Da Hongpao

Da Hong Pao is produced in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, and is a treasure among Wuyi rock teas.

It is said that in ancient times, a poor scholar went to Beijing to take the imperial examination. When he passed Wuyi Mountain, he fell ill on the road. Fortunately, he was seen by the old abbot of Tianxin Temple, who made him a bowl of tea. Sure enough, the scholar was cured. Later, he passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar. He was also recruited as the prince consort of the emperor.

One spring day, the top scholar came to Wuyi Mountain to express his gratitude. Accompanied by the old abbot, he arrived at Jiulongke with a large crowd of people. He saw three tall tea trees growing on the cliffs, with lush branches and leaves, and a group of tender buds. They shone with a purple-red luster in the sun, which was very lovely. The old abbot said that you had bloating last year, and you used this tea to make tea. A long time ago, every spring when the tea trees sprouted, they would beat drums to summon monkeys, put on red clothes and pants, climb up the cliffs to pick tea leaves, fry them and store them, which could cure all diseases.

 After hearing this, the champion asked to make a box of tea to be presented to the emperor. The next day, the temple burned incense, lit candles, beat drums and rang bells, summoned monks of all sizes, and headed for Jiulongke. Everyone came to the tea tree to burn incense and worship, and shouted in unison: "Tea sprouts!" After Ran Yuan brought the tea to Beijing, the queen had a stomachache and the emperor was cured by drinking tea. The emperor was overjoyed and gave a Dahongpao to the champion, asking him to represent him to Wuyi Mountain to confer awards. Along the way, the salutes were blasted and the candles were bright. When they arrived at Jiulongke, the champion ordered a woodcutter to climb halfway up the mountain and put the Dahongpao given by the emperor on the tea tree to show the emperor's grace. Strangely enough, when the Dahongpao was uncovered, the three tea trees were dyed red. Later, people called these three tea trees "Dahongpao". Someone even carved the three big characters "Dahongpao" on the stone wall. From then on, Dahongpao became a famous tea that was presented as tribute every year.