Are you a tea drinker who’s looking to explore new flavor territory? If so, you’ll want to check out Yunnan black teas. China’s Southwestern Yunnan province is where these teas originate, and they offer a unique flavor experience that you won’t find with other types of tea. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of what makes Yunnan black teas unique, and we’ll also share some varieties to try.
So if you’re ready to dive into the world of Yunnan teas, keep reading!
What is Yunnan tea?
Yunnan black tea is a high quality chinese black tea that is grown in the Yunnan Province of China, and is known for its unique taste and aroma.
It is a full-bodied tea with a rich, mellow flavor. This black tea has a complex aroma, but does not have any astringency or bitterness. It is also known as Dian hong in China and Pu-erh in the West. Yunnan black tea has been getting popular all over the world thanks to its delicious taste and health benefits.
The History of Yunnan Black Tea
The history of Yunnan black tea is a long and eventful one. This type of tea is believed to have originated in the province of Yunnan in southwestern China. It is thought that the first black tea was produced there sometime during the early 18th century.
Yunnan black tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant that is used to produce other types of tea such as green tea and oolong tea. However, black tea is made using a different process than these other types of tea. Black tea is oxidized for a longer period of time than green tea or oolong tea, which gives it its characteristic dark brown color and strong flavor.
The popularity of Yunnan black tea skyrocketed in the mid-19th century when a British company, known as The Chinese Tea Company, began importing the tea to England. In 1878, this company changed its name to The Foreign and Colonial Tea Company (FCO). By 1923, FCO was selling over one million pounds of Yunnan black tea every year.
Common Types of Yunnan Black Teas
The amount of fine leaf buds collected from the tea plant, or “golden tips,” in Yunnan Tea (also known as Dian hong tea) is the primary distinction between it and other Chinese black teas. The brew produced has a brassy golden orange color with a sweet, delicate scent and no astringency. The character of cheaper Dian hong varieties is darker brownish and can be quite harsh.
There are five main varieties of Yunnan black tea:
Yunnan Pure Gold
It’s the most costly and regarded as the finest variety of Dian hong black tea. It consists solely of golden tips, which are covered in fine and tiny hairs. The dried tea has an orangish hue. The tea liquor is a bright crimson in hue and has a pleasant scent and sweet flavor. After being prepared, the leaves become reddish brown.
Golden Yunnan Black Tea
A Dian hong with fewer golden buds and more dark tea leaves. It is comparable to pure gold in terms of price, but it creates teas that have somewhat different characteristics. The brew has a brass red color distinct from other black teas and a strong sweetness not quite as intense as “Yunnan pure gold.” It is also know as “Yunnan Gold Tea”.
Golden needle
It’s a dianhong cultivar that’s pure black tea. The leaves are golden brown in color and produce an amberish liquor.
Pine Needle
It is a preparation technique that has been in use since the 20th century, and it maintains straight leaf form, producing a mix of colored leaves that resemble old pine needles. Some lightly fermented green teas have leaves that are not curved. This is a common shape for these types of teas. However, for black teas this is a novelty because the leaves are usually curved.
Broken Yunnan
A low-cost dian hong tea blend known for its bitterness and lack of golden buds. The largely black dried leaves with only a few bursts of golden tips are easily recognized. The color is dark brown but not brass-like. The flavor, however, can be quite strong.
Does Yunnan tea have caffeine?
In general Yunnan teas may contain a lesser amount of caffeine. However it is difficult to predict how much caffeine content the cup will have. Various factors affect this range: the tea plant used in making tea, the conditions of growth and maturity of the tea leaves. You could expect between 60 and 70 mg of caffeine per cup of Yunnan black tea.
Facts about the Health Benefits of Drinking Yunnan Black Teas
Yunnan chinese black tea is known for its health benefits. It is high in antioxidants, which help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Yunnan black tea also contains polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
Drinking Yunnan teas can help to improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels. It can also help to protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Yunnan black tea is also a natural source of caffeine, which can help to improve energy levels and enhance physical and mental performance.
Conclusion
Yunnan black tea is a rich and intense black tea that offers something different than the more common black teas you may be used to.
It has a unique and intense taste that you should definetly try if you’re curious about what black tea can tast like at its best. Once you experience its flavor profile and complexity, we think you’ll be hooked too.
This post has hopefully given you some knowledge about this excellent tea, so go ahead and brew yourself a cup of the best black tea! We think you’ll love it.