Often hear people say that Tieguanyin is green Tea, Dahongpao belongs to Black Tea. Is this a mix-up? In fact, Tieguanyin and Dahongpao are between green tea and black tea, belonging to Oolong Tea.
One time when visiting a friend's house, my friend said someone had given him a can of rather expensive top-grade black tea. When I saw it, I was stunned. How could this be black tea, it's clearly Dahongpao! My friend questioned me, saying if Dahongpao isn't black tea then what kind of tea is it? It seems necessary to popularize the knowledge that Dahongpao is Oolong tea, not black tea.
Tieguanyin may look like green tea, but it is not green tea. Both it and Dahongpao are genuine Oolong tea, also known as Qing tea. They have both the rich flavor of black tea and the fragrance of green tea. After tasting, they leave a lingering aroma in the mouth, with a refreshing aftertaste. Oolong tea combines the production methods of green and black teas, and in terms of fermentation degree, it lies between green tea and black tea (100% fermented). It is a semi-fermented tea. Green tea is not fermented. The pharmacological effects of Oolong tea are manifested in fat breakdown, weight loss, and other aspects. Abroad, it is called “beauty tea.”
A few days ago at a teahouse, the server insisted that Pu'er is black tea, speaking with utmost confidence. In fact, Pu'er tea belongs to the dark tea category. Pu'er is divided into raw Pu'er and ripe Pu'er. Raw tea is made by naturally aging freshly picked tea leaves, without undergoing pile fermentation. Raw tea has a stimulating nature, so friends with poor stomachs should drink ripe Pu'er tea, which has a stomach-nourishing effect, while raw tea can stimulate the stomach. Raw tea contains more active ingredients, so those who easily suffer from insomnia, have a cold or fever, have gastric ulcers, or are pregnant should not drink it. Raw tea has the effects of lowering lipids, blood pressure, and aiding in weight loss. The fermentation method for Pu'er tea is different from that of black tea, although it is produced in Yunnan, there are significant differences between it and Dian Hong.
