Today, let's talk about selecting black tea.

How to distinguish black tea:

Black tea is a fully fermented tea made from the buds and leaves of tea plants through processes like withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. It is highly popular, but many people struggle to identify high-quality black tea. Below are some methods to help you distinguish优质 black tea.

Depending on the production method, black tea can be divided into Gongfu black tea, Souchong black tea, and broken black tea. Each type has its own鉴别 criteria.

Gongfu Black Tea

High-quality Gongfu black tea has tightly rolled, uniform leaves with a glossy black color, a rich and pure aroma, a robust and bright red liquor, and reddish leaves. Inferior products, on the other hand, may have loose leaves, uneven color, a dull aroma, a cloudy liquor, and a bland taste.

Among Gongfu black teas, Anhui's Qimen black tea is the most renowned. Others like Zhenghe Gongfu, Tanyang Gongfu, and Bailin Gongfu are also well-known worldwide.

Broken Black Tea

High-quality broken black tea has uniform颗粒, tightly rolled碎 tea, straight leaf tea, thick and wrinkled片 tea, and砂-like末 tea. It should be free of片 or末 tea impurities, with clear distinctions between碎,片, leaf, and末 tea. The aroma is fruity, floral, or类似 jasmine-like, and the liquor is浓烈, refreshing, and bright red. Inferior products may have a dull color, weak aroma, and浑浊 liquor.

Souchong Black Tea

High-quality Souchong black tea has thick, uniform leaves with a black color, a distinctive pine-smoked aroma, a mellow taste, and a bright red liquor. Inferior products may have off-flavors, a cloudy liquor, and dull leaves.

Famous varieties include Lapsang Souchong, Zhenghe Souchong, and Tanyang Souchong.

Now that you've mastered these鉴别 techniques, you can confidently choose the perfect black tea.