Those who are infatuated with black tea often feel that black tea resembles women—some are sweet and refreshing, some are rich and fragrant, some are gentle and mellow, and some are crisp and straightforward... Every black tea lover has a discerning palate that favors the tea that pleases them most, just as some adore cute lolitas, some prefer domineering queens, and some are captivated by the lingering charm of mature women...

Black tea, derived from a single leaf, undergoes a series of processes including withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, and refining. Due to variations in these processes or the addition of special steps, the same leaf can yield teas with sweet, floral, fruity, or honeyed aromas.

Recognize tea by its aroma, recognize women by their fragrance—let’s see how different teas transform into different women.

— Traditional Lapsang Souchong

The leaves are tightly rolled and robust, with a dark, glossy appearance. When brewed, the tea yields a clear, bright red liquor with a long-lasting pine-smoky aroma. The taste is mellow and sweet, with a distinct longan flavor. The infused leaves are deep red, bright, and even.

Lapsang Souchong carries the spirit of Wuyi Mountain, resembling a woman who is both well-mannered and transcendent, standing gracefully before the world, showcasing the original charm of black tea.

— Golden Eyebrow

The raw material is picked from the pristine tea mountains within the nature reserve and meticulously crafted by tea masters. Producing 500 grams of Golden Eyebrow requires 60,000 to 80,000 buds. The tea is tightly rolled and uniform, with a golden, yellow, and black hue. The brewed liquor is golden and translucent, with a halo effect. A sip reveals a sudden sweetness. The aroma and taste resemble a blend of fruit, honey, and floral notes, offering a lively and refreshing sensation with a lingering aftertaste. With its natural nobility, Golden Eyebrow is best compared to a royal concubine—elusive yet irresistible.

— Keemun Black Tea

The leaves are tightly rolled, slender, and uniform, with a dark, glossy appearance. The aroma is fresh and sweet, with a hint of honey, while premium teas exude an orchid-like fragrance (known as "Keemun aroma"), which is rich and long-lasting. The liquor is bright red, with a mellow and sweet taste, and the infused leaves are red and bright. Drinking it plain best showcases Keemun’s enduring aroma, yet adding milk doesn’t diminish its richness. Keemun black tea is best likened to a noblewoman—distinctive and proud, its tea character only becomes more pronounced with milk or sugar.

— Yunnan Black Tea

Yunnan black tea features plump buds and leaves, with a graceful appearance and golden fuzz. The color is dark and oily, and the brewed liquor is thick, bright red, and transparent. The taste is rich and refreshing, with a high, lasting aroma. The infused leaves are red, even, and bright. Premium Yunnan black tea often forms a golden ring where the liquor meets the cup. Yunnan tea carries the essence of the borderlands, like the dancing and singing girls of Yunnan, its unique fragrance is captivating.

— Zhenghe Gongfu

Zhenghe Gongfu primarily uses large leaves to highlight their fuzz-rich and flavorful qualities, complemented by high-aroma small leaves. The leaves are tightly rolled, robust, and even, with a dark, oily hue and golden buds. The aroma is rich and fragrant, subtly reminiscent of violets. The liquor is thick, bright red, and mellow, with good endurance. The infused leaves are thick and reddish. Zhenghe Gongfu is renowned worldwide for its violet-like aroma, like a fairy riding clouds, evoking endless imagination.

— Tanyang Gongfu

Known as the "Graceful Queen," Tanyang Gongfu is famous for its elegant shape and golden fuzz. It uses Fuding large white tea and Fuding large-leaf tea as raw materials. The leaves are tightly rolled and slender, with a yellow-black hue and abundant fuzz, often appearing as small fuzzy balls. The aroma is fresh and pure, with a milky fragrance. The liquor is bright red, mellow, and sweet. The infused leaves are soft, red, and even. Tanyang Gongfu resembles a delicate southern woman—gentle, soft, and pure, embodying infinite beauty, as the saying goes, "A fair lady is a gentleman’s delight."

— Hunan Black Tea

Represented by Anhua Gongfu, Hunan black tea has tightly rolled leaves with a rich aroma, mellow taste, thick liquor, and reddish, slightly dark infused leaves. Unlike other black teas that gained worldwide fame, Hunan black tea remains a serene and elegant woman, playing the zither and reciting poetry in a tranquil setting.

— Ninghong Gongfu

Ninghong Gongfu has tightly rolled, straight leaves with a sturdy appearance and slight red veins. The color is dark with a reddish tint, glossy. The aroma is long-lasting, similar to Keemun, with a mellow, sweet taste and bright red liquor. The infused leaves are red and even. The premium "Ninghong Golden Fuzz" features tightly rolled, slender leaves with abundant golden fuzz and buds. The color is dark and glossy, with a fresh, mellow aroma, bright red liquor, and tender, reddish infused leaves. High-quality Ninghong is a tea treasure, evoking the delicate image of Lin Daiyu, a woman whose beauty inspires sighs.

— Sichuan Black Tea

Sichuan black tea has tightly rolled, plump leaves with golden fuzz and a dark, oily hue. When brewed, it releases a fresh aroma with a hint of tangerine. The taste is mellow and refreshing, the liquor is thick and bright, and the infused leaves are thick, soft, red, and even. Sichuan black tea aligns with the leisurely lifestyle of southwestern China—playing the zither and singing, one can spend a whole day in a teahouse without boredom, finding peace instead.

— Taiwanese Black Tea

Taiwanese black tea has finely rolled, tight, and even leaves with a heavy, glossy texture and abundant white fuzz, with golden-white fuzz being the best. The color ranges from purplish-black to purplish-red, with a purple sheen being ideal. The liquor is bright red, clear, and luminous, with a halo. The aroma is pure and rich, high and long-lasting, with floral and fruity notes. The taste is mellow and sweet, strong and refreshing. The infused leaves are tender, lively, red, and bright. The most famous is Sun Moon Lake black tea, like a girl playing the pipa by the lake, the tea’s lively and dynamic character resonates with the music.

— Yingde Black Tea

Yingde black tea has tightly rolled, heavy leaves with an oily sheen, tender and even, with golden fuzz. The aroma is fresh, rich, and floral. The taste is thick, sweet, and refreshing, with a bright red liquor and a distinct golden ring. The infused leaves are soft and bright red. When milk is added, the liquor turns a gorgeous brown-red, remaining thick, refreshing, and flavorful, surpassing Dianhong and Qihong in uniqueness. Yingde black tea is a southern belle—though not as tender as Jiangnan women, it embodies the delicate charm of Lingnan. The differences in black tea arise from several factors, primarily terroir, climate, tea plant varieties, and processing techniques.

Chinese people have long emphasized feng shui, which indeed holds significance. In modern terms, good feng shui for a tea garden roughly includes terroir and climate, meaning the soil is suitable for growing high-quality tea plants, and the microclimate aligns with the broader climate.

Tea plant varieties inherently carry distinct flavors, such as the milky aroma of Taiwan’s Jin Xuan. Processing techniques can manifest as the smoky aroma of Lapsang Souchong.

Black teas from different regions seem to possess unique territorial characteristics, with their aromas, flavors, and textures all reflecting the local environment.