Chinese Teas

China, has always been famous for supplying the worlds tea drinkers with their daily cuppa, for centuries China was the worlds only tea exporter, today almost 20% of the tea exported around the globe comes from China.

There are six types of teas exported from China:

Black teas, Green teas, White teas,

Peurh teas, Compressed teas, and Flavoured Teas.

Each tea has its own particular character and its own particular taste, and some teas are known for their health benefits.

China has almost one and a half million Hectares of land dedicated to growing tea.

There are three main types of Black tea from China:

Lapsang Souchong

From the Fujian province of China. Lapsang Souchong tea has a smoky aroma and flavor. these leaves are dried in bamboo baskets over pine fires, achieving a perfect balance of smoke and tea flavor. it is a bit of an aquired taste which you will either like or dislike.

Keemun

Of all the black teas that China produces, Keemun is perhaps the most well-known.

Keemun has gained a reputation for an indescribable flavor, with hints of smoky pine, orchid, crushed apple and a rich sweet taste.

Yunnan

Yunnan tea is easily identified by its luscious soft leaves, and a unique peppery taste. will not taste bitter when over-steeped.

There are four main types of Green tea exported from China:

Gunpowder:

A crisp fresh green tea with a clear golden liquor, that is ideal all day long, either hot or as an iced tea with lemon.

Each leaf is rolled into a tiny compact pellet, giving it the appearance of old-fashioned lead shot - hence the name, but the term could just have easily have come from the way the pellets explode to many times their size, and release the distinctive flavour, when brewed

Oolong:

A good Oolong is both refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite distinct from anything you get with green or black tea

and it is also said that oolong helps with controlling obesity

Tie Kuan Yin:

This oolong of ChangKen area in Anxi county offers a balanced cup with a light jade-green hue. The texture is silky-smooth and the refreshing taste lingers in the mouth long after the last cup

Pouchong:

Pouchong is recognized as the finest in the world. Pouchong has a milder flavor than Oolong tea yet stronger than Green tea. Its taste is appreciated by tea connoisseurs worldwide.

There are two main White tea imports from China.

Pai Mu Tan Imperial:

This rare white tea is made from very small buds and a few baby leaves that are picked in the early spring, and once they have been dried, they look like lots of tiny white blossoms with a few darker leaves surrounding the white bud, the reason for it's name, 'White Peony'.

Yin Zhen:

From the Fuijan province, this tea is made from tender new buds that are covered in silvery white hairs and it's name means 'Silver Needles'

Puerh teas are teas from Yunnan that are aged for up to 50 years in humidity- and temperature-controlled conditions to produce teas that have a typically earthy, mature, smooth flavour and aroma.

There are two types of Puerh tea made by two different methods of manufacture: Naturally Fermented Puerh tea (also known as Raw Tea or Sheng Tea) and Artificially Fermented Puerh tea (also known as Ripe Tea or Shou Tea).

Puerh teas are sold in a block, rather than loose.

There are many different flavours and aroma's added to a lot of teas these days to tickle the taste buds.

China teas with added flavours include,

Jasmine, Rose Congou, Earl Grey, Osmanthus, Magnolia, Orchid, Chloranthus, Lichee and many other exotic flavours.

With some exceptions - such as Lapsang Souchong, Gunpowder and Keemun most teas from China are not easily found in the general marketplace.

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