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Fire Horse tea towel, check out the details here.
Background
Horse Head Rock refers to the specific area within the national park where this famous tea is from. The cultivar is Rou Gui, or cassia cinnamon, referring to this tea plant’s robust spice aroma which is extremely unique. Chinese call this tea Horse Meat (horse from horse head rock, and “meat” as the first character 肉 of cinnamon 肉桂 in Chinese is the same character as meat.
It is an outstanding representative of Wuyi rock tea. All teas from Wuyi are referred to as rock tea because of its rocky soil formation, which is manifested in a bright minerality that exists in all teas in that region. Due to the unique topography and abundant sunshine, this tea boasts a powerful aroma (cinnamon and fruity notes), a rich texture and nuanced taste, and a distinct "rocky" character. It has a strong flavor, is highly resistant to brewing, and is considered a top-grade rock tea.
A Commission Project by Volition and producer Yang Jie
This tea is the result of a commissioned collaboration between Volition and our long-time producing partner, Yang Jie—best known for his masterful Big Red Robe. I’ll be honest: Horse Head Rock teas have never fully won me over. Too often, their aggressive charcoal roast dominates the cup, overwhelming both the palate and the experience.
When I shared my wish to create a Horse Head Rock tea for the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse—and my reservations about what the category typically offers—Yang Jie and I began exploring a different path. Our goal was clear: soften the imposing roast while liberating the floral character that historically lies buried beneath layers of charcoal.
The solution was anything but simple. We committed to a fully manual, twice-charcoal-roasted process, each round extending 15 painstaking hours. Calling it labor-intensive would hardly do it justice.
The result is something rare and striking—a tea that carries both power and grace. If I had to name it, I’d liken it to a rose pierced by a dagger: fierce and commanding, yet unmistakably floral, with a beauty that cuts through the fire.
Steeping Instruction
Water temperature
212 F
Amount of tea
4 g
Water volume
12 oz
Time
2 min initial steeping time + 20 sec additional time increment for more than 1 steeping
Number of steep
4
Rinse
Yes
