Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea

Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea

　　Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea is a specialty of Anhua, Hunan.

　　Historically, there were the “Three Jian” types of dark tea from Anhua, Hunan: “Tianjian (Heavenly Tip), Shengjian (Raw Tip), and Gongjian (Tribute Tip).” Among them, Tianjian Dark Tea holds the highest status and grade. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was listed as an imperial tribute, exclusively for the enjoyment of the royal family, hence the name “Tianjian,” making it the foremost among all Anhua dark teas.

　　In ancient times, Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea was strictly managed and transported exclusively. Even ordinary officials, gentry, merchants, or celebrities had no access to it. Needless to say, commoners could not obtain it. It was once only enjoyed by the bureaucratic class and affluent families, rarely seen among the general populace. The regal presence and strong vitality inherent in Tianjian Dark Tea naturally reflect resilience, toughness, simplicity, and unpretentiousness, resembling a rustic yet noble pastoral scene that refreshes the mind and invigorates the spirit. The storms of history have long swept away the feudal dynasties, and Tianjian Dark Tea has now entered the homes of countless ordinary people.

　　Differences Among Similar Types

　　First, Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea ages very well within a short period (three years). Like wine, it becomes more fragrant with age. The raw material used for Tianjian Dark Tea is first-grade tender tea tips. The basket-packed Tianjian is more convenient for storage and avoids secondary contamination.

　　Second, the raw material for Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea must be made from pure, authentic Anhua-origin black tea leaves. It’s not that tea leaves from other regions can’t be used, but black tea made from non-Anhua tea leaves will have inferior quality and taste after fermentation. Hunan’s superior natural ecological environment is highly suitable for growing black tea bushes, and since ancient times, there has been a legend that they “grow spontaneously by the mountains and waters without being planted.”

　　Third, the use of ancient bamboo-woven basket packaging for Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea actually aids in the full fermentation of the tea. This eco-friendly packaging offers a simple and natural visual experience — rustic, natural, and harmonious.

　　Fourth, fresh tender leaves → fixation → rolling → pile fermentation → baking. Baked Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea is superior wherever it is compared to unbaked versions, and baking is not simply smoking with firewood. Ideally, it should be baked using a Seven-Star Stove.

　　Fifth, Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea has unique traditional Chinese medicinal effects that cannot be replaced by other types of tea. Clinical experiments selected ten disease models to study the health benefits of Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea on the human body.

　　Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea from Hunan significantly improves human immunity, fat metabolism, weight control, blood pressure reduction, stomach warming and spleen strengthening, and bowel movement regulation. After fermentation, the caffeine content in Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea is low, so it does not affect sleep at all. At the same time, it offers anti-radiation, anti-cancer, cancer-prevention, hangover relief, digestion promotion, anti-aging, cholesterol reduction, and enhanced sharpness of brain central nervous system activity, improved thinking ability, and inhibition of arteriosclerosis.

　　Sixth, Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea is very resistant to brewing. The tea leaves are large and thick, not easily broken, and can be brewed 10–15 times, offering great value. Generally, when you brew it 10–15 times, you will feel a strong tea qi with a mellow, rich taste. A slight astringency begins from the throat (professionally called “returning sweetness”).

　　Quality Specifications

　　Tianjian tea has tightly twisted strips, relatively straight and slender, with good tenderness and a glossy black color. Its aroma is mellow with a hint of pine smoke. The soup is orange-yellow, the taste is rich, and the leaf base is yellowish-brown and still tender. In ancient times, it was packaged in specifications of 100–50 jin (50–25 kg). To adapt to market needs, current specifications include two kilograms, one kilogram, and 500 grams.

　　Tianjian Production Method

　　The processing technique for Tianjian is relatively simple. The raw materials go through screening, winnowing, sorting, high-temperature steam softening, rolling, baking, blending, and packaging to become the finished product.

　　Hand-Pressed Production

　　① Weighing Tea: Each basket requires five weighings of tea.

　　② Steaming: Steam each weighed portion of tea for 20–30 minutes.

　　③ Loading the Basket: First place the bamboo basket in a “box-shaped frame,” then load the steamed tea into the basket, repeating this process three times.

　　④ Pressing: Push the “box-shaped frame” into the press, apply pressure, then push it out, and load the fourth and fifth portions of tea for a second pressing.

