Dark tea is known as a drinkable antique, valued for its age, with new tea being cheaper and aged tea more expensive. If new tea is compared to a youthful, vibrant woman, then aged tea (mature tea) is like a wise and enlightened master, akin to a centenarian revered as a longevity star.

Since the 1990s, the trend of drinking and appreciating aged tea has gradually gained popularity. The unique aged aroma and health benefits of dark tea have long been highly regarded.

Many say that when drinking tea, aged tea is the best. But what qualifies as aged tea? Is it about the passage of time or the depth of the tea's roasting color?

Dark tea is categorized into new and aged tea. Aged ripe tea must be stored for over five years, allowing the fermentation flavors to transform or diminish, resulting in a mellower taste and improved harmony. From the day it is pressed, aged tea matures like a growing infant, requiring at least 20 years of storage to reach full maturity. Additionally, the storage environment significantly impacts its quality, often referred to as "storage flavor," emphasizing the purity of the tea's aroma and the aged richness of its liquor.

After prolonged aging, dark tea not only retains its general health benefits but also gains medicinal properties that strengthen over time. Studies indicate that aged dark tea undergoes chemical changes, producing liquor with pain-relieving, disease-preventing, cooling, stomach-warming, and fatigue-relieving effects. It also promotes blood circulation, reduces bloating, and helps prevent atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.

Aged dark tea is the most captivating variety, continuously evolving in flavor and quality while enhancing its health benefits. It contains compounds like theaflavins (TR), thearubigins (TB), gallic acid, and vitamin C, which boost the immune system. The tea is also rich in beneficial bacteria that gently coat the stomach, protecting it and making it ideal for regular consumption.

A fine cup of aged dark tea offers a robust and invigorating tea energy, a rich and delightful taste, and a long-lasting, lingering aroma. For dark tea enthusiasts, aged tea carries memories, as it is a product of time. Its thick, non-watery liquor should be "chewed" to fully appreciate the unfolding aged aroma. The tea slides smoothly down the throat, leaving a subtle aged aftertaste that grows richer with each sip, creating an unforgettable experience.