Tie Luo Han
Regular price
$24.00
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: Tie Luo Han
- Chinese Name & Pinyin: 铁罗汉 tiě luó hàn
- Type: Wuyi Rock Oolong
- Origin: Wuyishan, Fujian
- Harvest Time: Spring, 2025
- Roast Level: Medium-full fire ("zhōng zú huǒ", "中足火")
Click to learn more about our roast levels
- Producer: Xiao Family
- Tasting note: Chinese herbal note, Dark chocolate, Baked cereal, Grounded and steady
Tie Luo Han is a cultivar with thick leaves and plenty of substance, so it is not a tea we would ever make into something light. In our experience, tea like this is best made in a way that follows its natural strength, bringing out its depth, body, and power. For that reason, when making this tea, we chose a more thorough roast and settled on a medium-full fire to let those qualities come through.
This is a fuller, more grounded style of Tie Luo Han. The liquor has full-bodied taste and a coating texture, rather than anything light or airy. As the session goes on, the tea becomes deeper and more rounded, with a sweetness that lingers on the palate.
The Legend of Tie Luo Han
A monk at Huiyuan Temple gained fame through his renowned tea-making abilities. The tea he made combined an enchanting aroma with sweet flavors that were rich. Those who consumed the tea experienced heightened clarity and alertness. Everyone nearby loved his tea.
The monk possessed dark skin and powerful muscles which gave him a statue-like appearance of an arhat (a Buddhist guardian figure). His powerful build led locals to name him "Iron Arhat".
While walking along a rocky cliff one day he discovered a special tea tree growing in the cliff's crevice. The tree reached great heights and exhibited strong branches that were pale yellow. The tea tree's fuzzy buds possessed a cotton-like texture while giving off a pleasant scent. The young leaves were picked by him and then he returned to the temple where he prepared rock oolong tea from them.
He extended an invitation for everyone in his neighborhood to taste his newly made tea. "What’s the name of this tea?" they asked. Unable to provide an answer to their question about the tea’s name, he shared the story of how he found the tea tree with them.
After hearing his story, the villagers decided: Because he found the tree and created the tea we should give it the name ‘Tie Luo Han’ (Iron Arhat) which represents our strong monk. The tea received its designation which reflects both the monk’s essence and the mountain’s offering.
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.)
