Dark Tea and Health

How to infuse Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:28:00 +0800

1> Choosing Teaware: usually you can choose some big and thick tea wares. Generally with thick-walled teapot to infuse, and transparent glass tea pot is also good and easy to view the tea soup.

2> Taking tea: for the compressed tea, please using tea knife to take tea around 8g.

3> Waking Tea: compressed tea should be infused for about 30 seconds at the first brewing, loose tea about 8 seconds. Then flow out the water. Awaking tea is to fully wet tea, raise the temperature of tea and tea pots, so that for the better tea soup of second brewing.

4> Water options: general drinking water works, and spring water, well water, mineral water, pure water is better. Water temperature: Water must be boiled tea, to insufe Anhua Dark Tea, the water temperature cannot be less than95℃.

5> Tea Proportion: usually, if infuse, the proportion of tea to water is around 1:40. If cook, it is around1:50. Anyway it can be adjusted according to personal taste; Strong tea lover, can put more tea leaves or brewing time can be a long point.

Why are the “Golden Flowers” more in New Fu Brick Tea, and less in aging Fu Brick tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:22:00 +0800

The color of the “Golden Flowers” develops with time flys. The “Golden Flowers” are flourishing and yellow in new tea, but it will turns to white-yellow and small with years passed. That’s why people almost cannot see “Golden Flowers” on the old aging Fu Brick tea.

Why does Fu brick tea have “Golden Flowers”?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:15:00 +0800

"Golden Flowers" is formed during processing of Fu brick tea. The special technics of processing Fu Brick Tea cultivates a kind of Probiotics called Eurotium cristatum. The Eurotium Cristatum is gold in color, so people generally call it “Golden Flowers”.

In accordance with national standards, the more the “Golden Flowers” are, the better the tea quality is. Generally saying, “good tea with “Golden Flowers”, better tea with more “Golden Flowers”. There is no strict requirement on “Golden Flowers” for the other kind of Anhua Dark Tea except Fu Brick Tea.

Teas need space to breath?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:54:00 +0800

Many peopls ask why some tea stalks in Qian Liang Tea and Bai Liang Tea?

You may don't know teas also need space to breath, especially such big compressed tea logs.

Dark Tea requires a certain temperature, humidity and oxygen for post-fermentation to improve the quality of tea.

For such huge compressed tea, a certain amount of tea stems have to be added to make it have more pores, thus to ensure adequate oxygen enter into tea for better post-fermentation. So, that’s why you see some tea stalks in traditional Brick Tea.

Why the leaves of Qian Liang Cake, bar, cube are not complete?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:28:00 +0800

The complete Qian Liang Tea and Bai Liang Tea is a large cylinder, the net weight of Qian Liang Tea cylinder reaches 36.25kgs, Bai Liang Tea cylinder reaches 3.625kgs, so buying a complete tea log is very expensive.

In order to make common consumers to taste World’s Tea King – Qian Liang Tea, tea factories saw tea cylinders into the shapes of cakes, bars or cubes, so that the consumers can easily shop and drink.

Because of the sawing procedure, the tea leaves cannot be complete.

Collection & Anhua Dark Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:06:00 +0800

Both new dark tea and old dark tea have its own special flavor.

More people like aging dark tea, but new dark tea also have its unique tasty. When it is new, it tastes a little bit astringent but with more fresh tea aroma.

With age, it become thick, stale aroma, mellow, smoothing, sweet.

So many tea lover like to buy it new and taste it after years which is cost- effective. And, many collectors collect many Anhua Dark Tea for value-added.

Why Anhua Dark Tea gets better with age if under good condition?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:28:00 +0800

Stored in appropriate conditions, due to probiotics, heat, auto-oxidation and other comprehensive factors, a series of changes occur in tea, such us bitterness and astringent decrease, sweetness increase, tea liquor turns transparent amber. and its health care functions are improved.

The storage method of Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:17:00 +0800

Dark tea is the most special one of six teas. Other teas need to avoid oxidation, while dark tea need natural environmental conditions for slow oxidation thus to upgrade its quality.

Dark Tea storage need note Below three points:

1> Cool and avoid the sun: Exposing naked tea to sun will accelerate oxidation, resulting in some unpleasant affection which is difficult to disappear;

2> Ventilation and avoid seal: Natural ventilation will help tea oxidation, and proper absorption of moisture in the air (but not too much moisture, or easy to mold) not only can accelerate the oxidation of tea, but also provide moisture and oxygen of probiotics. Avoid using plastic bags, aluminum foil bags.

Kraft paper, parchment and other good permeability of packaging materials packaging is good for store.

3> Avoid the condition of odor pollution. Tea has a very strong adsorption which cannot be mixed together with other smell material.

What’s the shelf life of Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:39:00 +0800

It’s clearly indicated in national standard, Dark Tea can be stocked in long time under the clear, drying and non-smelling condition.

