Bohea is also called Wuyi tea or rock tea, which means that these tea trees grow in the cracks of rocks, and the most authentic rock tea is Wuyi Mountain rock tea. But not all oolong tea grown on rocks is Wuyi rock tea. Only those tea trees grown within the administrative scope of Wuyi Mountain are orthodox. The rock tea here is the most prestigious and of the highest quality. This kind of rock tea is a kind of oolong tea. It is a kind of tea that is not fully fermented and is a semi-fermented tea. Oolong tea is famous for its unique rock charm of "rock bone flower fragrance". The main production area is the Wuyishan Tea Area in Fujian, China. The Wuyishan Tea Area is located in the northeastern part of Fujian Province.
Compared with new rock tea, the pharmacological effects of aged rock tea are more obvious. It not only has the effects of improving eyesight and calming the mind, protecting and warming the stomach, digesting and losing weight, activating blood circulation and dredging collaterals, eliminating flatulence, etc., but it can also prevent and treat atherosclerosis, lower blood lipids, It has various medicinal effects such as lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar, anti-cancer, preventing cancer, and protecting against radiation. In 2001, Wuyi Rock Tea successfully applied for the “Product Protection of Origin Region”.
In other words, only tea produced in the Wuyi Mountain tea area can be called Wuyi rock tea. Among Wuyi rock teas, according to the place where the rock tea grows, it can be divided into Zhengyan tea, Banyan tea, Zhoucha and Waishan tea. This is also a type of regional protection. The places where these rock teas grow are also called mountain farms. Based on the differences in these rock tea mountain fields, the mountain field theory of Wuyi Mountain evolved. In the minds of tea lovers, the tea produced in these mountain farms also has a ranking. Zhengyan tea is the best, followed by semi-rock tea, then Zhou tea, and Waishan tea again.
Zhengyan is produced in Huiyuankeng, Niulankeng, Dakengkou, Liuxiangjian, Wuyuanjian and other places at high altitudes. Produced in the low-altitude Qingshi Rock, Bishite Rock, Matou Rock, Shizikou and Jiuqu River areas below Sandakeng, it is a semi-rock. Chongxi and Huangbaixi, on both sides of Wuyi Rock, produce tea in sandy soil tea gardens, which is called continent tea.
Secondly, the mountain field theory of rock tea is not "discrimination", but these different mountain fields and different microclimate environments will directly affect the quality of rock tea. In summary, the closer the rock tea is to the core mountain farm, the higher the quality.
This kind of tea can be divided into 5 varieties, namely cinnamon, narcissus, Dahongpao, Mingcong, and Qizhong. The tea aroma includes floral, fruity, etc.
1. Cinnamon: The leaves of this kind of rock tea are not very big and belong to the medium-sized leaves; its aroma is relatively strong, with some cinnamon aroma; the cords are relatively tight, and its color is relatively dark and moist, with a little sandy green; the tea soup The color is orange-yellow, then golden yellow, and it is relatively translucent.
2. Narcissus: This kind of tea belongs to the relatively large-leaf type. The tea leaves of this tea are particularly strong, with a long tea aroma, the fragrance of orchid, and a sweet and dry taste. The color of the tea soup is relatively rich, which is a darker orange-yellow or a dark golden-yellow. This kind of tea is more resistant to brewing.
3. Dahongpao: This tea is the most famous among rock teas, and it is also a tea suitable for slow drinking in a small cup. The cords of this kind of tea are relatively tight, and the color of the tea is green-brown, which looks particularly fresh. After brewing, the color of the tea soup is garcinia yellow and relatively bright. The color of the tea leaves is red and green. The aroma is of orchids and the aroma is relatively long-lasting.
4. Mingcong: The style of this tea is between narcissus and cinnamon. The shape of the finished tea is also relatively firm. The color of the finished tea is green and oily; the aroma of the tea has a natural floral aroma; the color of the tea soup is also Orange-yellow and particularly bright. The more famous famous trees include Iron Arhat, White Peony, Golden Osmanthus, etc.
5. Qizhong: This kind of tea is made from local vegetable tea varieties. The appearance of the finished tea is also relatively uniform and neat; the color is green and slightly brown. The natural floral aroma of this tea is not overpowering and is characterized by durable storage.
In fact, it is quite important to choose what kind of rock tea to buy. Friends who are new to rock tea can choose light or medium fire tea with a lighter taste. Friends who have been exposed to rock tea for half a year can choose medium-fire and medium-fire or first-class rock tea. If you have been drinking this kind of tea for more than a year, you can choose to drink full-fire tea or high-fire tea.
Note: When we store white tea, we should choose according to the fire power of rock tea. The higher the fire power, the more durable the rock tea is. For light fire tea, we should drink it as soon as possible after annealing, otherwise it will easily turn green.
Rock tea, especially the variety represented by Wuyi Rock Tea, not only has a mellow taste and fragrant aroma, but also contains rich nutrients and multiple health benefits.
Refresh your mind and enhance your memory:The caffeine component in rock tea can stimulate the central nervous system, refresh the mind, and help improve thinking agility and enhance memory. Drinking rock tea in moderation can relieve fatigue and improve work efficiency.
Enhance immunity:Rock tea is rich in active substances such as tea polyphenols and amino acids. These ingredients can enhance the body's immune function and help the body resist the invasion of various diseases. Long-term drinking can also prevent chronic diseases.
Protect the intestines and stomach:The catechins in rock tea can tighten the gastric mucosa and inhibit the stomach from secreting excessive gastric juice, thereby protecting the gastrointestinal tract. Drinking rock tea in moderation can help relieve gastrointestinal problems such as stomach pain and hyperacidity.
