| Wuyi tea | |||||||||||
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 Da Hong Pao, a typical Wuyi tea | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 武夷茶 | ||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 武夷岩茶 | ||||||||||
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Wuyi tea, also known by the trade name Bohea in English, is a category of black and oolong teas grown in the Wuyi Mountains of northern Fujian, China. The Wuyi region produces a number of well-known teas, including Lapsang souchong and Da Hong Pao.[1][2] It has historically been one of the major centers of tea production in Fujian province and globally. Both black tea (excluding brick tea) and oolong tea were likely invented in the Wuyi region, which continues to produce both styles today.[3][4]
Wuyi teas are prized because of the distinctive terroir of the mountainsides where they are grown.[citation needed] Because of the lower yield produced by tea bushes in such terrain, the resulting tea can be quite costly. Tea made from the leaves of older bushes is particularly expensive and limited in quantity. Da Hong Pao, collected from what are said to be the original bushes of its variety, is among the most expensive teas in the world, and more valuable by weight than gold.[5] Commercial-grade tea grown at lower elevations in the area accounts for the majority of the Wuyi tea available on the market.[6] Commercial Da Hong Pao is made from cuttings of the original plants.[5]
- ^ Harney 2008, p. 20.
- ^ Mair & Hoh 2009, p. 115.
- ^ Harney 2008, p. 77.
- ^ Mair & Hoh 2009, pp. 116–117.
- ^ a b Rose 2010.
- ^ Heiss & Heiss 2012, pp. 106–107.