US$32,600 per ounce — 75 times the price of gold at the time. The tea's astronomical value comes from the rarity of its source: only three original Mother Trees remain on the Jiulongke cliff face in Wuyi, joined today by three propagated cuttings from the 1980s. The Chinese government banned commercial harvesting from the original trees in 2006, making any remaining Mother Tree tea priceless cultural heritage. The final batch is enshrined at the National Museum of China. Step inside the legend at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
What is Wuyi Rock Tea?
Wuyi Rock Tea (Yancha 岩茶) is synonymous with Wuyi Oolong tea — the legendary semi-fermented tea grown on the Danxia sandstone cliffs of the Wuyi Mountains (武夷山) in Fujian Province, China. Often called the "Kingdom of Tea Trees," Wuyi is home to over 800 distinct tea cultivars across its 36 peaks and 99 cliffs, making it one of the most botanically diverse tea regions on Earth. The most famous Wuyi Oolong varietal is Da Hong Pao (大红袍, "Big Red Robe") — celebrated as the founding variety of all Oolong tea (乌龙茶) and the world's most expensive tea. Other renowned Wuyi Rock Teas include Shui Xian (水仙, "Water Sprite"), Rou Gui (肉桂, "Cinnamon"), and Tie Luo Han (铁罗汉, "Iron Arhat") — collectively known as the Four Famous Bushes (Si Da Ming Cong) of Wuyi. The signature "rock rhyme" (Yan Yun 岩韵) mineral character that defines all Wuyi Rock Teas comes from the mineral-rich Danxia cliffs where the trees grow. Explore the forbidden Wuyi Mountains in our Tea Documentary at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
Where do the Da Hong Pao Mother Trees grow?
The Da Hong Pao Mother Trees grow on a narrow cleft known as Jiulongke (九龙窠, "Nest of the Nine Dragons") in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, China — a Double UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site. The three original Mother Trees, joined today by three propagated cuttings cloned in the 1980s by Fujian tea scientists, are over 360 years old and grow in the elite Zhengyan (正岩, "true cliff") zone — the inner core of the protected nature preserve where the finest Wuyi Rock Oolong (Yancha) is cultivated. The Mother Trees are guarded as Chinese national monuments. Journey deep into the sacred Wuyi Mountains with us in the Tea Documentary — captured on location over a month-long shoot at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
Where do Da Hong Pao come from?
Da Hong Pao originates in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, China. It is an Oolong tea, also known as Wuyi Rock Tea. Da Hong Pao is one of the most famous teas in the world, attributed to its legendary origin story. Today, only three Da Hong Pao Mother Trees remain alive, clinging to the cliff inside the sacred Mother Tree Temple, Tianxin Miao (天心寺), in Wuyi Shan. The Da Hong Pao Mother Trees grow inside a narrow cleft known as Jiulongke (九龙窠, "Nest of the Nine Dragons") on the temple grounds. The Wuyi Mountains are a Mixed UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site. The three original Mother Trees, joined today by three propagated cuttings cloned in the 1980s by Fujian tea scientists, are over 360 years old. The Mother Tree Temple sits in the elite Zhengyan (正岩, "true cliff") zone — the inner core of the protected nature preserve where the finest Wuyi Rock Oolong (Yancha) is cultivated. The Da Hong Pao Mother Trees are guarded as Chinese national monuments. Journey deep into the sacred Wuyi Mountains and greet these mystical Mother Trees in the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World — captured on location at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
How does Da Hong Pao taste?
Da Hong Pao has one of the most complex flavor profiles in all of tea. The dry leaves smell of roasted oak and aged tobacco. The brewed liquor is amber to golden and copper-red, with aromas of sandalwood, honey, flowers, and ripe stone fruit. The mouthfeel is refreshing and clean — filmmaker Christy Hui calls Da Hong Pao the "Champagne of Tea," likening the tasting experience to a mental walk in the fragrant mountains. Watch tea masters perform a tea tasting ceremony and describe Da Hong Pao's distinctive "rock terroir" or Yan Yun (岩韵, "rock rhyme") in our Tea Documentary. A signature of Wuyi Rock Tea is its long-lasting brew — yielding up to 10 distinct infusions. This mineral character cannot be replicated outside the Wuyi Cliffs — it comes from the unique Danxia landform sandstone on which the tea trees grow. Journey through Da Hong Pao tea-tasting with 12th-generation Oolong tea master, young Mr. Huang at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
How do you brew Da Hong Pao tea?
The traditional way to brew Da Hong Pao is Gong Fu Cha (工夫茶) — the Chinese tea ceremony invented by Buddhist monks at the Mother Temple in the mid-1600s for the sacred purpose of tasting their newly created Oolong. For an optimal tea tasting experience, use a small Yixing clay teapot (宜兴) or porcelain gaiwan (盖碗), 100-150 ml. Heat water to boiling (212°F / 100°C). Use 2-8 grams of loose leaves (depending on preferred strength). Rinse the leaves with a quick first pour, then discard. Steep the first infusion for 10-30 seconds (depending on personal preference), pouring through a fair cup (公道杯) into small tasting cups. Each subsequent infusion runs slightly longer — 30 to 90 seconds. A high-quality Da Hong Pao Oolong yields more than 10 distinct infusions, with flavors evolving from floral and sharp in early brews to mineral and woody in later steeps. Watch Buddhist monks perform the ancient Gong Fu Cha Zen Tea Ceremony at the Mother Tree Temple in the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
Can you buy Da Hong Pao from the original Mother Trees?
