Dark Tea

Unlike most types of Chinese Tea that's taste and aroma fade with age, Dark Tea actually improves with age, making it a favorite with collectors and investors. Commonly misinterpreted as "Black Tea", this type of tea is completely different from English black tea. In the past, this type of tea was the most exported tea in China. It was shipped as far away as Russia. Originally sold as loose leaf tea, producers quickly found that if they compressed the tea into cakes it would store and ship better. Loose leaf tea is available, but it is not as common as compressed tea which comes in several different shapes, some of them quite artistic. Dark Tea was invented by accident. Tea from Yunnan Province was often shipped was shipped north via the sea and then along the Silk Road. While riding in boats, the humid air caused a chemical reaction in the dried te