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The Tea-Making Skills of Qimen Black Tea
Qimen black tea, abbreviated as "Qihong," is one of China's top ten traditional teas and one of the world's three most fragrant black teas. It is named after Qimen County in Anhui Province. Qimen black tea was successfully created in the first year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1875). Upon its introduction, it gained a reputation both domestically and internationally for its unique quality. Traditionally, Qimen black tea was made by hand, with quality largely depending on manual skill, hence why it is also known as "Qimen Gongfu." The tea-making skills for Qimen black tea are divided into preliminary processing and finishing. Preliminary processing includes withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying; while finishing includes sieving, cutting, winnowing, sorting, blending, re-drying, and leveling. Withering Rolling Fermentation Drying The characteristics of Qimen black tea include a fine and slender appearance, good tip formation, and a lustrous dark color; a bright red liquor; a rich fragrance with floral and fruity notes; a smooth and sweet taste; and a uniform, tender, and soft leaf base. Qimen black tea particularly emphasizes tenderness and the tightness of the tea leaves. Defective qualities include hollow and loose texture, dull gray color, pale liquor, rough aroma,…- 1
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Tea Stems: The Soul of Dark Tea, A Symphony of Aroma and Flavor
In the world of tea, tea stems, often overlooked as the “green leaf,” actually play an indispensable role, particularly in dark tea. They are not only a source of aroma but also a flavor harmonizer. This article delves into the unique value of tea stems in dark tea and how they influence its aroma and taste, inviting you to appreciate the charm of tea stems. Tea Stems: The Source of Dark Tea’s “Perfume” Tea stems contain rich aromatic substances. During the production of dark tea, these aromatics release from the stems, blending with the buds and leaves, combining with the active components of the tea to transform into higher-quality fragrances. An appropriate amount of tea stems, like the base notes in perfume, adds depth and layers to the dark tea, making its aroma richer and more lasting. Tea Stems: The Choice “Flavor Enhancer” for Dark Tea Mature tea stems contain more tea polysaccharides, proteins, minerals, and other components than tender leaves. These water-soluble substances dissolve quickly in the tea infusion during brewing, enriching the mouthfeel and making it fuller and smoother. The theanine in tea stems gives dark tea a distinctive freshness, enhancing its overall flavor and turning it… -
Can new and old teas be stored together?
New and old teas should not be stored together but treated separately. Teas of the same type but different years are recommended to be stored separately to prevent "old tea acquiring new flavors." However, a small amount of aged tea can be stored with new tea to accelerate the "aging" process. Can new and old teas be stored together? New and old teas should not be stored together but treated separately. Teas of the same type but different years are best kept apart to prevent "old tea acquiring new flavors." However, a small amount of aged tea can be stored with new tea to facilitate beneficial microorganisms for "inoculation" and accelerate the "aging" process. Collectors who have the conditions can store Pu'er teas of the same type, such as ripe Pu'er or raw Pu'er, together if they are from the same year but in different forms (loose tea or compressed tea), making their collection clearly batched by year and form. For enthusiasts who cannot meet the above storage conditions for Pu'er tea, they should still "clearly categorize batches, sort by type, and appropriately isolate for storage," minimizing the mixing and contamination of different tea types during storage. Can different teas… -
Where do the black “burnt pieces” in tea leaves come from?
The “burnt pieces” in Pu'er raw tea are undesirable. However, this undesirability is not due to toxicity or harm to health but mainly affects the taste and appearance of the tea infusion. Theoretically, these “burnt pieces” can be avoided during the Pu'er tea production process; however, in practical application, they are almost impossible to avoid. The “burnt pieces” in Pu'er raw tea are essentially scorched tea juice that sticks to the iron wok and is not something dirty. During the process of fixing the fresh leaves, a large amount of water and tea juice overflow from the leaves, while the wok temperature is mostly above 200°C, which is very high. After several batches of fixing, a layer of tea juice forms on the surface of the iron wok, which is scorched black by the high heat and mixes with a small amount of the Pu'er tea material. We mentioned earlier that theoretically, “burnt pieces” can be avoided, and the most direct method would be to carefully clean the iron wok after each batch of fixing and before processing the next batch. If the scorched tea juice on the iron wok is completely washed off, it is theoretically possible to prevent… -
The Correct Way to Savor White Tea: Master These Tips and You’ll Be an Aroma Expert!
Why has Fuding white tea become so popular in recent years? Some say that the ultimate appeal of white tea is its "vitality"; it awakens your entire being when you drink it. It doesn't just pass through your mouth but permeates your whole body, awakening your soul. So, when drinking white tea, it's not just about tasting its flavor but also savoring its aroma. And how do you properly appreciate the aroma of white tea? The correct method is crucial! I. Understanding the Aroma In general, white tea has a rich and fragrant aroma. However, if processed properly or stored well, it can also exhibit a pure and intense scent. High-grade white teas like Silver Needle and premium White Peony have a characteristic downy aroma, which is a critical factor in aroma evaluation, and should be prominent. Due to their early picking and tenderness, they also have a noticeable fresh fragrance. 1. The "Aroma" of Silver Needle A well-aged, cleanly stored, and high-quality Silver Needle has a refined style with a lingering aftertaste. Its aroma is delicate yet varied and enduring, with a clean and sweet taste that lingers in the mouth, creating a lasting salivation effect with a pleasant…- 2
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Lao Xu on Tea: Is Loose Pu’er Tea Less Suitable for Aging Compared to Compressed Tea? Why? Look at the Production Process!
