Processing

When the leaves are picked, they are fried, kneaded and twisted, but instead of being dried as Green Tea is, the leaves are sprinkled with water and placed in huge piles under cloth to ferment before being dried. The resulting leaves have a dark black color, giving this category of tea its name. The fermentation process is extremely exacting and a closely guarded secret. Only a Tea Master after decades of study is considered good enough to produce this tea. Once brewed, the liquid has a strong aroma with a thick and robust flavor. It is very different from Green Tea. The most famous variety of this category of tea is the famous Puer Tea from Yunnan Province. For many years Puer Tea was not widely drunk in China and was shipped to areas with large Ethnic Minority populations. In recent years the popularity of Puer Tea has surged and the market became extremely competitive. Since these teas improve with age, and since until recently the economic conditions of China did not allow for people to save tea, older tea is rare and extremely valuable.

Purchasing Dark Tea

Since this tea improves with age, it is actually desirable to purchase older teas. This makes purchasing this tea quite easy because you do not have to worry about a shelf-life. If you are purchasing your tea from a shop, ask to try the tea. The shop should be more than happy to allow you to sample his teas. Try different types of tea and choose the one that you like the best. Many times a dealer will tell you which tea is better, or rarer, or older. We feel it doesn't matter. What matters is your individual taste. If an old, extremely rare tea doesn't suit your palate, then it isn't a good tea for you. Most Dark Teas come in compressed shapes such as Bricks, Cakes, Bowls, or Mushrooms. The original function of the shapes was to ease in shipping since they could be stacked much more secure than loose leaves could. Bricks and cakes are more popular for storing because they are not as tightly packed as the others, which helps them to mature better. If you are purchasing your teas simply to drink, then the shape doesn't matter. If you are purchasing your teas online, find a reputable dealer with a solid guarantee. Check their website. If they seem to know a lot about tea and can offer many varieties, then it is likely that they know their business well.

Storing Dark Tea

Storing Dark teas are easier than Yellow, White, and Green Teas because they have a shelf life. Since this tea does not and in fact improves with age, it is still imperative that you store it properly. The teas should be stored in a cool dark place with constant humidity and heat. They should not be wrapped in plastic because air in necessary for the aging process. A closet shelf is a good place to store the tea as long as it has no strong odors. The tea will absorb the odors and ruin the tea. Try to avoid excess moisture because it will cause the tea to mold.

Enjoying the Tea

This type of tea has a strong and robust flavor. It is recommended for people new to this type of tea that they begin by making the tea a little weak and then strengthening it to a point where they like it. If you are used to Green Tea, this tea will give you a surprise. It is rich and full bodied. The leaves can be brewed many times and the flavor will leave a long lasting aftertaste in your mouth. As I have said with all types of tea; it is important that you focus on the tea when drinking it. In this modern age, our lives are so rushed, that we gulp our drinks and go on our way. Tea should be slowly enjoyed to bring out its complicated flavors. I am not saying that you should set aside an hour to drink a cup of tea, what I am saying is that for the brief moment that you are drinking your tea, focus on the tea. Let the hectic fast paced world we live in fade away and for that one moment experience calm. You will be amazed at how much of a stress reliever drinking tea this way can be.