Mr. Wu is back, and his Rou Gui is better than ever.
Mr. Wu is my longest-standing tea-making friend. I have been buying from him since 2017. Over those years, he has become a specialist in Rou Gui. While he does make other yan chas—roasted oolongs from Wuyi—his focus is Rou Gui. This Rou Gui reflects his years of experience and dedication to one tea.
This Rou Gui tastes like apple pie with cinnamon. The classic sweet Chinese cinnamon flavor is there—rou gui means cinnamon—but alongside it is a rich body with a caramelized-sugar sweetness. While the body is medium-light, the texture is that of a more heavily roasted tea. This combination of a light body and pronounced texture is an aspect of Mr. Wu’s teas that really sets him apart.
All in all, this Rou Gui is flavorful and well made, showing no signs of funk or bitterness. Its strong yet complex flavor can be analyzed or enjoyed casually.