Dian Hong Tea: What Category Does It Belong To?

Dian Hong is a fully Fermented tea, belonging to the category of famous black teas, renowned for its high fragrance, bright color, and rich, mellow taste.

Dian Hong primarily originates from regions such as Lincang, Baoshan, Xishuangbanna, and Dehong in Yunnan Province, with Fengqing being its birthplace. Its leaves are tightly rolled into a snail shape or straight with visible buds, resembling pine needles. The liquor is bright red with a prominent golden rim, clear and clean. Its flavor is strong, sweet, and smooth, with a full-bodied soup.

Dian Hong has several representative types, including Dian Hong Gongfu, Golden Threads of Dian Hong, Golden Needles of Dian Hong, Sun-Dried Dian Hong, Golden Buds of Dian Hong, and Golden Snails of Dian Hong.

The quality of Dian Hong is characterized by its strength, intensity, and freshness, making it highly favored by consumers both at home and abroad. It was first produced by Mr. Feng Shaoqiu in November 1938, with main production areas located in the region west of the Lancang River and east of the Nu River in southwestern Yunnan.

Depending on the manufacturing process, Dian Hong can be classified into Dian Hong Gongfu Black Tea and Broken Black Tea. The picking standard for Dian Hong Gongfu Black Tea is mainly one bud with two or three leaves. After withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying, the resulting red rough tea is further refined into various grades of finished tea. The finished Gongfu tea has a tightly knitted, robust appearance, a dark lustrous color when dry, a bright and clear liquor, a fresh and long-lasting aroma, a rich and refreshing taste, and a stimulating quality.

Dian Hong is categorized into Golden Needles of Dian Hong, Pine Needles of Dian Hong, Golden Buds of Dian Hong, Golden Snails of Dian Hong, Red Snails, Golden Threads of Dian Hong, and wild-grown Dian Hong. The wild variety tends to have a darker color and uses different raw materials in its production, along with a unique manufacturing process. When purchasing, it is necessary to have some understanding and pay attention to these differences.