Dianqing

Dianqing

　　Dianqing is a high-quality sun-dried tea from Yunnan with a long history. It is made from fresh leaves of large-leaf tea trees, which are fixed, rolled, and then dried in the sun. Its quality and flavor profile are distinct from those of Pu'er tea, which historically undergoes a post-ripening stage (i.e., post-fermentation) and becomes more fragrant with age. Historically, Dianqing was named according to the season and graded into levels such as Spring Tips, Mid-Spring, Late Spring, Second Flush, and Valley Flowers.

　　Modern Dianqing is made by directly sieving sun-dried rough tea that has not undergone the post-ripening process. It is categorized into varieties and grades including Spring Tips, Spring Sprouts, Spring Tips (premium), Grade A Blend, Grade B Blend, Grade C Blend, and Spring Jade. It is a uniquely excellent product among Yunnan’s green teas. Dianqing tea is known for its long-lasting brews and can be used not only as a regular tea but also as an ideal choice for making baked tea. In ethnic regions of Yunnan, drinking baked tea is a popular tradition. To make baked tea, tea leaves are placed in a specially designed clay pot, which is then roasted over a fire. The pot is shaken while roasting to ensure even heating without scorching. Once the tea turns yellow, boiling water is poured into the pot to extract the brew. Baked tea is rich and aromatic, offering refreshing and energizing effects, as well as helping to relieve fatigue.