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Do you know what characteristics high-quality black tea has?

Tea News · Jul 29, 2025

Among the six major tea categories, black tea has many varieties and a wide range of natural origins. Based on its processing methods and the shape of the final product, it can generally be divided into three types: Souchong black tea, Gongfu black tea, and broken black tea. Below is a detailed guide on how to evaluate the quality of black tea.

【Main Text】1. Characteristics of high-quality black tea:

 


 

(1) Appearance: Tightly rolled, even strands.

(2) Color: Glossy black with golden tips.

(3) Aroma: Souchong has a pine smoke fragrance; Gongfu has a caramel scent; Sichuan black tea has a citrus sugar aroma.

(4) Liquor color: Bright red with a golden rim around the cup, forming "cold turbidity" after cooling.

(5) Taste: Mellow, rich, and sweet.

(6) Brewed leaves: Uniform, soft, thick, and vibrant red.

 


 

2. Characteristics of inferior black tea:

(1) Appearance: Uneven size, rough texture, and visible impurities.

(2) Color: Dull black or grayish leaves, dark or withered tips.

(3) Aroma: Weak, muddy, short-lasting, or with off odors.

(4) Liquor color: Dark or murky.

(5) Taste: Thin or harshly astringent.

(6) Brewed leaves: Bluish or dark, stiff, and unopened.

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