Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Tie Luo Han (Iron Warrior Monk) Tea Review | A Meditative Experience

Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Tie Luo Han Tea Review Summary

Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Tie Luo Han Detailed Tea Review

Overview:

Hello there, my good tea people! Today I’m reviewing another Wuyi Rock tea from Yu Yan. This one is called Lao Cong Tie Luo Han.

Wuyi Rock tea is itself very special because the oolongs from these ancient mountains are famous for their rich mineral content. Moreover, there is so much diversity in the soil that it is said that teas from two different valleys in the Wuyi mountains can taste completely different.

So these teas are really sought after, and Tie Luo Han is one of the most famous Wuyi Rock Teas of all. In fact, it’s often called one of the ‘Four Great Cultivars‘ or Si Da Ming Cong. The other three are Da Hong Pao, Shui Jin Gui, and Bai Ji Guan. Although sometimes Da Hong Pao is given an even more elevated status

Tie Luo Han literally translates to Iron Arhat (Arhat meaning a saint who has attained Nirvana) or Iron Warrior Monk. Legend has it that the tea was named after a well-known monk who originally discovered the tea bush.

Lao Cong means ‘old bush’. This term is often used to refer to tea bushes that are over 30-60 years old. The oldest tea bushes in the Wuyi mountains are several hundred years old!

However, there’s no way for me to know how old this particular ‘old bush’ was from which this Tie Luo Han was harvested.

But here’s my verdict, guys. I really, really liked this tea.

One of the characteristics of the Wuyi Rock teas is their lingering aftertaste. You can recognize complex notes and flavors long after you’ve swallowed the tea. And the aftertaste from this Tie Luo Han was just…the bomb.

It was honestly one of my most favorite teas from Yu Yan’s rock tea sampler, and I am still recovering from the high.

Yu Yan is a Malaysian tea company that sources its tea from China and specializes in Wuyi Rock tea, as well as black and white tea. I got this tea as part of a rock tea sampler, and this is the second tea I’ve reviewed from Yu Yan.

I liked their teas so much that I went to Malaysia in October and brought back some more teas (although not as many as I would’ve liked). So keep an eye out for more upcoming reviews!

But for now, let’s break down my review for Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Tie Luo Han.

In this article, we will explore:

• Brewing Conditions
• Aroma
• Taste
• Packaging
• Value for Money
• Caffeine Level
• Food Pairings
• About Yu Yan
• Where to Buy

Brewing Conditions:

So the recommended temperature for this tea on the back of the packaging is 95°C or higher. The reason for this is that a lot of people drink Wuyi Rock teas for their mineral content and their health benefits. And the high temperatures help to bring out more of the minerals.

However, I’ve found that the high temperature imparts a bit of a bitter taste. So I brewed the entire packet of tea (8g) in 200 ml of water at 93°C in a gaiwan that can hold upto 250 ml of water.

These 8g packets are generally designed for one gongfu session. So 2-3 people can enjoy multiple infusions in one sitting.

However, if you really want to preserve some of the tea, make sure you store it really well. Drink it as soon as possible because the leaves will lose flavor over time.

I brewed the tea in a typical Gongfu style. I poured the hot water over all the teaware to heat up the gaiwan and the cups. I rinsed the tea leaves once and then made the first infusion.

The first infusion was for 5s.

The second infusion was at 93°C for 10s. I recommend keeping the gaiwan lid open between infusions to let the steam escape.

The third infusion was at the same temperature for 15s. But by the third infusion, the tea did get more bitter.

Once the tea is poured, you want to drink it quickly.

Aroma (5/5):

The tea leaves are an intensely dark green color. The dry tea leaves in the warmed gaiwan smelled absolutely wonderful. It smelled more vegetal and closer to green tea compared to the other roasted oolongs in the sampler.

Upon brewing, the tea became a very beautiful amber color. The aroma shifted from the fresh green, vegetal to more warm, roasted notes. But still delightful.