Generally, the compressed tea stored 20 years, loose tea stored 5 years not only taste greatly, but also can be afforded by common consumers. Very long stored Dark Tea is too expensive, so Dark Tea lover always collect new, and store for years.

How is the quality of Teamysun's Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:28:00 +0800

Anhua Dark Tea produced by Teamysun are used Wild Tea Leaves from high mountain in Anhua County.

Wild tea leaves mean primitive, natural, fertilizer-free, pesticide-free; they are rich in various natural nutrition; they are the most natural, the healthiest organic drink.

Teamysun only do Wild Tea, so the tea quantity is small each year, the quality is top grade, every piece is limited edition!

How is the quality of Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:20:00 +0800

Tea leave is the basic - Organic tea leaves coming from high mountain basically ensure the quality.

Technics is the key - Special Damp-heaping, naturally drying technics and “Golden Flowers” technics are the key for the quality of Anhua Dark Tea

Long Storage is sublimation - Due to probiotics, heat, auto-oxidation and other comprehensive factors, a series of changes occur in tea, the flavor of Anhua Dark and its health care functions are improved obviously.

Is Anhau Dark Tea good for health?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:07:00 +0800

Anhua Dark Tea is post-fermented tea. Its unique technic, particularly, the interaction of micro-organism during fermentation forms many beneficial pharmacological effects.

The main components of Anhua Dark tea liquor color is theaflavins and thearubigins. The research show that theaflavins not only is an effective free radical scavenger and antioxidant, but also have the good function of anti-mutagenic, antibacterial anti-virus, and have many other physiological funcitons such as improving cardiovascular disease, diabetes and etc.

The main functional components of Anhua Dark tea is the compounds of polysaccharide, these compounds have been recognized by the medical field that they can regulate glucose metabolism (preventing and controlling diabetes), lower blood pressure, blood lipids, have function of anti-coagulation, anti-thrombosis, improve the immune capacity. Clinical trials prove that Anhua Dark tea significantly have these special features that other teas cannot be replaced.

Mineral elements in tea are mainly in mature leaves, stalks and stems. Compressed Anhau Dark tea use relatively mature leaves, so it’s the content of mineral elements are higher than that of other teas. Among many mineral elements, fluoride has significant effects on the prevention of dental caries and osteoporosis; selenium can stimulate the immune protein, produce antibody enhancing the body's resistance to disease, and has significant effect on controlling coronary heart disease, inhibiting cancer occurrence and development. Selenium content of tea can be as high as 3.8 ~ 6.4mg/kg.

Compared with Coke and other tea, Anhua Dark Tea is a kind of low-caffeine healthy drink which does not affect sleep.

What is "Golden Flowers"? What’s the function of "Golden Flowers" ?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:47:00 +0800

"Golden Flowers" is formed during processing of Anhua Dark tea. The special technic of processing Anhua Dark Tea cultivates a kind of Probiotics called Eurotium cristatum. The Eurotium Cristatum is gold in color, so people generally call it “Golden Flowers”. In the past, the Eurotium Cristatum was only found on some valuable GANODERMA. It is a kind of very rare probiotics. “Golden Flowers” is good for health, expecially for gastrointestinal disease, weight-losing high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

What are the characteristics of Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:10:00 +0800

1> Unique Technics: the technics of “Special Damp-heaping” and “Golden Flowers”.

2> Unique Taste: thick, stale, mellow, smoothing, refreshing and special mushroom taste, sweet aftertaste.

3> Health Care: not only with the effects of the other tea kinds, the probiotics and tea polysaccharide produced by special post-fermentation in dark tea is very good for gastrointestinal disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

4> Collection Value: oxidation is the enemy of the other tea. However, Dark Tea taste better with deeper oxidation. It’s getting better with its age. So, it is loved by tea collector and tea lover.

What’s Three “Bricks”?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:38:00 +0800

Three "Bricks" indicate compressed tea in brick shape includes Hua Brick, Hei Brick and Fu Brick.

Hua Brick Tea is original from Hua Juan Tea. Because of the extinction of Hua Juan Tea in 1950s, manufactory want to use Hua Brick to take place of Hua Juan Tea. Hua Brick has patterns impressed on the surface of the brick.

Hei Brick Tea was developed in 1939. It’s almost the same as Hua Brick but without pattern.

In China, we call summer season as “Fu” season. Fu Brick Tea is processed in summer season, so it is called Fu Brick Tea. Fu Brick Tea is famous for its “Golden Flowers”. "Golden Flowers" are formed during processing of Fu brick tea.

The special technic of processing Fu Brick Tea cultivates a kind of Probiotics called Eurotium cristatum. The Eurotium Cristatum is gold in color, so people generally call it “Golden Flowers”.

