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“Dark…is the Warmest Colour” Tasting Box: A Journey through Anhua Dark Tea Grades
Imagine embarking on a sensory adventure, exploring the depths of flavor, aroma, and character in the world of Anhua Dark Tea. We are thrilled to present our exclusive tasting box, aptly named “Dark…is the Warmest Colour,” which offers you the opportunity to delve into the captivating realm of Anhua Dark Tea like never before.
Inside this carefully curated collection, you will find four distinct grades of Anhua Dark Tea, each with its own story to tell. As you embark on this tasting journey, you will witness the remarkable differences in appearance, tasting notes, and the intricate processes involved in crafting these teas.
What’s included in mastertasting collection?
Tian Jian 2019 (30g)
Black Brick ( Hei Zhuan ) 2019 (60g)
Flower Brick ( Hua Zhuan ) 2019 (50g)
*Fu Brick ( Fu Zhuan ) 2018 (40g) ( with Golden Flower )
( Black Brick )
( Fu Brick with Golden Flower )
Background of An Hua Dark Tea
Where is An Hua Dark Tea from?
The origin of An Hua Dark Tea is from An Hua, Hunan province, China.( Situated at 100°43′07″E – 111°58′51″and 27°58′54″N -28°38′37″N)
What is the Tea Type of An Hua Dark Tea?
A kind of post-fermented dark tea.
What is the Tea Tree varieties of An Hua Dark Tea?
The tea tree is large leaf species from An Hua, which is known for its big and tender leaves.
What is the History of An Hua Dark Tea?
- 1542 : Historical Record indicating dark tea production started in 1542 in Anhua.
- 1595 : Chinese Emperor considered Anhua Dark Tea as the official Tea. Large quantity of Dark Tea started to be selling to Northwest China.
- 1636-1912 : Anhua dark tea began to be exported to foreign countries.
- 2008 : Anhua dark tea became the national geographical indication product of China. The processing method of Dark Tea was put into the national intangible cultural heritage protection list.
How many types of An Hua Dark Tea are there?
(1) Three “Zhuan”
It means Three brick including Black brick, Flower Brick, Fu Brick.
- Black Brick / Dark Brick ( Hei Zhuan ) : Black Brick (黑磚) is the earliest kinds of Anhua Dark Tea originated in 1939. It is a compressed rectangular shape of black brick, which is usually 2kg weighted.
- Flower brick ( Hua Zhuan ) :Hua Zhuan (花磚), translated as “Flower Brick”, “Hua” means “Flower” and “Zhuan” means “Brick” in Chinese. It might be the most beautiful kinds of dark tea, as it is a kind of compressed dark tea brick decorated with patterns on the four edges. It was invented in 1958 by Bai Sha Xi tea factory. By using the same material of Hua Juan (Qian Liang Cha), the factory use the compressing technique of Black Brick, and compressed the tea into a rectangular brick with pattern on it, which become the Flower Brick nowadays.
- Fu Brick ( Fu Zhuan ) : Fu Zhuan (茯磚) is a special kinds of compressed dark tea special of its unique processing step called “fa hua”, which means growing flower. It is a step of growing beneficial fungi during fermentation and “golden flower” will be developed inside the brick. The golden flower is actually the beneficial bacteria, which is a Eurotium cristatum. It is usually considered as having multiple health benefits and having a unique favorable fungi flavor.
(2) Three Jian
It means Three tips, it is a form of loose leaf dark tea made of the small tips of tea leaves. Three Jian is sub-categorized as Tian Jian(天尖), Gong Jian(貢尖) and Sheng Jian(生尖).
- Tian Jian: translated as “Heavenly Tips Tea”, “Tian” means “Heaven” and “Jian” means “tip” in Chinese. As of its name implies, Tian Jian is one of the renowned and top grade of Anhua Dark Tea. It is a form of loose leaf tea made of the top graded and small tips of tea leaves.
- Gong Jian and Sheng Jian : its raw material is using the lower grade of dark tea’s tips.
(3) One Juan
(Photo from Bai Sha Xi Dark Tea)
It specifically means “Huan Juan” which means Decorative roll. Its name is originated from its unique packaging method. It is rolled and wrapped in a bamboo packaging like a cylinder shaped bamboo tube. “Hua Juan” can be rolled into different size/weight – “Shi Liang” (10 Liang ) , “Bai Liang” ( 100 Liang ) & “Qian Liang” ( 1000 Liang ). “Liang” refers to the old Chinese measure unit of weight.
- Qian Liang Cha: means tea of a thousand “Liang”; converted as around 36.25 kg.
- Bai Liang Cha: means hundred “Liang”; converted as around 3.625kg.
- Shi Liang Cha: means tea of a ten “Liang”; converted as around 0.36kg.
What is the making process of An Hua Dark Tea?
- The making process is quite complicated: Step(1):Kill green; Step(2):Rolling; Step(3):Wet Piling(Wo Dui); Step(4): Rolling again; Step(4):Baking and Drying over pinewood fire; Step (5):Compress and wrapping the maocha into different shape. And there is a special “Grow Golden Flower” process for Fu Brick to generate the golden flower.
Is Dark Tea suitable for storing and aging? How to store it?
- Dark tea is a kind of post fermentation tea, the longer you store the tea, the better flavor it will be. It should be stored in a room with good ventilation, afford high temperature and high humidity, and direct sun-light.
How to brew dark tea in different way?
- Kung Fu Style Brewing : Tea: 7 – 10g | Tea and Water Ratio:1:10-15 | Temperature: 95-100° | First 3 Infusion: 30-60’s | After: Add 15-30 sec each
- Boil Dark Tea : 10-15g tea(3-4 serving), boil the tea with 500ml water, bring to a simmer for 2 minute, filter the tea leaves and enjoy.
- Cold brew Dark Tea : 1:60-100, after boiling the dark tea, put it into the fringe and add ice for serving.
- Milk Tea : 5-10g dark tea, add the tea and 2-3 spoon of sugar into a saucepan, stirting every so often until sugar is dissolved, add some water and milk (Milk and Tea ratio 1:5), bring to a simmer over medium heat, filter the tea leaves and enjoy”
Are there any Health Benefit of Dark Tea?
- Anhua dark tea contains many elements and nutrients which is proved to have some health benefit. The golden flower inside the Fu Brick tea is also proved to be beneficial bacteria which is good for digestive system, especially good for drinking after eating oily food. It also has good effects on lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, and having good effect on anti-aging.
