Da Hong Pao is perhaps one of the rarest and most valuable tea varieties found in China. The origin of this unique drink is shrouded in myths and legends, many of which are known, but some of them are unfamiliar even to connoisseurs of the Chinese tea ceremony.
The most common legend about Da Hong Pao is that of the Ming Dynasty emperor. The emperor was taking his mother to the south of China, who was ill, but wanted to go on a journey to die where she was born. In the Wuyishan mountains, the emperor and his servants decided to stay for the night. Several tea bushes grew on the stone slopes. The emperor collected the leaves from them and made tea, which turned out to be surprisingly healing: after drinking this tea, the emperor's mother felt much better, after which the disease began to go away. She was soon completely healthy. The emperor was so impressed by the healing properties of the drink that he ordered regular deliveries of this tea to the court, and then presented the tea bush with his imperial robe. This story is one of the versions why this type of tea is often called the "Big Red Robe". As far as Da Hong Pao's healing power is concerned, it is really great.
It is surprising that those legendary bushes that grew on a stone cliff in the Wuyishan Mountains can be seen today. They have survived, despite the fact that they have been growing for over a thousand years. Tea leaves are still harvested from these four bushes and a very small batch of tea is prepared, which is sold for huge sums of money at international auctions. Just a few kilograms of Da Hong Pao, harvested from authentic bushes, cost connoisseurs and collectors several tens of thousands of US dollars. No other variety is famous for such rarity and high price.
Another legend about the origin of Da Hong Pao also tells about a high-ranking person, but this time it will not be about the emperor, but about a wealthy Chinese official. He was in one of the mountainous provinces when he fell seriously ill. As a medicine, the monks who lived in the mountains presented him with a drink made from leaves from a tea bush that grew on a mountain slope. The drink instantly restored the health of the civil servant, and as gratitude and gratitude, he hung a precious red cloak on the tea bush that healed him. This determined the symbolism of Da Hong Pao for a long time: for many centuries, only members of the imperial family and high-ranking servants of the emperor could drink this tea. Everyone can try Da Hong Pao today in order to touch the ancient tradition and appreciate all the advantages of this unique drink.
