Anhua Dark Tea

Anhua County in Yiyang City is one of the origins of Chinese dark tea, with its tea culture first documented in the Tang Dynasty (618–907), flourishing in the Song Dynasty (960–1279). The dark tea was designated as imperial tribute in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912). The representative products include "Three Jian Tea" – Tianjian, Gongjian, and Shengjian, "Three Brick Tea" – Heizhuan, Huazhuan, and Fuzhuan, and "One Flower Roll Tea" – Qianliang tea series. Among these, the craftsmanship of Qianliang tea and Fuzhuan tea was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022.

Recommended tea plantations: Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area (with over a 667-hectare tea farm where visitors can experience picking tea leaves and camping for star observation); and, Baishaxi Tea Plant

Best harvest periods: Spring tea leaves should be picked around the Qingming Festival, which falls on April 5 this year, and autumn tea leaves should be harvested during Liqiu solar term, (the start of autumn), which falls on August 7 this year.  

Hands-on activities: Picking tea leaves, traditional tea-making, visiting the Dark Tea Museum, and horseback riding along the ancient Tea Horse Road. 

Nearby attractions: Ancient Tea Horse Road Scenic Area, China Dark Tea Museum, and Zhexi Reservoir.

Local delicacies: Chicken stewed with dark tea, Anhua cured meat, Lei Cha (ground tea), and You Baba (fried rice cakes).

(Photo/Zeng Lixia) 

Chinese source: hunantoday