Ban Tian Yao
Regular price
$18.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Control humidity: Avoid storing tea in conditions that are either too dry or too humid.
Keep it cool: Store tea in a cool place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep in mind that display cabinet lights can also produce heat.
Protect from light: Avoid using transparent containers whenever possible.
Limit exposure to air: Keep tea well sealed and avoid opening the container more often than necessary.
After we receive your order, we will process your package within 48 hours and hand it over to our international shipping partner. We will also send your tracking number by email. At this stage, tracking information may not be available yet.
Once the shipping partner receives the package, it usually takes 1–3 days (excluding Sundays) for them to process and dispatch it. Tracking information will begin to update after the package has been dispatched.
Delivery usually takes around 7–18 days from the date of dispatch.
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What are the “roots” of Rooteas?
Family-made
Wuyi Yancha is what our own family makes in Wuyishan, and it is the tea we work with most closely. We know the growing areas and tea plants firsthand, as well as the decisions that go into processing and roasting. For the small number of other teas we carry, we work with tea-making families we know personally and whose work we know well.
Single-origin
Wuyi Yancha carries the influence of where it is grown. Wuyishan has a particular growing environment shaped by its rocky terrain, soil, climate, sunlight, and moisture, and these conditions are an important part of what makes Wuyi Yancha what it is. Together with cultivar, processing, and roasting, they all play a part in the aroma, texture, and overall character of the finished tea.
Transparency
We try to keep the information about our teas simple and clear. We share where each tea comes from, what tea plant it is made from, and how it was processed and roasted, so you have a clear idea of what you're drinking.
- Name: Ban Tian Yao (“Halfway to the Sky”)
- Chinese Name & Pinyin: 半天腰 bàn tiān yāo
- Type: Wuyi Rock Oolong
- Origin: Wuyishan, Fujian
- Harvest Time: Spring, 2025
- Roast Level: Medium fire ("zhōng huǒ", "中火")
Click to learn more about our roast levels
- Producer: Xiao Family
- Tasting note: Ripe fruit notes, Floral notes, Toasted caramel
This Ban Tian Yao has a lifted aroma that comes forward quickly once water hits the leaves. Ripe fruit, nuts, and florals come together in a layered, expressive fragrance that feels vivid without being too sharp. The liquor is full and balanced, with a fruit note that lingers gently after drinking. A good fit for drinkers who enjoy expressive aroma, a balanced and full-bodied cup.
The Legend of Ban Tian Yao
The name Ban Tian Yao has a mysterious origin, which is said to have happened during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1403–1424).
According to legend, an abbot of the Yongle Chan Temple at Tianxin Temple once dreamed that there was a pure white hawk in front of him. This hawk carried a radiant gem in its beak in its mouth, and was being chased by a giant eagle. At that time, the hawk flew to the cliff of Sanhua Peak, on the mountain cliff, holding the gem in his beak, but halfway through he was exhausted and dropped the gem on the mountain cliff.
Believing that it might be a divine revelation, he ordered a young monk to go up the mountain and look for the trace. With the help of a rope, he finally reached the steep cliff of the mid-mountain. He did not find any jewels, but in a crack of the cliff, there was a green tea seed, which had germinated and was sprouting delicate roots.
He carefully picked it up and brought it back to the monastery. The abbot cherished it by hand. After the tea seedling grew to one foot, the monk brought it back to the same mountain, and planted it at the location where the green seed was picked. He planted it at the mountain cliff, because he thought that since the green tea seed was a gift from the hawk, it was destined to be at this place. It was an ancient place in the sky, between the earth and the heavens.
Since the pronunciation of the character “hawk” (鹞) and the pronunciation of the character “waist” (腰) are the same in Chinese, the name was later mistakenly written, and the name was spread as “Ban Tian Yao” (半天腰), which means “Halfway to the Sky”.
Tea: 8g
Gaiwan: 110–150ml
Water Temperature: 100°C / 212°F
(When possible, use spring water, purified water, or good-quality mineral water. Avoid using very hard water)
Use flash steeping (pour out the tea in about 3s). Do not oversteep. As the flavor begins to fade, extend each infusion by 5–10s as needed.
Note: Be sure to pour out the tea soup completely after each infusion. Do not let it sit in the gaiwan.
(Adjust the tea amount and steeping time to suit your own taste.)
