Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong vs High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea

Semi-oxidised rock oolong against a fully oxidised breakfast blend.

sweetnessaciditybitternessbodyaroma
Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock OolongHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
Measured comparison of Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong and High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock OolongHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
Caffeine55 mg50 mg
Serving4 oz Gongfu serving8 oz cup (240ml)
Strength (per 100 ml)46.6 mg20.8 mg
AcidityLowModerate
CategoryOolongBlack
OriginWuyi Mountains, Fujian, ChinaAssam (India), Ceylon (Sri Lanka) & Kenya
Best forGongfu, Teapot & mugTeapot & mug
Water98°C98°C
With milkEither wayTakes milk well
Tastes ofRoasted Mineral Stone, Charred Plum, Orchid HoneyMalted Barley, Rich Oakwood, Dark Molasses

Which one, for what

Worked out from the two records above rather than asserted, so nothing here can contradict the table.

  • A hard morning startToo close to call

    Both land at roughly the same dose — 55 mg against 50 mg.

  • Drinking it after sixToo close to call

    Lower caffeine wins here, and at a five-hour half-life the gap matters more than it looks.

  • A sensitive stomachDa Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong

    Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong is low acidity; High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea is moderate. Acidity is only part of why a drink provokes reflux, but it is the part you can choose.

  • Taking it with milkHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea

    Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong: either way. High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea: takes milk well.

  • Something to sit and pay attention toDa Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong

    Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong scores higher on aroma, and much of the pleasure in these drinks is retronasal.

  • Making it without special equipmentHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea

    Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock Oolong wants gongfu; High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea wants teapot & mug.

Axis by axis

sweetnessRock Oolong noticeably higher
acidityBlack Tea noticeably higher
bitternessBlack Tea noticeably higher
bodyRock Oolong noticeably higher
aromaRock Oolong noticeably higher

Comparative editorial positions within this catalogue, calibrated so entries can be ranked against one another. Not laboratory measurements.

Da Hong Pao Wuyi Rock OolongChina's most mythologized tea: mineral-roasted rock oolong with charred plum, orchid, and lingering 喉韵 (throat rhythm).Read the full page High-Grown English Breakfast Black TeaThe morning classic: a robust, malted blend of black teas designed to pair perfectly with milk and sugar.Read the full page

Related comparisons