Taste (5/5):

Upon first sipping the tea, it felt very mild and mellow in the mouth. But as I mentioned, the real treasure is the aftertaste, where most of the flavor shines through.

It was a really nice smoky, earthy, and grounding aftertaste, which feels almost meditative.

There was a bit of a subtle metallic taste as well, which I suppose is from the high mineral content. But it wasn’t off-putting at all.

On the second infusion, the roasted notes and aftertaste became a bit lighter and less pronounced, making the tea feel even gentler overall.

By the third infusion, the tea starts to change noticeably. Once poured, it’s best to drink it quickly, as it can turn bitter if it sits for too long.

The vegetal aroma is still there, but the flavor becomes more earthy and woody, almost like “drinking a tree,” if that makes sense. The aftertaste is still very nice. Compared to the Rou Gui (another Yu Yan Rock tea I’ve reviewed previously) though, there is less of the roasted, caramelly flavor.

That said, even though the third infusion wasn’t my favorite, the overall experience was still very enjoyable.

Packaging and Sourcing (4/5):

The Lao Cong Tie Luo Han from Yu Yan comes packaged in a beautiful dark green aluminium packet with a clean, minimalist design. The deep green of the packaging mirrors the color of the tea leaves inside and gives the whole thing an almost royal, elegant feel.

The aroma is preserved extremely well. It hits you immediately as soon as you open the packet.

According to the packaging, if stored properly in a cool, dark place, this Tie Luo Han can even be enjoyed up to 10 years later, which really speaks to the quality and longevity of the tea.

The tea itself is housed in a sustainable aluminium packet, which is great to see. However, the outer box containing the 12 teas is made of plastic, which is a bit disappointing from an environmental standpoint.

This Lao Cong Tie Luo Han is sourced from the Wuyi Mountains, where Yu Yan grows their own tea.

Value for Money (4.5/5):

From Yu Yan’s website, it looks like this tea is only available in boxes of 12 (labeled 2023 Old Fern Iron Arhat), priced at around USD 106. That works out to roughly USD 9 per 8g packet.

Each packet is meant to be enjoyed once opened, and there’s easily enough tea for 3–4 infusions shared among 3–4 people. Considering the quality of the Lao Cong Tie Luo Han, I’d say it’s more than worth the price and offers excellent value for money.

Caffeine Level: High

The caffeine content is quite high. I felt very awake and alert after drinking a few cups. But it gave more focused energy than jitters.

Food Pairings:

I believe the best way to enjoy Yu Yan’s Lao Cong Tie Luo Han tea is on its own, so you can fully engage all your senses in the tea. However, it would go well with savory foods like dumplings and roasted nuts. Among sweet foods, you can try this tea with dark chocolate.

About the brand | Yu Yan:

Yu Yan is a heritage tea brand that dates all the way back to 1904, with tea gardens spread across the misty slopes of Wuyi Mountain, the birthplace of Wuyi rock tea. There’s something really special about knowing the tea comes from such a historically rich region.

The brand is led by Madam Fan Youmei, who comes from a long line of tea masters and still relies on traditional charcoal roasting to develop that signature aroma and depth of flavor.

In 2005, her daughter Madam Yu Xi Hua brought Yu Yan’s legacy to Malaysia, opening the Yu Yan Dahongpao tea shop on Jalan Sultan, a move that made these teas far more accessible to tea lovers in Malaysia.

Today, Yu Yan continues to share its craft through three main specialties: Wuyi Rock Tea, Jianyang White Tea, and Tongmuguan Black Tea.

After trying a few of their rock teas, I genuinely can’t wait to taste more of their teas.

Where to Buy:

You can pick up Yu Yan Lao Cong Tie Luo Han in person if you’re in Kuala Lumpur, or order it directly from Yu Yan’s website. From what I can tell, they don’t currently offer international shipping.

That said, if you’re based outside Malaysia, it might still be worth reaching out to them directly on Facebook or Instagram.

I’ve also seen some Yu Yan teas listed on Lazada, though I’m not entirely sure whether those listings are from official sellers, so that’s something to keep in mind.