Tea can be categorized by fermentation level into non-fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, and fully fermented tea. Green tea such as Longjing and Xinyang Maojian belong to non-fermented tea; Yellow tea like Mengding Huangya and Junshan Yinzhen are lightly fermented; while Keemun black tea and Oolong tea reach about 50% fermentation; Pu-erh tea and other dark teas exceed 90% fermentation. Deeply fermented tea uses coarse old leaves, equivalent to whole grains, whereas green tea uses tender leaves, equivalent to refined grains.

 

 

Health and Wellness Benefits in Dark Tea and Coarse Old Tea

Dark tea helps resolve greasiness and aids digestion precisely because it uses coarse old leaves. As Hunan Anhua folk saying describes dark tea: "Leaves big enough to wrap salt, stems thick enough to prop a boat." This is exaggerated, but coarse-leaf dark tea truly holds unique advantages over tender-leaf so-called "premium teas". Its nutritional efficacy is fully embedded in this "coarseness".

Related: Efficacy and Functions of Pu-erh Tea