Once upon a time, before Wuyi rock tea became widely known, people often spoke of Da Hong Pao but knew little about rock tea itself. On the steep cliffs of Jiulongke in Wuyi Mountain, the mother Da Hong Pao trees—three trees with six trunks—have stood for over 360 years. Listed as ancient and famous trees in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List, they represent the supreme treasure of Wuyi rock tea. In 2005, 20 grams of tea leaves from these mother trees fetched a record price of 208,000 yuan at auction. Since 2006, the Wuyi Mountain government has implemented special protection for the mother trees, halting all picking to ensure their healthy growth.
Few people know that the mother Da Hong Pao trees are not a single variety, but a combination of Beidou, Qidan, and Queshe.
Among them, Beidou and Qidan are pure-bred Da Hong Pao, propagated asexually from the mother trees. According to records edited by Yao Yueming, a leading authority on Wuyi rock tea, in the late 1960s, tea masters cut and grafted shoots from the aging mother trees, cultivating three strains: Beidou No.1, Beidou No.2, and Qidan. After more than ten years of testing, they proved to have an extremely high premium production rate, with exceptional aroma and taste, and are now widely planted across Wuyi’s rocky peaks.
Queshe, by contrast, was bred sexually from the offspring of the mother trees in the early 1980s, with a distinct genetic lineage from pure-bred Da Hong Pao.
Pure-bred Da Hong Pao is a model of elegant charm among rock teas. As a top variety, Qidan features an elegant, quiet, and rich fragrance, subtly reminiscent of osmanthus and creamy notes. Its taste is rich, mellow, and sweet, with a pronounced rock rhythm—a true expression of the authentic lineage of the Jiulongke mother trees. This purity is exactly what Tongxin She Teahouse has always pursued, making Qidan our favorite traditionally processed rock tea.
As the year draws to a close, Kuanlu Tea, in collaboration with artist Mr. Wang Weixin, launches the artistic and cultural tea gift He Sui Tianfen (Blessed Vintage), presenting Tongxin She’s beloved pure-bred Da Hong Pao Qidan in a stunning combination of tea and art.
After tasting this tea, Mr. Hu Jingde, a contemporary researcher of calligraphy and painting and a tea enthusiast, wrote:
“On an unusually cold day in northern Fuzhou, I planned to read but could hardly focus with cold seeping into my feet. In my youth, I would warm wine and read Records of Huaiyin Marquis. When moved by brilliant passages, I would slap the table in delight, spilling wine and filling the air with fragrance.
Now, too cold for wine, I felt disappointed—until a SF Express delivery arrived: rock tea, Qidan, named Tianfen. Why not replace wine with tea?
The first infusion: warm roast, warming the body.
The second: tea character emerges, firm and structured.
The third: roast fades, rock rhythm flows smoothly down the throat.
The fourth: body and soul fully warmed, I returned to my book with joy.
Later sips, enjoyed between focus and relaxation, felt much like reading with wine in years past.
Though the cold lingered, tea chased away nine-tenths of it. Finishing a chapter, my mouth held sweet aftertaste, and my body felt warm and comforted.
I thought: this Qidan comes from Ma’an Rock, a core authentic rock tea area, and is a direct descendant of Clumps No.2 and No.6 among the six original Jiulongke mother trees. No wonder it carries such powerful energy, able to ward off the cold.”
He Sui Tianfen Qidan is a heavenly gift from nature and a masterpiece of inherited craftsmanship. The packaging features the artwork Youth Like Fire by Mr. Wang Weixin from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The talent and spirit of the artist meet the nurturing of Wuyi’s mountains and the meticulous traditional tea-making craft. Tasting this tea is not only about flavor but also appreciating art and life.
This pure-bred Da Hong Pao Qidan comes in a net weight of 54g (9g × 6 infusions), grown in the core authentic rock tea production area, crafted with strict traditional techniques.
Quality Characteristics:
• Aroma: Pure and elegant, with distinct varietal fragrance of Qidan and lingering floral notes.
• Taste: Smooth, soft, full and mellow; quick, sweet aftertaste with a prominent, lasting rhythm.
• Character: Clean, pure aroma, highlighting the unique traits of this famous ancient tea bush.
The meeting of tea and art is always a resonance of dedication and spirit. Scholars and refined gentlemen of ancient and modern times have kept tea as their companion, infusing its fragrance into their brushwork. Today, Tongxin She Teahouse uses He Sui Tianfen Qidan to carry on the pure lineage of the Jiulongke mother trees and the craftsmanship of traditional Wuyi rock tea.
Every cup holds the profound rock rhythm of Wuyi and the gentle harmony of art and life.
A sip of Qidan is a conversation with the 360-year heritage of the mother trees, an embrace of nature, art, and craftsmanship—and a chance to encounter the purest original flavor of Da Hong Pao.
Product Info
• Net Weight: 54g (9g × 6 bags)
• Type: Pure-Bred Da Hong Pao (Qidan)
• Origin: Core Authentic Rock Tea Area, Wuyi Mountain