Dianhong

Dianhong tea (; pronounced ) is a type of relatively high-end, gourmet Chinese red tea sometimes used in various tea blends and grown in Yunnan Province, China. The main difference between Dianhong and other Chinese red teas is the amount of fine leaf buds, or "golden tips," present in the dried tea. Dianhong tea produces a brew that is brassy golden orange in colour with a sweet, gentle aroma and no astringency. Cheaper varieties of Dianhong produce a darker brownish brew that can be very bitter.

History and etymology

Teas grown in Yunnan prior to the Han dynasty (206BCE220CE) were typically produced in a compressed form similar to modern pu'er tea. ''Dian hong'' is a relatively new product from Yunnan that began production in the early 20th century. The word () is the short name for the Yunnan region while () means "red (tea)"; as such, these teas are sometimes simply referred to as ''Yunnan red'' or ''Yunnan black''. However, such references are often confusing due to the other varieties of teas produced in Yunnan.

Varieties

*Broken Yunnan (): A cheap tea used for blending which contains very few golden buds and is generally bitter on its own. This tea is easily identified by the largely black dried leaves with only a few bursts of golden tips. The brew is dark and not brassy but reddish brown. The taste can sometimes be as strong as cooked ''pu-erh'' tea. Classified in Orange pekoe grading as BOP.
*Yunnan Gold ( also known as 'Golden Yunnan' ) (): A ''dianhong'' with fewer golden buds and more dark tea leaves. It is on par with the pure gold, and is priced similarly, but makes teas with slightly different characteristics. The brew has a brassy red color different from other black teas and a vivid sweetness not quite as intense as "''Yunnan pure gold''". Its rich, malty, earthy and slightly sweet flavour profile, often with hints of chocolate, honey, and a subtle spice make it sought after amongst tea connoisseurs. Classified in Orange pekoe grading from OP to TGFOP.
*Yunnan Pure Gold (): Considered the best type of ''Dian hong'' tea. It contains only golden tips, which are usually covered in fine hairs. When viewed from a distance, the dried tea appears bright orange in colour. The tea liquor is bright red in colour and exhibits a gentle aroma and a sweet taste. The leaves are reddish brown after being brewed. Classified in Orange pekoe grading from TGFOP to SFTGFOP.
*Golden needle () is a pure black variety of ''dianhong''. The leaves are golden in color and yield an amberish infusion.
*Pine Needle () is a preparation technology developed in the 20th century preserving straight leaf form, which makes a mix of differently coloured leaves reminiscent of old needles fallen off a pine tree. Non-curved leaves are a rather common shape for lightly fermented green teas, however for black teas this is a novelty.

See also

* Golden Monkey tea
* Keemun tea
* Pu'er tea, another variety of tea commonly produced in Yunnan

References

{{Teas

Black tea
Chinese teas
Chinese tea grown in Yunnan