Wuyi rock tea made from the Ban Tian Yao cultivar.
All four characters for 'yao' circulate. 半天腰 ('halfway up the sky') is usually explained by the bush's position partway up the third peak of Sanhua Peak (三花峰). One legend says a hawk (鹞) dropped the seed there, giving 半天鹞, which was later written with the homophones 夭 and then 妖 ('demon'). 半天妖 is now the dominant trade spelling. English Wikipedia uses 半天腰, so the 'Half Sky Demon' and 'Halfway to Heaven' translations rest on different characters.
The 2012 ten-mingcong study included Ban Tian Yao among later spring-picking selections and found that the preserved selections were not identical in their observed botanical traits. Such evidence is stronger for distinguishing plants than an origin legend.
Ban Tian Yao names the plant, while the garden, harvest and roast describe the finished lot. Compare Tie Luohan for an earlier-opening selection in that study; a calendar difference does not by itself rank cup quality.
Price ranks compare recorded retail offers for the same tea, including offers outside the current delivery filter. Shipping and import charges are excluded.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
China Fujian Banyan 'Ban Tian Yao' Oolong Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
What-ChaSelected destinations |
£15.05 / 100 g | $20.09 £15.05 / 100 g ≈ $1.61 a session |
Premium Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong Tea (25 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
25 g (0.88 oz) pouch (attribute 52744=3693) at $5.99 USD; larger weights up to 500 g also available. |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$5.99 / 25 g | $23.96 ≈ $1.92 a session |
Supreme Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong Tea (25 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
25 g (0.88 oz) pouch (attribute 52746=1779) at $6.99 USD; larger weights up to 500 g also available. |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$6.99 / 25 g | $27.96 ≈ $2.24 a session |
Ban Tian Yao
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Old Ways Tea CompanySelected destinations |
$9.66 / 24 g | $40.25 ≈ $3.22 a session |
YANZHIYE Brand Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong (500 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
500 g bulk pack at $218.99 USD. |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$218.99 / 500 g | $43.80 ≈ $3.50 a session |
MATOUYAN Brand Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong (50 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
50 g retail pack at $32.99 USD. |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$32.99 / 50 g | $65.98 ≈ $5.28 a session |
Ban Tian Yao Wuyi Cliff Oolong Tea (20 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
20 g (0.7 oz) pouch (variant 44054306423001, SKU WY-BTY-0004) at $21.95 USD; 50 g ($44.95), 100 g ($79.95), and 200 g ($143.95) also available. |
The Chinese Tea ShopWorldwide |
$21.95 / 20 g | $109.75 ≈ $8.78 a session |
| Ban Tian Yao | Länggass-TeeSelected destinations |
CHF 52.50 / 50 g | $127.48 CHF 105.00 / 100 g ≈ $10.20 a session |
Prices recorded on the dates checked. Conversions use ECB rates dated 2026-10-20; original prices appear alongside. Origin, age and cultivar are stated by the vendor.
| Product | Vendor | Channel | per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Fujian Banyan 'Ban Tian Yao' Oolong Tea | What-Cha | International retail | $20.09 |
| Premium Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong Tea (25 g) | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $23.96 |
| Supreme Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong Tea (25 g) | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $27.96 |
| Ban Tian Yao | Old Ways Tea Company | International retail | $40.25 |
| YANZHIYE Brand Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong (500 g) | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $43.80 |
| MATOUYAN Brand Ban Tian Yao Half Day Perish Wuyi Oolong (50 g) | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $65.98 |
| Ban Tian Yao Wuyi Cliff Oolong Tea (20 g) | The Chinese Tea Shop | International retail | $109.75 |
| Ban Tian Yao | Länggass-Tee | International retail | $127.48 |