No. As of 2006, the Chinese government banned all commercial harvesting from the original Da Hong Pao Mother Trees to preserve them as national cultural heritage. The final batch of Mother Tree tea was crafted, presented to, and enshrined at the National Museum of China on October 10, 2007, where 20 grams remain sealed behind glass as a permanent cultural artifact. Today, all Da Hong Pao available for purchase comes from clonal cultivars — descendants propagated from the Mother Trees in the 1980s by Fujian tea scientists. Watch Da Hong Pao's legendary origin story in our Tea Documentary at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
How is Da Hong Pao featured in the Tea Documentary?
Da Hong Pao is the opening story — Chapter 1: The Legend of Da Hong Pao — in our feature documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World. The 90-minute film captures the legendary Mother Trees on the Jiulongke cliff, the sacred Tianxin Yongle Zen Temple (天心永乐禅寺) where Oolong tea and the Gong Fu Cha tea ceremony were invented, and on-camera testimony from 11th- and 12th-generation Oolong tea masters Old Daddy and young Mr. Huang of the venerable Hwang family. The documentary is the result of five years of research and filming across China, Hong Kong, Boston, and San Francisco. You'll meet Buddhist monks performing the Gong Fu Cha ceremony at the Mother Tree Temple and experience the splendor and mystique of Wuyi Mountains behind the forbidden tea regions. Stream the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, free at teadocumentary.com/watch — free on YouTube and Tubi, and ad-free on Amazon.
Did Chairman Mao give President Nixon Da Hong Pao during the 1972 visit to China?
According to many Chinese sources, Chairman Mao Zedong purportedly gifted President Richard Nixon a small jar of Da Hong Pao (大红袍) during the historic February 1972 ice-breaking visit — China's first opening to a Western head of state in over two decades. As the story is told, then-Premier Zhou Enlai explained to a puzzled Nixon that Chairman Mao had given him "half of China," because the entire annual harvest from the original Mother Trees was only 400 grams. This story has fueled the imagination of tea lovers for generations and become a cornerstone of Da Hong Pao's global mystique. However, the figures across Chinese tea sources are inconsistent — variously citing 200g, 160g, 400g, or 800g for the gift, and annual yields ranging from 300g to 2,000g — itself a signal that the story may be more legend than verified history. For the documentary TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, Director Christy Hui personally visited the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, to verify this widely-told story. The Nixon Library then corresponded with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) — the federal agency that maintains all official presidential records — to confirm what tea gifts were received during the 1972 China visit. Every state visit and every gift exchanged between heads of state is meticulously logged in the official White House Gift Registry. According to NARA's verified 1972 registry, First Lady Pat Nixon was presented with a gift of tea during the China trip — but the documented tea was Longjing (龙井, "Dragon Well") — a green tea — NOT Da Hong Pao. Out of respect for Da Hong Pao's legendary cultural significance, and given the account's apocryphal nature and the NARA registry's official record, the director chose not to include this narrative in the documentary. The story of Mao's "half the country" remains a beloved oral tradition — and the verified story of Da Hong Pao needs no embellishment: a 360-year Ming Dynasty origin, six living Mother Trees on the Jiulongke (九龙窠) cliff face (three originals plus three propagated clones from the 1980s), and the third and final auction of Da Hong Pao, held in Hong Kong on Sunday, December 12, 2004, where 20 grams sold for US$32,600 per ounce — every tea leaf worth its weight in gold, seventy-five times over. Watch the documentary, TEA: The Drink That Changed The World, at teadocumentary.com/watch — streaming free on YouTube and Tubi, ad-free on Amazon.
WUYI: THE HEART OF TEA
Tea steeps an incredible story never before told. Journey into the forbidden tea region of China — the sacred Wuyi Mountains, birthplace of Da Hong Pao and Lapsang Souchong, world’s first Black tea — and uncover the most audacious tea heist in history. A true story steeped in history, humanity, and spirituality. Brewed over the millennia deep in the Nest of the Nine Dragons in Wuyi Shan. Explore this cup of history and mystery in TEA: The Drink That Changed The World.
TEA CULTURE: FROM CHINA TO THE WORLD
From the sacred Wuyi Mountains, the birthplace of Da Hong Pao and historic Black tea, this simple drink traveled the world — carried by Buddhist monks to Japan, by Western empires to Europe — sparking romance, wars, and spirits of independence and culminating in the most audacious, oldest case of industrial espionage. Explore how one humble beverage from China gave birth to a global cultural icon.
