What is dark tea? Is Pu-erh tea a type of dark tea? How much do you know about dark tea? In fact, the type of dark tea that most people can name is Pu-erh tea. As dark tea is rare and precious, we are less able to study it deeper. In view of this, let ABoxTik share an article with you that I believe will provide insight to better understand dark tea, including the various types, and facts on the teas you may have already drunk!
What is Dark Tea?
黑茶是什麼?屬於什麼茶?
黑茶(dark tea),屬於後發酵茶,因為茶的外觀是黑色的色澤,故命名為黑茶,屬於六大茶類之一,通常黑茶的產區會在陝西、安徽、湖北、湖南、四川、雲南與廣西等地,黑茶採用的黑毛茶原料成熟度比較高,使用一種成熟的鮮葉為原料,經過殺青、揉撚、渥堆、鬆柴、明火乾燥後加工而成,黑茶的原料屬於比較粗老狀的,因此在製作過程當中需要發酵比較長的時間,因此黑茶的葉片會呈現暗褐色,也因為這樣變成了黑茶名稱的由來,再加上黑茶有著純正的香味,湯色紅濃,醇厚、陳香、回甘,而長期的受到許多愛好茶類的人所喜愛。
黑茶作為六大茶葉之一,有著豐富的抗氧化物質,像是茶色素、黃酮類、兒茶素類、維生素C、E、D等等,另外黑茶也擁有大量的鋅、銅、錳等元素,以及兒茶素、茶氨酸、茶多糖,等多樣對於人體清除自由基的物質,可以抗氧化以及延緩細胞衰老。
“Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?” – Samuel Johnson, The Life of Samuel Johnson
Tea Classroom – Dark Tea
What are the types of dark tea?
The tea-making process of dark tea includes fixating, rolling, piling, and drying. The types of dark tea are distributed by region, mainly Yunnan dark tea (Pu’er ripe tea), Guangxi Liubao tea and Shaanxi dark tea (Fu tea), Hubei Qingzhuan tea, Sichuan Tibetan tea (side tea), Anhui Guyi dark tea (An tea) Hunan dark tea (Fu tea, Anhua dark tea, Qianliang tea, black brick tea, Sanjian, etc.).
56 varieties of dark tea
Pu’er Tea, Hubei Laoqing Tea, Laohuang Pian Tea, Cooked Brick Tea, Raw Brick Tea, Cooked Tuo Tea, Raw Tuo Tea, Imperial Pu’er Tea, Liubao Tea, Fu Brick Tea, Qianliang Tea, Lao Paka Tea, Heimao Tea, Anhua Black Tea, Qizi Cake Tea, Pu’er Loose Tea, Chongqing Tuocha, Chrysanthemum Pu’er Tea, Pu’er Tea brick, Sichuan Tibetan Tea (side tea).
Jingua Tribute Tea, Brown Raw Tea, Pu’er Xiaotuo Tea, Laobanzhangzhai Ancient Tree Tea, Bangpen Ancient Tree Tea, Tianjian Tea, Huazhuan tea, Yunnan Pu’er Tuocha, Mizhuan Tea, Shiliang Tea, Kangzhuan Tea, Mengsong Tea, Black Brick Tea, Golden Tip Tea, Juicy Pu’er Tea, Xiaguan Tuo Tea, Green Brick Tea, Chenxiang Pu’er Tea.
Nannuo Mountain Tea, Iceland Tea, Qianjiazhai Tea, Yiwu Tea, Banzhang Tea, Geden Tea, Youle Tea, Pasha Tea, Brown Tea, Xigui Tea, Mengku Daxue Mountain Tea, Mannan Tea, Mahei Tea , Huangcaoba Tea, Guafengzhai Tea, Hekai Tea, Naka Tea, Badashan Tea.
Read More:
6 benefits of drinking white tea! Full analysis to know what white tea is.
Do you know Dark Tea?
黑茶常見的品種有哪些?
1. 湖南黑茶
湖南黑茶是一種原本產於安化的一種黑茶,也可以稱作安化黑茶,安化黑茶最早產於資江邊上的苞芷園,後來則是在資江沿岸的雅雀坪、黃沙坪、硒州、江南、小淹等地區,目前以江南地區為主,品質最好的湖南黑茶為高家溪和馬家溪為最具盛名,雖然過去湖南黑茶都會集中在安化,但目前湖南黑茶的產區已經擴大到桃江、沅江、漢壽、寧鄉、益陽和臨湘。
湖南黑茶經過殺青、初揉、渥堆、複揉、乾燥等多道工程製作而成,可以分為4個等級,高檔黑茶較為細緻,而較低檔的黑茶則品嚐起來比較粗老,一級茶條索緊卷、圓直、葉質較嫩、色澤黑潤,而二級茶則是條索尚緊,色澤黑褐尚潤,三級茶是條索欠緊,呈泥鰍條,色澤純淨呈竹葉青帶紫油色或柳青色,而四級茶是茶葉張寬大粗老、條鬆扁皺折,顏色呈現黃褐色,湖南黑茶追求香味醇厚、無粗澀味,呈現橙黃,葉底則是黃褐色。
2. 湖北青磚茶
湖北青磚茶主要的產地為湖北的長江流域鄂西南,目前生產至今已經有了600多年的歷史,湖北青磚茶以海拔600-1200米高山茶樹鮮葉為原料,其香味出色、茶汁味濃可口,色澤呈現棕色,飲用青磚茶可以生津解渴,也可以提升醒腦、幫助消化,更可以有殺菌止瀉等功效,以中華老字號“川”牌青磚茶為代表的湖北青磚茶,在兩百多年前的貿易當中就佔有重要的地位,可說是茶道上的瑰寶。
3. 四川藏茶(邊茶)
藏茶是少數民族當中近六百萬藏族同胞主要的飲品,因此又可以稱為藏族同胞的民生之茶,從古老到現在,按照不同的地區風俗來區分,又可以稱為黑茶、粗茶、南路邊茶、磚茶、條茶、緊壓茶、團茶、邊茶、大茶、馬茶、烏茶等等,藏茶從大唐以來就有記載,因此已經是千年古茶了。
藏茶採集於海拔在1000米以上高山,經過特殊工藝製作成後發酵茶,屬於最典型的黑茶,顏色則是深褐色的。
4. 雲南黑茶(普洱熟茶)
普洱茶以發酵的不同又可以分為生茶與熟茶兩種,雲南熟茶是以雲南大葉種曬青毛茶為原料,在經過渥堆發酵等工藝製成的,色澤褐紅,具有獨特的香氣,普洱熟茶的茶性溫和,可以養胃、護胃、暖胃,更有減肥的保健功效。
延伸閱讀:
普洱茶的功效與探討,怎麼製作的?帶你窺探普洱茶的歷史與秘密
5. 廣西六堡茶
廣西六堡茶是廣西壯族自治區梧州市的特產,也是中國地理標誌產品,廣西六堡茶有相當特別的檳榔香氣,越陳年的越佳,經過攤青、殺青、揉撚、漚堆、乾燥等工藝製作而成,可以分為六級,主要生產於中國廣西梧州六堡鎮,廣西六堡茶的滋味滋味甘醇可口,帶著檳榔味,顏色則為銅褐色。
“A cup of tea would restore my normality.” – Douglas Adams
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Dark tea has a unique and rare taste, which is why it is so popular with everyone.
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