Dark Tea and Pu'er tea differ in the following ways: in the production process of dark tea, the raw material, black-haired tea, undergoes pile fermentation before drying, while the raw material of Pu'er tea, sun-dried Green Tea, is generally not fermented before drying. Their varieties also differ, with dark tea mainly being the Anhua Yuntaishan large-leaf variety, while Pu'er tea includes a wide range of large-leaf arbor tea varieties and special purple sprout teas, as well as ancient tea tree teas from different old tea mountains. Their liquor colors also vary, with dark tea's liquor color typically ranging from orange-yellow to orange-red, while that of aged Pu'er tea and ripe Pu'er tea is generally chestnut red, deep red, or wine red. There is almost no astringency, and the taste is relatively smooth.
Introduction to Pu'er Tea
Pu'er tea is made from sun-dried green tea leaves of large-leaf tea trees grown in Yunnan province and compressed teas made from these leaves. The main producing areas are located in Baoshan City, Lincang City, and Xishuangbanna Prefecture.
Pu'er tea is characterized by its rich, concentrated, and mellow flavor, unique aroma, and long-lasting infusion quality.
The characteristics of Pu'er tea vary depending on the growing region. For example, teas from the Xishuangbanna region are heavy-bodied with a full-bodied liquor and pronounced bitterness and astringency; ancient tree teas from the Pu'er City region exhibit diverse characteristics; teas from the Lincang region tend to be bitter and Astringent but have a quick return to sweetness.
Introduction to Dark Tea
Dark tea is a post-Fermented tea produced in regions such as Yunnan, Hunan, Hubei, and Guangxi, with the harvest period typically occurring from mid-June to August each year.
The tea plant for dark tea is a tree species belonging to the Camellia family, with relatively upright branches, few branchings, and a height of about 8 meters. Young shoots and leaves are light green with no or very little downy hair.
The taste of dark tea is relatively strong, with a rough liquor. Pu'er tea, as one type of dark tea, has a long history and is one of China's oldest teas, known for its aged aroma.
Regular consumption of dark tea can supplement essential minerals and various vitamins needed by the human body, which is beneficial for the prevention and dietary therapy of anemia. Additionally, dark tea has effects such as lowering lipids and aiding weight loss, softening blood vessels, and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
What are the differences between dark tea and Pu'er tea?
1. Process: In the production of dark tea, the raw material, black-haired tea, goes through pile fermentation, whereas the raw material of Pu'er tea, sun-dried green tea, generally does not undergo fermentation. Additionally, there is a unique flower development process used in the production of Fu brick tea, which is absent in ripe Pu'er tea.
2. Variety: The primary variety of dark tea is the Anhua Yuntaishan large-leaf type, while Pu'er tea includes a wide range of large-leaf arbor tea varieties, special purple sprout teas, and ancient tea tree teas from different old tea mountains.
3. Liquor Color: The liquor color of Pu'er tea ranges from blue-green to chestnut red, deep red, and dark red, while that of dark tea ranges from orange-yellow to orange-red. Pu'er tea exhibits a cold-settling phenomenon, with slightly less bright liquor, whereas dark tea has a mirror-like clarity.
4. Taste: Pu'er tea has a thick and rich taste upon entry, while dark tea has a sweet and pure taste. Pu'er tea is long-lasting when infused, while dark tea has a lingering aged flavor.
5. Aroma: The aroma of Pu'er tea is quite complex, varying due to factors such as region, processing method, and storage age, giving an overall impression of richness and depth. In comparison, the aroma of dark tea is relatively simpler.
6. Leaf Bottom: The leaf bottom characteristics depend on the raw material and processing method. The raw materials used for Pu'er tea are often whole buds, and do not require chopping, whereas dark tea, due to the requirement for containing stems, undergoes a chopping process during production, resulting in slightly less intact leaves (high-grade dark tea has better leaf integrity).
In summary, there are certain differences between dark tea and Pu'er tea in terms of process, variety, liquor color, taste, aroma, and leaf bottom, each having its unique characteristics.