Ban Tian Yao
A Wuyi cultivar named for the cliff ledges it was traditionally grown on, halfway up the rock face. It is lighter and fruitier than the four famous bushes, with a pronounced stone-fruit character, and is one of the more approachable entries into roasted Wuyi tea.
Character
Stone-fruit sweet with a lighter roast than most yancha, which makes the underlying leaf easier to read. A useful bridge for someone who finds Da Hong Pao too dark.
- Flavour
- Fruity, Floral, Roasted, Mineral
- Aroma
- Stone fruit, Orchid
- Mouthfeel
- Medium, Smooth
- Complexity
- Layered
- Notes
- peach, orchid, light caramel, mineral
- Aftertaste
- Fruity and sweet, with a clean mineral finish.
Moderate intensity: noticeable weight or grip, but neither dominates the cup.
Provenance and production
- Origin
- China
- Region
- Wuyi Mountains
- Oxidation
- Partially oxidised
- Roast
- Medium
- Harvest
- Spring
- Processing
- Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting
Brewing
Gongfu brewing (gaiwan)
5–7 g/100 ml · 98–100 °C · 6 authored infusions
Western brewing (teapot or mug)
1.5–2.5 g/100 ml · 90–95 °C · 2 authored infusions
No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.
If you like this
Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.
Editorially linked
Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.
- Rou Gui
A lighter roast leaves the underlying Wuyi character legible while the palate adjusts.
Similar sensory profile
Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.
- Keemun Hao Ya
Shares 6 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: fruity, floral, medium, smooth, orchid and stone fruit.
- Que She
Shares 6 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: floral, mineral, fruity, medium, smooth and orchid.
- Shui Jin Gui
Shares 6 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: floral, roasted, mineral, fruity, smooth and orchid.
- Huang Guan Yin
Shares 5 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: floral, roasted, medium, smooth and orchid.
- Ling Tou Dan Cong
Shares 5 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: floral, fruity, medium, smooth and orchid.
- Lu Shan Yun Wu
Shares 5 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: floral, mineral, medium, smooth and orchid.
- Lychee black tea
Shares 5 descriptors with Ban Tian Yao: fruity, floral, medium, smooth and stone fruit.