　　⑤ Bundling: After the tea package comes out of the frame, weigh and sample it, then tie the basket with cross-shaped bamboo strips.

　　⑥ Ventilation Holes: Drill five 40 cm-deep holes in the top of the bamboo package, then insert three thatch straws into each hole to allow air circulation and moisture release.

　　⑦ Drying: Transport the pressed tea packages to a ventilated and dry area. After 4–5 days of drying and moisture inspection, brush the label and prepare for factory release.

　　Packaging Method

　　Eco-Friendly Packaging of Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea

　　Eco-Friendly Packaging of Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea

　　The packaging of Anhua Tianjian Dark Tea uses bamboo-woven baskets. There are two main reasons for this: first, it allows ventilation to aid fermentation; second, it helps eliminate odors and preserve the aged fragrance of the tea.

　　Benefits of Drinking Tianjian Dark Tea

　　Drinking two cups of Anhua Tianjian dark tea daily can work wonders in combating abdominal fat. When it comes to obesity, people often think of belly fat first, and Tianjian dark tea has been shown to significantly inhibit the increase of abdominal fat.

　　Dark tea is made through fermentation by black mold, hence its name — it’s black. During the fermentation process, a compound called pu’erol is produced, which helps prevent fat accumulation. To use Anhua Tianjian dark tea for weight loss, it’s best to drink freshly brewed strong tea. Additionally, aim to consume 1.5 liters per day, drinking one cup before and one after meals, and stick with it over the long term.

　　Pharmacological Effects

　　China has a long history of using “tea as medicine,” and Anhua Tianjian dark tea is a fully post-fermented tea with the highest content of active tea polysaccharides. Especially due to microbial involvement, it offers unique pharmacological benefits that cannot be replaced by other types of tea. Clinical experiments tested ten modern disease models and studied the health effects of Tianjian dark tea on the human body. It was found that Tianjian dark tea is very helpful in boosting immunity, fat metabolism, weight control, warming the stomach, and improving digestion and urination. It also contains low levels of caffeine, so it won’t affect sleep.

　　1. The main components of Anhua Tianjian dark tea are tea complex polysaccharide compounds. These compounds are considered by the medical community to regulate sugar metabolism in the body, lower blood lipids and blood pressure, improve carbohydrate metabolism, reduce blood sugar, and help prevent diabetes.

　　The tea polysaccharide complexes in Anhua Tianjian dark tea are the main components responsible for lowering blood sugar. Tea polysaccharide complexes, commonly referred to as tea polysaccharides, are a mixture with complex and variable compositions. Studies measuring tea polysaccharide content in several types of tea show that Anhua Tianjian dark tea has the highest level of tea polysaccharides, and its components are also more active than those in other teas. This is because, during the fermentation process, enzymes such as glycosidase, protease, and hydrolase break down the compounds into relatively shorter sugar chains and peptide chains. Shorter peptide chains are more easily absorbed and have stronger biological activity, which may be one reason why the blood sugar-lowering effect of fermented teas, especially dark teas, is superior to that of other types of tea.

　　2. Anhua Tianjian dark tea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

　　The main components of dark tea liquor color are theaflavins and thearubigins. Research shows that theaflavins are not only effective free radical scavengers and antioxidants but also exhibit significant antibacterial effects against Clostridium botulinum, enterobacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, capsule bacilli, and Bacillus cereus. In addition, theaflavins can inhibit the invasion of influenza viruses and the infection of rotavirus and enterovirus to some extent.

　　3. Anhua Tianjian dark tea also promotes diuresis, detoxification, and reduces the harm caused by tobacco and alcohol.

　　The diuretic function of caffeine in Anhua Tianjian dark tea is achieved by promoting the filtration rate of water in urine through the kidneys. At the same time, caffeine’s stimulating effect on the bladder aids both diuresis and sobering up, helping to eliminate alcohol toxins. Meanwhile, the polyphenols in dark tea not only cause nicotine in tobacco to precipitate and be excreted in urine but also remove free radicals from smoke, reducing its toxic effects on the body. For heavy metal toxins, polyphenols have a strong adsorption capacity, so drinking more tea can also help mitigate the harm caused by heavy metals.

　　Anhua Tianjian dark tea boasts unique quality and strong pharmacological effects. It is arguably the most eco-friendly, green, and healthy beverage in the world today and is irreplaceable by other types of tea.