Everyone should be aware that there are two different forms of tea circulating in the Pu'er market. One is loose tea, which we also call loose leaf tea; the other is finished tea products produced by tea factories, which are compressed into three main shapes: tuocha, cake (beeng), and brick. Why do we compress loose leaf tea into these shapes? What advantages does this compression offer? Today, let's discuss this topic. The vast majority of teas circulating in the entire Pu'er market are in the form of cakes, bricks, or tuo. This applies to both raw and ripe teas. To understand their advantages, we need to first get a general idea of their compression process. First, the loose leaf tea purchased from farmers undergoes a process to remove impurities. It goes through a color sorter to pick out yellow leaves, stems, and larger impurities. The wind selection process is now rarely used as it results in significant loss and mediocre results. Then, an electrostatic machine removes hair-like matter and ash from the tea, ensuring it meets national standards for purity. Some manufacturers also perform grading, sorting the tea into several grades and blending them according to specific ratios. This step… -
What kind of new tea has the greatest collection value?
For Pu'er tea, many tea enthusiasts have the concept of "drink old tea, store new tea." So, how can we determine if a new tea has collection value? First, making a good tea requires many factors. The most critical are the following three aspects: What kind of new tea has the greatest collection value? I. Raw Materials Without good raw materials, no matter how skillful the process is or how correctly it's stored later, the tea cannot develop a good taste during its transformation later on. 1. Tea Variety A good tea is cultivated by people and is also the result of natural selection over thousands of years. Among various tea varieties, the sexual reproduction-based large-leaf type native to Yunnan is best suited for making Pu'er tea. 2. Growing Environment A suitable environment for growing tea trees. This includes appropriate altitude, proper sunlight duration and intensity, well-spaced planting, appropriate intercropping, no need for pesticides due to biodiversity that prevents the occurrence and development of diseases and pests, etc. 3. Picking Parts and Time Different parts of the tea leaves such as the bud tip, leaf, stalk, and yellow leaf play different roles in the post-fermentation process and have different effects… -
China’s Tea on the Tip of the Tongue: National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Scented Tea Production Skills, Zhang Yiyuan Jasmine Tea Production Skills
Scented tea originated in the Song Dynasty, began to be produced in the Ming Dynasty and was perfected in the Qing Dynasty. In the late Qing Dynasty, Zhang Changyi established Zhang Yiyuan Tea Shop, which has been passed down through generations, specializing in the production and sale of jasmine tea. During the Republican era, Zhang Yiyuan jasmine tea became well-known throughout Beijing. Regulars at bathhouses and theaters almost always requested Zhang Yiyuan tea by name, and Peking Opera masters such as Qiu Shengrong, Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, and others were all regular customers of Zhang Yiyuan. Zhang Yiyuan jasmine tea is made using spring tea from Fujian oolong green tea as the base tea, which is scented multiple times with jasmine flowers. Zhang Yiyuan Teahouse bustling with customers Production Techniques 1. Raw Material Inspection (Tea Base and Flowers Inspection): Strictly inspect the tea base, and select jasmine flowers that are full-bodied, evenly sized, and have a lustrous white color. 2. Tea Base Processing: Process different grades of tea into piles for refined production, requiring the tea base moisture content to reach 8%, with an appearance that is clean, uniform, and free of foreign objects. 3. Flower Processing: The jasmine flowers…- 4
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A Detailed Tutorial on Wuyi Rock Tea Refining Techniques by Intangible Cultural Heritage Practitioners, Highly Recommended for Collection!
Wuyi Rock Tea is a traditional Chinese tea renowned for its unique rock aroma and flavor, growing in the crevices of rocks. It is a semi-fermented green tea, with Dahongpao being one of its famous varieties. This article outlines the basic operational techniques and key points of each step in the refining process of Wuyi Rock Tea, aiming to provide guidance for production practice. Refining Techniques for Wuyi Rock Tea The refining of Wuyi Rock Tea involves processing raw tea into finished tea. The primary focus is to remove stems, fragments, and foreign matter, improve the uniformity and purity of the tea's appearance, and enhance its quality. The refining process comprises 13 steps: grading and sorting, preliminary sorting, sifting, cutting and shaping, winnowing (air selection), secondary sorting, blending, baking, cooling, packing (into boxes or barrels), storage, blending, additional baking, and packaging. Flow Chart of Wuyi Rock Tea Refining Process Grading and Sorting Grading and sorting are primarily for preparing raw tea for blending. Based on sensory evaluation results using the national standard samples or trade samples of Wuyi Rock Tea, raw teas are sorted according to their origin, variety, season, and quality. Specific steps for sorting raw tea: Samples are…
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