Image 1 of 1
鐵羅漢 Tiě Luóhàn
鐵羅漢岩茶 Tiě Luóhàn “Iron Arhat” yánchá “cliff/rock tea” from 武夷山 Wǔyíshān, in northern 福建 Fújiàn province, China.
Part of the 四大名欉 Sì Dà Míng Cóng “Four Great Bushes”, Tiě Luóhàn is a quintessential oolong from Wǔyíshān with a history that stretches back to the Sòng period (960-1279). As with many of China’s classic teas, this tea is named after a legendary warrior monk, whose skin resembled the deep amber hue of the tea. It could also be named after an iron figure of a luóhàn, many of which were produced in classical China and are seen to exude both poise and strength.
Known for its robust array of floral and spice notes balanced by subtle and distinctive limestone-like mineral qualities, once the first sip is complete, it quickly follows with an even more refined and lingering finish, with notes of dark sugar, clove, and delightfully tart smoked plum (烏梅 wūméi). As a slightly less oxidized yánchá, the leaves begin to reveal a slightly greenish hue after steeping, a factor that contributes to this tea’s more mellow yet complex flavor profile. The classic quality of 岩韻 yányùn (lit. “rock/cliff rhyme”) is very present in this tea, for its crisp, mineral characteristics found both in the initial taste and long tapering finish.
Brewing Suggestions
Tiě Luóhàn demands a slightly more nuanced approach to brewing when compared to its other Wǔyí yánchá counterparts. It performs beautifully with a faster steeping time at higher temperatures, 4-6 grams of tea to a 120-180 ml (~4-6 oz) Yíxìng teapot or gaiwan, brewed in water at a near boiling temperature (~98C/210F) for 1 minute. You can push the tea a bit further with longer steep times to produce a more robust and intensely flavored result by increasing the first steeping to 2 minutes. Subsequent steepings can last as long, increasing the steep times by the fourth and fifth steeping by a minute to further extract flavor from the tea. By steepings seven, eight, nine, and ten, you’ll find the tea sweetens and the color of the liqueur lightens from its deep iron-like color to a bright golden amber hue.
鐵羅漢岩茶 Tiě Luóhàn “Iron Arhat” yánchá “cliff/rock tea” from 武夷山 Wǔyíshān, in northern 福建 Fújiàn province, China.
Part of the 四大名欉 Sì Dà Míng Cóng “Four Great Bushes”, Tiě Luóhàn is a quintessential oolong from Wǔyíshān with a history that stretches back to the Sòng period (960-1279). As with many of China’s classic teas, this tea is named after a legendary warrior monk, whose skin resembled the deep amber hue of the tea. It could also be named after an iron figure of a luóhàn, many of which were produced in classical China and are seen to exude both poise and strength.
Known for its robust array of floral and spice notes balanced by subtle and distinctive limestone-like mineral qualities, once the first sip is complete, it quickly follows with an even more refined and lingering finish, with notes of dark sugar, clove, and delightfully tart smoked plum (烏梅 wūméi). As a slightly less oxidized yánchá, the leaves begin to reveal a slightly greenish hue after steeping, a factor that contributes to this tea’s more mellow yet complex flavor profile. The classic quality of 岩韻 yányùn (lit. “rock/cliff rhyme”) is very present in this tea, for its crisp, mineral characteristics found both in the initial taste and long tapering finish.
Brewing Suggestions
Tiě Luóhàn demands a slightly more nuanced approach to brewing when compared to its other Wǔyí yánchá counterparts. It performs beautifully with a faster steeping time at higher temperatures, 4-6 grams of tea to a 120-180 ml (~4-6 oz) Yíxìng teapot or gaiwan, brewed in water at a near boiling temperature (~98C/210F) for 1 minute. You can push the tea a bit further with longer steep times to produce a more robust and intensely flavored result by increasing the first steeping to 2 minutes. Subsequent steepings can last as long, increasing the steep times by the fourth and fifth steeping by a minute to further extract flavor from the tea. By steepings seven, eight, nine, and ten, you’ll find the tea sweetens and the color of the liqueur lightens from its deep iron-like color to a bright golden amber hue.