Changde Black Tea

The tea from Hunan is very similar to that of Anhui, as it is also traditionally a green tea region. While Anhui has Qimen Black Tea, Hunan has Changde Taoyuan Black Tea. Both regions originally produced green tea, but as black tea gained popularity worldwide, they transitioned to making black tea, which has since become a local specialty. Today, Taoyuan Black Tea is as famous nationwide as Qimen Black Tea, and has become one of the nine famous teas of Changde.

Changde has a long and rich history in tea culture. The "Jia Mountain Temple" in Shimen is known both in China and abroad as the origin of tea and Zen Buddhism. During the Song Dynasty, the eminent monk Yuanwu Keqin attained the true essence of "tea and Zen being one flavor" at Jia Mountain. The founding patriarchs of Japanese Zen Buddhism and the Japanese tea ceremony practiced deeply at Jia Mountain twice, so it can be said that the Japanese tea ceremony originated in Jia Mountain, Changde.

Changde Black Tea is produced through primary processes such as withering, oxidation, rolling, light fermentation, and baking for aroma enhancement. It is then refined through procedures including sieving, shaking and cutting, winnowing, color sorting, and post-fermentation. The dry tea features plump, tightly rolled, straight leaves with a glossy black color, abundant fuzz, and fine tips. Its aroma is noble, combining floral notes of osmanthus and orchid, elegant, rich, and lingering. The tea liquor is bright red and thick, with a mellow and sweet aftertaste.