四大名丛 "Four Great Nobles"
Tie Luo Han (铁罗汉), Bai Ji Guan (白鸡冠), Shui Jin Gui (水金龟), and Ban Tian Yao (半天鹞): the Si Da Ming Cong are the legendary cultivars of the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian, and the pinnacle of yancha, or “rock tea.” This category of oolong is prized for its mineral depth and layered complexity, a quality known as yanyun (岩韻), the “rock rhyme.” If Wuyishan is the Burgundy of tea, these four are its grand crus.
All four in this collection are grown in Huiyuan Keng (慧苑坑), one of the celebrated “Three Pits and Two Streams” (三坑两涧) at the heart of the Zhengyan core. It is the most revered terroir in Wuyishan, and the historic home of the mingcong. The name comes from the Huiyuan Temple, whose monks tended tea in this gully for centuries, and it is here that the original Tie Luo Han bush is said to have grown. Shaded cliffs, misty air, and mineral-rich soil from weathered rock give Huiyuan teas their refined, lingering character.
Many tea lists name Da Hong Pao among the four. Wuyi tradition, however, often places Da Hong Pao in a class of its own and honors Ban Tian Yao as the fourth noble. Its name, “halfway to the sky,” recalls the legend of a sparrowhawk that dropped a seed onto a ledge high on the cliffs of Sanhua Peak. Master Ye’s selection follows this older, insider tradition.
This collection is among the last crafted by Master Ye Qitong (叶启桐), a national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage inheritor of Wuyi Yancha craftsmanship, and represents a lifetime of mastery. Each tea is handmade from start to finish using leaves from old-growth bushes. Under Master Ye’s supervision, the processing brings out the individual character of each noble cultivar, and tasting the four side by side is a journey through the heritage of the region. The packaging features an original painting of the valley and its iconic peaks by Master Ye’s granddaughter, a symbol of the family’s legacy passing to the next generation.
In 2026 we celebrate our ninth year working with the Ye family of Wuyishan: Master Ye Qitong, who led the creation of the national standard samples for Wuyi Yancha, and his sister Master Ye Ruyu, founder of Yan Zhu. We are honored to serve as the first exclusive international ambassador of Master Ye Qitong’s brand.
Studio:
Yan Zhu 岩主 (Ye family)
Origin:
Wuyi, China
Cultivar:
Tie Luo Han 铁罗漢, Bai Ji Guan 白鸡冠, Shui Jin Gui 水金龟, Ban Tian Yao 半天鹞
Flavor Profile:
Tie Luo Han: the boldest of the four; deep roasted notes, dried longan and stone fruit, a firm mineral structure, and a long, warming finish.
Bai Ji Guan: the lightest and brightest; pale leaves give a delicate cup of orchid florals, soft fruit, and a clean, silky texture.
Shui Jin Gui: sweet and fruit-forward; ripe fruit and wintersweet blossom over a smooth, rounded body.
Ban Tian Yao: a soaring, honeyed floral aroma with a hint of spice and a crisp, mineral finish.
Servings:
8 x 8.3g (two packets of four special teas)
Net weight:
66g
