Rou Gui vs Shui Xian vs Da Hong Pao.
Rou Gui and Shui Xian are the two main tea cultivars grown in the Wuyi Mountains; Da Hong Pao is the classic name of Wuyi rock tea and today is usually a blend. In general, Rou Gui is spicy and assertive, Shui Xian is smooth and mellow, and Da Hong Pao is balanced, shaped by the blender.
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| Rou Gui 肉桂 | Shui Xian 水仙 | Da Hong Pao 大红袍 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | "Cinnamon" | "Narcissus" | "Big red robe" |
| What it is | A single cultivar | A single cultivar | A name; usually a blend today |
| Dry leaf | Medium, tightly twisted strips | Large, robust strips | Varies with the blend |
| Typical character | Spicy, bold aroma; strong finish | Smooth, mellow, rounded; soft sweetness | Balanced between aroma and body |
| Good for | Drinkers who like intensity | Everyday drinking; newcomers | A first Wuyi tea; gifting |
These are general characteristics. Garden, season, the age of the bushes and the roast change every lot.
Rou Gui
Rou Gui has become one of the most widely planted cultivars in Wuyishan. It is valued for a pronounced aroma, often compared to spice or cinnamon bark, that carries through many infusions. Where it is grown matters a great deal, and Rou Gui from well-known gullies commands high prices.
Shui Xian
Shui Xian is a long-established large-leaf cultivar. It is usually softer and rounder than Rou Gui, with a smooth texture. Tea from old Shui Xian bushes (老枞, lao cong) is especially prized for depth and a woody, mossy character.
Da Hong Pao
The name comes from a few old bushes on a cliff in the Wuyi Mountains, which are protected and no longer harvested. The Da Hong Pao sold today is usually a blend of Wuyi cultivars, put together to a house style. That makes the blender's skill central: the aim is a tea with both aroma and body.
Which should a tea shop start with?
- One tea: a well-made Da Hong Pao is the easiest introduction to the style, and the name is known.
- Two teas: Rou Gui and Shui Xian show the contrast between the two main cultivars.
- All three: lets customers taste the range, from soft to bold.
Ask for samples of specific lots and taste them side by side before you order.
Our teas. Kings Tea (Qingshenge) makes all three at its own factory in Wuyishan and roasts them over charcoal. Our Da Hong Pao blend was listed for a Special Prize at the 2026 Wuyishan Spring Tea Competition. See the teas.