Chinese Tea
China is the birthplace of tea and the single largest producing country in the world. The country remains completely unrivaled in the variety of teas produced with hundreds of teas produced from nearly 350 known cultivars. The best known provinces for tea are the "Golden Triangle" of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, but many prized and famous teas also come from places like Yunnan, Fujian and Guangdong.
The best teas come from mountainous regions and are harvested and processed between late March and early summer. Aside from geography and cultivar, nearly all Chinese teas are finished by the application of dry heat to reduce the moisture content and stop the oxidation process. This is done most often by pan-firing in a large wok or tumble drying in large drums.
Chinese tea production differs from most countries in one other significant way: the Chinese place an extremely high value on the appearance of the finished leaf. Whether rolled, twisted, curled, flattened or tied up into ornate display teas, the uniform and unique beauty of each tea plays mightily into the perceived value and therefore the price.
The vast majority of tea produced in China is Green. Black teas were developed more recently to suit the Western palate. The Chinese refer to Black tea as hongcha or Red Tea, thanks to the rich, deep color of the liquor.
Famous Chinese Teas
Silver Needle is a White tea comprised of only the unopened buds. This is one the most revered and expensive teas in the world. The cup is usually very light and delicate with sweet vegetal notes and very soft floral aroma. Example: Silver Needle.
White Peony is another White tea made from larger, open leaves as well as unopened leaf buds. The inclusion of whole leaves creates a fruity, more floral and lush flavor than the very delicate Silver Needle. Example: White Peony.
Dragonwell This most famous of Chinese Greens is also called Lung Ching. The leaves are broad and flat due to pan firing. Expect rich vegetal notes and a lightly roasted, sometimes buttery finish. Example: Dragonwell.
Gunpowder This tightly rolled Chinese specialty was originally produced to extend the freshness of the tea. With tightly rolled leaves, only the outside edges are exposed to the elements. Gunpowder teas tend to be made from slightly lower quality leaves and offer a lightly roasted, sometimes lightly smoky finish. Example: Gunpowder.
Ti Kuan Yin This exceptional Chinese Oolong also goes by the name "Iron Goddess of Mercy." Legend has it that the secret to this tea was given as a gift from the goddess to a devout farmer who had tended to her temple for many years. A gentle, orchid-floral and complex cup, made from larger leaves, crumpled into a ball shape. Example: Ti Kuan Yin.
Keemun is a black tea with small leaves and a rich, smooth flavor with very little astringency. The best Keemuns are produced in Anhui in the early spring. Keemuns often offer notes of dark chocolate, pepper and malt. Example: Keemun Rhapsody.
Yunnan is a Black tea with large, golden tippy leaves. Yunnan province, located in the south, is the birthplace of tea. These beautiful black teas offer a flavor that is a little softer than Keemuns with a smooth, honeyed richness and very little astringency. Example: Yunnan Gold.
Lapsang Souchong is a Black tea that has been literally smoked. Pine wood fires have been used for centuries to provide the heat needed to stop the oxidation process. Lapsang is one of the only teas that is intentionally exposed to the smoke of this fire. Intensely aromatic with savory notes of spices, campfire, peat, and often camphor or eucalyptus. Example: Lapsang Souchong.
Pu-erh teas are an ancient form of tea, unique because they are intentionally aged. They start like typical green teas, only not completely finished (they would be very grassy and harshly astringent if you drank them right away). The tea is then allowed to ferment and age, sometimes many years. Pu-erhs are often pressed into cakes or bricks, and are known for their pungent, earthy aroma and rich, incredibly smooth taste. Example: Pu Erh Poe.