Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan is crafted through a series of processes including fresh leaf picking, withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. The quality characteristics of this tea are: a dry leaf color that leans towards dark grey, a strong floral aroma, a rich and smooth taste, high sweetness, and a pleasant aftertaste. Below, let's explore the detailed production process of Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan:

The Production Process of Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan

01. First Step: Fresh Leaf Picking. The hardworking people of Fengqing have a special affection for tea. Each time, they carefully pick the tender buds bestowed by nature. The freshly picked leaves must be delivered to the black tea factory within 90 minutes to avoid prolonged exposure that could cause oxidation and negatively impact the taste of the tea. Racing against time is our dedication to Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan!

02. Second Step: Withering. Withering is one of the most important processes in forming the aroma of Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan. Traditional constant temperature withering at 25°C for 8 hours requires spreading the fresh tea leaves very thinly so that they can fully contact the air. This ensures that Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan possesses both high sweetness and fragrance while maintaining a certain level of freshness.

03. Third Step: Rolling. Rolling typically lasts between 70 to 90 minutes and aims to break down the cell structure of the tea leaves. Adequate rolling is essential for proper fermentation, with a cell destruction rate of over 80% required to ensure that tea juices ooze out without dripping.

04. Fourth Step: Fermentation. Constant temperature traditional fermentation at 35°C for 4 hours transforms the color of the tea from green to reddish-brown and eliminates grassy odors! Fermentation is a crucial step in developing the unique color, aroma, and taste of Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan. Proper fermentation results in higher levels of theaflavins and thearubigins, contributing to richer flavors and aromatic compounds.

05. Fifth Step: Drying. One hour of constant temperature drying at 100°C utilizes high temperatures to rapidly evaporate moisture and deactivate enzymes, stopping further fermentation. This process activates and preserves high boiling point aromatic substances, imparting the distinctive floral and fruity sweetness to Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan.

06. Sixth Step: Sorting. Manual sorting meticulously removes any inferior non-tea contaminants mixed in with the Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan leaves, ensuring the product's cleanliness and hygiene.

Quality Characteristics of Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan

Fengqing enjoys a temperate climate with ample sunshine, mild winters, and cool summers. The dense local forests provide a thick layer of humus formed by fallen leaves and dead grass, resulting in fertile soil. The large-leaf tea grown here is rich in phenolic compounds and alkaloids, ranking first among Chinese teas, making it particularly suitable for black tea production. Fengqing's Yunnan Black Tea is selected from pure Bud tips harvested during early spring. Generally, Spring Tea is slightly better than summer tea, with spring tea being slightly superior to autumn tea.

Fengqing Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan is made primarily from one bud and one leaf. High-quality tea is characterized by tightly twisted, clean, and uniform strands with abundant golden tips and a lustrous dark color. After brewing, the leaves are plump, uniformly red, and glossy. The taste is sweet and fragrant, with a fresh and robust flavor. The aroma remains strong even after three or four infusions, and its richness persists even after a year of storage.

Features of Yunnan Black Tea Mei Zhan

The Mei Zhan variety, an indispensable component of “China Red,” truly lives up to its reputation for its Orchid-like fragrance. It's not an exaggeration to say that the room fills with its scent. Our Mei Zhan is a new variety from Fengqing, known for its unique orchid fragrance, high aroma, and a dry leaf color that leans towards dark grey. It has a taste that is free from bitterness and astringency, instead emphasizing sweetness and fragrance. This type of black tea is perfect for those who enjoy a rich, sweet, and fragrant flavor.

Before brewing, warm the dry leaves in the teacup and shake them to release the orchid aroma, which is intense and long-lasting. The liquor is golden yellow with a strong floral fragrance, especially the distinctive orchid scent. The taste is rich and smooth, with high sweetness. After drinking, the floral aroma lingers in the mouth, making it an excellent choice for a sweet and fragrant black tea.

The leaves are tender and resilient, with a bright ruddy-brown color.