There are many common varieties of Black Tea, such as Qimen black tea, Dian Hong, and Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, all of which are considered authentic black teas.
With so many varieties of black tea, which origin offers the best taste?
Many novice tea drinkers don't know how to select their tea. Generally speaking, if you have tasted these five common black teas, you can be considered a true beginner in Tea drinking:
01. Qimen Black Tea
Known as the “Queen of Black Teas,” Qimen black tea is produced in Qimen, Mount Huang, Anhui Province. Its aroma is floral and honey-like, with a fresh, sweet, and fragrant taste, also known as “Qimen Aroma.” It is one of the world's three high-aroma black teas.
Traditional Qimen black tea must go through dozens of precise processing steps and is also called “Qimen Gongfu.” The tea leaves are tightly rolled and elegant in appearance, with a dark luster that has a grayish sheen, making it a favorite among tea drinkers.
02. Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is the first black tea in the world and is considered the ancestor of all black teas.
The characteristic of traditional Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is a unique “pine-smoke aroma” and “longan flavor” in the tea Infusion.
Compared to other black teas, traditional Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is more fragrant, refreshing, and has a lasting sweetness, accompanied by unique floral, honey, and pine-smoke aromas. The tea soup has distinct layers and a delicate, rich taste.
03. Dian Hong Gongfu
Dian Hong is the abbreviation for Yunnan black tea, originating from Fengqing County, Yunnan Province. The characteristics of Dian Hong Gongfu tea are its “richness, strength, freshness, and refreshment.”
Authentic Dian Hong Gongfu is made from large-leaf raw materials, so the shape of the tea leaves tends to be relatively robust. The tea infusion tastes richer and more refreshing, with a long-lasting aftertaste.
In addition, when brewing black tea, a water temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius is sufficient.
04. Yingde Black Tea
Yingde black tea comes from Yingde, Guangdong Province, inheriting the tradition of Dian Hong, so its taste is similar to Dian Hong, tending towards richness and freshness, with a light floral and sweet potato aroma.
A well-known variety of Yingde black tea is No. 9 Ying Hong, known for its smooth, sweet, and refreshing taste and its lasting aroma. It is a widely recognized black tea variety among tea enthusiasts.
05. Jin Jun Mei
Jin Jun Mei originates from Tongmu Village, Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, and is a unique local variety of black tea.
Compared to Qimen black tea, Jin Jun Mei has a golden-yellow infusion color with an obvious golden rim. The taste of the tea infusion is clear, sweet, and refreshing, with a delicate floral and fruity fragrance and a woody aroma.