r/tea•
killerstorm

Is it me or is it harder to buy a good Da Hong Pao these days?

I remember 5 years ago I could buy pretty decent DHP from shops which just resell packaged tea from China.

But now even specialized tea shops which understand specific cultivars, villages, etc, sell rock oolong which is below the mediocre grade (in my opinion). E.g. many of them are heavily roasted, and barely have any aroma beyond the roast smell.

I still have few pieces of a DHP brick I bought 5 years ago (which was quite inexpensive, heavily compressed leafs), and it's mind-blowing comparing to the stuff which 'boutique' tea shops sell now. WTH.

I tried going after more specific cultivars like Rou Gui, still no luck.

Posted Jan 28, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC

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