Best and Authentic Black Tea from China

How to Choose Black Tea?

How to Choose among So Many Varieties of Black Tea

Embark on a journey through the lush, rolling hills of China with our curated selection of black teas, each offering a unique experience that captures the essence of its origin. Whether you’re a connoisseur or new to the world of tea, this guide will help you navigate through our exquisite range, including Keemun Black Tea, Lapsang Souchong, Yunnan Black Tea, and the luxurious Jin Jun Mei. Here’s how to choose the perfect black tea to suit your palate and preferences.

The Epitome of Luxury: Jin Jun Mei

Appearance: Jin Jun Mei is distinguished by its slender, tightly rolled buds, resembling seahorses with their slightly curved shape, free of any tea dust or extraneous materials.

Liquor: The brew is luminous and evenly colored, with an oily sheen that highlights its white tips.

Flavor: On the palate, Jinjunmei delights with a sweet bouquet of floral, longan, and sweet potato aromas, offering a refined and lasting fragrance.

Characteristics: This tea is known for its resilience through multiple infusions, maintaining a soft, sweet flavor. As the pinnacle of the Lapsang Souchong lineage, Jinjunmei is crafted from 80,000 buds per pound, a testament to its exclusivity and demand. Its rarity and the intense market demand elevate its price, positioning it beyond casual consumption and into the realm of luxury.

The Fragrant Champion: Keemun Black Tea

Appearance: Keemun boasts slender, uniform leaves with a fresh, glossy appearance and prominent silver tips.

Liquor: The tea’s liquor is brilliantly red and clear, with a smooth, rich, and sweet flavor.

Flavor: Keemun’s taste is enchanting, with a harmonious blend of sweetness and a hint of floral fragrance.

Characteristics: Celebrated as one of the world’s three most aromatic black teas, Keemun black tea has won international acclaim for its exceptional fragrance, earning the adoration of tea enthusiasts everywhere, particularly in the prestigious tea circles of London, where it’s hailed as the “Aristocrat of Tea.”

The Time-Honored Tradition: Lapsang Souchong

Appearance: Lapsang Souchong’s leaves are uniformly tight and glossy, thanks to its distinctive smoking process, reminiscent of lustrous black hair.

Liquor: The liquor evolves from a rich golden hue to a deep amber, eventually settling into a bright orange clarity through successive brews.

Flavor: A refreshing, brisk mouthfeel with no astringency, the tea’s body carries hints of floral and pine smoke aromas, offering a rich tapestry of flavors.

Characteristics: As the original black tea, Lapsang Souchong’s history stretches back to the Ming Dynasty, heralding the dawn of black tea culture in China and beyond. Its rich heritage and the allure of its smoky flavor have captivated royal and noble households across Europe.

The Robust Choice: Yunnan Black Tea

Appearance: Yunnan Black Tea is characterized by its bold, tightly rolled leaves with a glossy black hue, interspersed with golden tips.

Liquor: The tea presents a robust, golden-red liquor, dense with a brisk aroma and a rich, astringent taste, showcasing the vibrant color of its leaves.

Flavor: Its taste is bold and full-bodied, offering a hearty, thick mouthfeel that’s unforgettable.

Characteristics: Often likened to the spirited nature of Yunnan’s people, this tea is vibrant and full of life. With its intense flavor and resilience, Yunnan Black Tea captures the essence of its majestic landscape, leaving a lasting impression on those who seek a tea with depth and character.

As you explore our collection, consider the unique qualities of each tea. Whether you’re drawn to the luxurious Jinjunmei, the aromatic Keemun, the historic Lapsang Souchong, or the robust Yunnan Black Tea, each sip offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chinese tea culture. Welcome to a world where each cup tells a story of tradition, craftsmanship, and the serene beauty of China’s tea gardens.

How to Select High-quality Black Tea

Selecting high-quality black tea requires a keen eye and a nuanced understanding of its distinct attributes. Here’s a guide to help you discern the quality of black tea, ensuring each tip adheres to our principles of consistency, originality, specificity, and diversity:

Tip 1. Inspect Leaf Appearance

High-quality black tea leaves are typically whole or largely intact, showcasing a uniform size and shape. The leaves should possess a lustrous, slightly twisted appearance, indicative of careful processing. Dark, rich in color, and without excessive breakage or powder, these leaves signal a tea that has been handled with precision. Lower-quality teas often rely on broken leaves or dust, which can lead to a bitter and less complex flavor profile.

Tip 2.Smelling the Aroma

Before brewing, take a moment to inhale the aroma of the dry leaves. High-quality black tea exudes a fresh, robust scent, with notes that can range from floral or fruity to malty, depending on the variety. The aroma should be compelling and pleasant, without any mustiness or stale undertones, which can indicate poor storage conditions or aged stock. The depth and complexity of the dry leaf aroma often predict the richness of the tea’s flavor.

Tip 3. Color of the Brew

Upon steeping, the color of high-quality black tea should be a clear, bright amber or reddish-brown, signifying a rich flavor profile and proper oxidation during processing. A murky or overly dark brew can suggest over-oxidation or the use of inferior leaves. The clarity and vibrancy of the tea’s color in your cup are visual indicators of its quality and care in production.

Tip 4. Flavor and Mouthfeel

The true test of black tea’s quality lies in its flavor and the experience it offers upon tasting. High-quality black tea should present a balanced complexity of flavors—ranging from slightly sweet, floral notes to bold, malty depths—without overwhelming bitterness when brewed correctly. The mouthfeel should be smooth and possibly slightly astringent, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. In contrast, low-quality teas might taste flat, harsh, or excessively bitter, with a less satisfying mouthfeel.

Where to Buy Black Tea: Why Choose Chasourcing

Here are four compelling reasons why choosing Chasourcing’s black tea can enhance your tea-drinking experience:

Direct Sourcing from Renowned Estates

Chasourcing prides itself on directly sourcing its black teas from esteemed tea estates known for their exceptional quality and sustainable farming practices. This direct sourcing model ensures that each batch of tea is of the highest quality, reflecting the unique terroir of its origin. It also supports ethical practices in tea production by fostering closer relationships between tea farmers and consumers.

Premium Quality and Freshness

With a rigorous selection process that emphasizes quality, Chasourcing’s black tea is curated for enthusiasts seeking a superior tea experience. Their commitment to freshness means that teas are often available shortly after harvest, capturing the leaves’ most vibrant flavors and aromatic profiles. This focus on quality and freshness ensures a more flavorful and enjoyable cup of tea.

Unique and Rare Varieties

Chasourcing offers an extensive collection of black teas, including rare and unique varieties that are difficult to find elsewhere. For those looking to explore beyond the classic black tea blends, Chasourcing provides access to single-origin teas and exclusive batches that showcase the diversity of flavors and aromas that black tea can offer. This variety encourages exploration and broadens the palate of tea drinkers.

Exceptional Taste Experience

Finally, the most compelling reason to choose Chasourcing’s black tea is the unparalleled taste experience it offers. Their selection includes teas that range from robust and malty to sweet and delicate, catering to a wide array of preferences and palates. Chasourcing’s meticulous curation process ensures that only the best teas make it to your cup, providing a sensory experience that is both rich and enlightening.