Aids digestion and fat removal:The polyphenols and caffeine in rock tea can stimulate gastric acid secretion, promote the activity of digestive enzymes, and help digest food. In addition, rock tea can also promote fat decomposition, increase basal metabolic rate, and help lose weight.
Prevent eye diseases and protect teeth:The carotene and β-ionone in rock tea are important sources of vitamin A. These ingredients help prevent eye diseases, such as night blindness, dry eye, etc. At the same time, the fluorine content in rock tea is moderate, which can enhance the toughness of bones, effectively prevent and treat dental caries, and protect dental health.
Antioxidant and anti-aging:The tea polyphenols in rock tea have strong antioxidant effects, which can scavenge free radicals in the body, delay the aging process, and prevent the occurrence of various chronic diseases.
Anti-inflammatory and lower blood pressure:The polyphenols in rock tea have anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce the body's inflammatory response. In addition, tea polyphenols and caffeine can also dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and prevention of oral diseases:The tea polyphenols and tannic acid in rock tea have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria and prevent oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis.
Diuretic effect:Rock tea also has a certain diuretic effect, which can promote the excretion of excess water and salt in the body and reduce the burden on the kidneys.
It should be noted that although rock tea has many health benefits, excessive consumption may cause insomnia, heart palpitations and other discomforts. Therefore, when drinking rock tea, you should drink it in moderation and adjust it according to your personal physique and health status. At the same time, pregnant women, infants and other special groups should drink rock tea with caution.
1. Affecting sleep quality
Rock tea contains a lot of caffeine, which may interfere with the melatonin secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin can regulate various functions of the human body and help control the human circadian rhythm. If you drink rock tea for a long time, it may cause melatonin secretion disorders, affect sleep conditions, make it more difficult for the human body to fall asleep, and seriously affect sleep quality;
2. Gastrointestinal discomfort
Rock tea contains caffeine, which is irritating to the gastrointestinal mucosa. If you drink rock tea frequently, it may stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, increase gastric acid secretion, cause gastrointestinal discomfort, stomach pain, bloating and other symptoms, and may even cause gastritis, gastric ulcers and other diseases;
3. Menstrual disorders
The caffeine in rock tea can stimulate the central nervous system and cardiovascular system of the human body, which can easily lead to excessive tension in people's emotions, endocrine disorders, and thus menstrual disorders, excessive or insufficient menstrual flow, prolonged or shortened menstruation.
4. Abnormal blood lipids
Long-term consumption of high-concentration rock tea may lead to fat metabolism disorders, thereby causing elevated blood lipid levels. Continuous high blood lipids increase the risk of atherosclerosis, and may cause dizziness, fatigue, memory loss and other symptoms.
5. Impact on oral health
Excessive consumption of rock tea may cause problems such as yellowing of teeth and dry mouth, which has a certain impact on oral health.
6. Esophageal reflux
Drinking strong tea may irritate the esophageal mucosa, leading to problems such as esophageal reflux.
Precautions
Although rock tea has antioxidant, digestive, and refreshing effects, it still needs to be consumed in moderation to avoid side effects caused by excessive drinking. For specific groups of people, rock tea should be consumed under the guidance of a doctor. When choosing rock tea, pay attention to the quality and origin of the tea, and avoid drinking inferior or contaminated tea.
When brewing rock tea, the choice of teaware is critical. It not only affects the flavor of the tea, but also adds a lot of fun to tea tasting. Rock tea, especially varieties like Wuyi rock tea, is usually recommended to be brewed in a purple clay teapot or a white porcelain covered bowl. Using a white porcelain covered bowl to brew rock tea is not easy to absorb aroma and taste, and can completely retain the original flavor of the rock tea.
Brewing rock tea mainly involves the following steps:
A. Tea brewing utensils: prepare a set of tea sets for oolong tea (a 90-150 ml white porcelain covered bowl is suitable for brewing pots);
B. Amount of tea: about 1/2 of the volume of the brewing pot (1/3-2/3);
C. Water for brewing tea: raise the boiling water and pour it into the teapot or lid to rotate the tea leaves; mountain spring water is the best, clean river water and purified water are the middle, and tap water with high hardness or obvious chlorine cannot be used; the water temperature should be freshly brewed; water with a temperature below 95 degrees or water that has been boiled continuously for a long time is slightly inferior. It is best to have a "handy brewer".
D. Soaking time: Soak for 10-20 seconds for 1 to 3 infusions, and increase the soaking time by 10-20 seconds for each additional infusion. The principle of adjusting the soaking time is that the soup color of 1 to 7 infusions is basically the same, and more than 10 infusions can be brewed. The number of brewing times is related to the soaking time.
E. Adjustment of strength: If it needs to be lighter, add less tea, which is 1/3-1/2 of the volume of the brewing pot; if it needs to be stronger, add more tea, which is 1/2-2/3 of the volume of the brewing pot.
Tea tasting essentials, rock tea has a mellow taste, rich connotation, and a special "rock rhyme". The characteristics of tea tree varieties can be reflected in the taste; the aroma is either high or long, high is rich, long is distant, and the fragrance is diverse, such as floral, fruity, frankincense, dense fragrance, etc. When tasting tea, first smell its fragrance, then try its taste, and repeat it several times. When smelling the tea, you can smell the aroma of dry tea, the lid, the water, the bottom of the cup, the bottom of the leaves, etc. When tasting the tea, you must allow the tea soup to fully contact with all parts of the mouth and tongue, and repeat this several times to carefully feel the mellowness and various characteristics of the tea soup.