In accordance with national standards, the more the “Golden Flowerss” are, the better the tea quality is. Generally saying, “good tea with “Golden Flowers”, better tea with more “Golden Flowers”. There is no strict requirement on “Golden Flowers” for the other kind of Anhua Dark Tea except Fu Brick Tea.

The things about Hua Juan Tea Series

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:22:00 +0800

Qian Liang Tea, Bai Liang Tea and Shi Liang Tea are collectively called Hua Juan Tea Series because they are all in log shape, in Chinese it means "Hua Juan" Shape. Now, people normally call them Qian Liang Series.

The name of “Hua Juan Tea Series” comes from its ancient weight. The net weight of “Qian Liang Tea” is ancient 1,000 Liang(Liang is China ancient unit of weight, Qian is the spelling of 1000 in Chinese); ancient 1,000 liang is 36.25kgs now.“Bai Liang Tea” is 3.625kgs now, “Shi Liang Tea” is 0.3625kg now.

With height about 150cm (60"), diameter about 20cm (8"), “Qian Liang Tea” is like an artwork tree standing in front of you, giving a sense of large, strong and powerful. “Qian Liang Tea” was named as the World Tea King by many tea lovers and tea experts because its powerful shape and great taste and collecting values.

Qing Dynasty of Tongzhi (1862-1874), a Shanxi Merchant creates the “Hua Juan Tea Series” based on “Bai Liang tea”. In ancient rumor, the process of “Hua Juan Tea” was successfully practiced by “Liu Family” in Anhua Bian River under the guidance of a Shanxi Merchant. Later, the process of “Hua Juan Tea” became a secret technic mastered by “Liu Family”.

“Hua Juan Teas” taste mellow, refreshing, oil-smoothing and have strong sweet after-taste. His attraction lies in better taste developing with his age. Appropriate storage adds his value.

What is three "Jians"?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:04:00 +0800

Three “Jians” are loose leaves Dark Tea including Tian Jian, Gong Jian, Shen Jian.

Tian Jian, GongJian and Shen Jian are the top grade of Anhua Dark Tea.

Using tender and brisk fresh leaves during Guyu Season, three Jians are provided to the rich. They are the drinks of the noble in Northwest.

Three Jians are loose leaf dark tea without compressing. Three Jians have features of tight stripe, dark brown in leaves’ color, mellow taste. They are better quality for long storage.

How many kinds of traditional Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:05:00 +0800

Taditonally, Anhua Dark Tea includes: Three “Jians”, Three “Bricks” and "Qian Liang Series" (also called Hua Juan Series).

Below is the pic of "Qian Liang Series"

Why is Anhua Dark tea mystery tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:54:00 +0800

In ancient, Anhua Dark tea transported through mysterious ancient Silk Road in Northwest.

Anhua Dark Tea, especially Fu Brick tea becomes life necessity of minorities in border area because of its special quality and magic health effects.

Anhua Dark tea is rare in the market, because the distribution of Anhua Dark tea used to be controlled by China Government and it cannot be produced and sold by private merchant. It was formerly known as the "official tea".

Under the proper conditions, Anhua Dark tea can be stored for a long. It turns to better taste by aging.

What is the difference between 6 kinds of tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:50:00 +0800

In China, there have 6 kinds of teas which are Green Tea, Black Tea, Dark Tea, Yellow Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea.

Actually, all the different kinds of tea come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). The differences of 6 kinds of tea lie in their processing, particularly, the fermentation degree that the leaves undergo.

Green - no fermentation
Black - fully fermented
Dark – fully and Post fermented
Yellow- slightly fermented
Oolong - partly fermented
White –no fermentation

Herbal teas and rooibos tea are NOT true teas, as they come from different plant sources.

What is Anhua Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:41:00 +0800

Anhua Dark Tea names after its county’s name.

Anhua County is located in Hunan Province; Anhua is the main production region of dark tea. Anhua County is famous for its Dark Tea, especially Qian Liang Tea and Fu Brick Tea.

The processing technic of Qian Liang Tea and Fu Brick Tea were both included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage protection.

Compressed Anhua Dark tea is generally considered as relatively mature leaves processed through more than 20~30 complex procedures, and then fermented with aging.

What is Dark Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:31:00 +0800

Dark Tea which has more than 400 years history is one of the six kinds of teas in China.

Dark Tea is a kind of special tea type in the world, only produced in certain region in China, and its processing technic was created and mastered only by Ancient China.

Dark tea is post-fermented tea which is a kind of tea that undergoes a period of "aging" in the air, from several months to many years.

In China and Chinese-influenced East Asian, post-fermented teas are collectively referred to as "dark tea" (黑茶, Hei Cha).

Dark Tea includes Anhua Dark Tea, Pu-erh Tea , Guangxi Liubao Tea, Hubei Lao Qing Brick, Yaan Zang Tea and etc.