Qingzhuan Tea

Qingzhuan Tea

　　Qingzhuan Tea is mainly produced in the Xianning area of Hubei Province. It has a production history of over one hundred years. Made from old green tea leaves that are pressed into shape, Qingzhuan Tea is divided into three parts during pressing: the top three or four layers (sān sì miàn), the second layer (èr miàn), and the inner tea (lǐ chá). Among these, the top three or four layers — the surface part — are of the highest quality. They feature a brown color, rich and delicious tea flavor, a unique aroma, and a sweet aftertaste. The very outermost layer is called the “sprinkled surface,” made from the highest-quality raw materials; the innermost layer is called the “second surface,” which is slightly lower in quality. The layer between these two is called the inner tea, which is of comparatively lower quality. Qingzhuan Tea is rectangular in shape, with a bluish-brown color, a pure aroma, reddish-yellow liquor, and a rich taste. In addition to quenching thirst, drinking Qingzhuan Tea can also refresh the mind, aid digestion, kill bacteria, and relieve diarrhea. It is mainly sold to northwestern regions such as Inner Mongolia. Made from old green tea leaves through a pressing process, this compressed green tea is primarily produced in counties such as Chibi, Xianning, Tianshan, Chongyang, and Tongmian in the Xianning area of Hubei Province, where it has a history of more than 100 years.

　　 　　【Specifications】

　　 　　Qingzhuan Tea is shaped like a long rectangular brick. It has a bluish-brown color, a pure aroma, a fairly strong taste without grassiness, a reddish-yellow infusion that is relatively clear, and dark, coarse leaf bases. Each brick weighs 2 kilograms (including 0.125 kilograms of sprinkled surface and second surface combined, and 1.75 kilograms of inner tea). The dimensions are 34 cm × 17 cm × 4 cm.

　　 　　When drinking Qingzhuan Tea, the brick needs to be broken up and placed in a special teapot to be boiled with water. The resulting tea is richly aromatic and delicious, offering multiple benefits such as clearing the mind, refreshing the spirit, quenching thirst, warming the body against the cold, aiding digestion, killing bacteria, contracting tissues, and treating diarrhea. Aged bricks have even better effects.

　　 　　【Processing】

　　 　　The processing of Qingzhuan Tea is somewhat more complex because it is divided into “surface tea” and “inner tea.” Higher-quality tea is used for the surface, while lower-quality tea is used for the inner part, resulting in a flat and smooth appearance of the finished Qingzhuan Tea brick. First- and second-grade old green tea leaves are used for the surface tea.

　　 　　【Method】

　　 　　1: Pile-fermentation. 2: Screening and cutting into blanks. 3: Steaming and pressing into shape. 4: Drying.