Historical Anecdote

As early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Yunnan had a type of sun-dried tea known for its sweet and honey-like taste, called Taihe Sweet Tea. It was later discovered to be produced using a black tea-making process similar to the current Sun-dried black Tea, distinguishing it from the conventionally high-temperature-baked black teas. Sun-dried black tea stands out as a black tea that can be tightly compressed and becomes more sweet and fragrant with aging.

Collectible Value of Sun-dried black tea Dragon Ball

Made from Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea after the fermentation process, Sun-dried Black Tea breaks through the 2-3 year shelf life limitation, becoming a black tea suitable for long-term storage. Not only does it preserve the unique flavor of wild tea, but it also facilitates transformation over time. It offers a low bitterness, heightened sweetness, and a smooth and mellow taste that improves with aging.

Production Process

The production process of Sun-dried Yunnan Black Tea differs from traditional Dian Hong  (Yunnan black tea):

Sun-dried Yunnan Black Tea: Picking → Withering → Rolling → Fermentation → Sun-drying

Traditional Dian HongDian Hong: Picking → Withering → Rolling → Fermentation → Drying with fire

The main difference between the two lies in the final step.The Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea is created based on the Sun-dried Yunnan black Tea, using a unique production process. During manufacturing, carefully selected tea leaves are wrapped in fine hemp bags and then manually pressed into a spherical shape.

The Leaves Of Yunnan Large Leaf Tea Trees

Characteristics

During the brewing process, the tea ball slowly unfurls, gradually releasing the delightful aroma and flavor of the tea leaves. Each handcrafted Dragon Pearl Black Tea boasts a distinct appearance and taste. Brewing Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea is effortless. Simply place a tea ball in a teacup, add hot water, and allow it to steep for 3-5 minutes. Watch as the color transforms into a deep red hue.

The dragon ball shape serves a purpose beyond convenience and portability. Dragon ball-shaped tea leaves are naturally scarce, catering to consumer preferences as there is no need for a tea knife, and each ball is brewed individually. However, this high-quality production method results in higher costs, as skilled artisans meticulously craft each tea ball. Unlike teas formed into cakes or bricks using molds, dragon ball-shaped teas are crafted from superior tea leaves, maximizing their potential for aging and enhancing their tasting experience.

The History of Dian Hong Balck Tea

Dian Hong tea, primarily produced in Yunnan province, is renowned for its vibrant red color, rich aroma, and deep flavor. Its history can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644 -1912), and after centuries of development, it has become one of the major varieties in the global tea market. The origin and development history of Dian Hong tea are as follows.

Originally referred to as "Yunnan Black Tea" or "Dian Hong," it was officially named "Dian Hong" in the 1980s to avoid confusion with other black tea varieties.

Yunnan

Yunnan Province is located in the southwestern part of China and is the country's most diverse province in terms of geography and ethnicity. The province covers a large area of about 394,000 square kilometers and is known for its stunning natural scenery, including mountains, plateaus, valleys, and lakes. Yunnan Province is one of the main tea-producing regions in China, with a long history of tea cultivation. The province has a favorable climate, fertile soil, and diverse geography, making it ideal for the growth of a variety of tea plants.  Dianhong, a famous historical tea, was created in 1939 and produced in southwest Yunnan. It is a rising star of Chinese Gongfu black tea. Dianhong is short for Yunnan black tea, mainly produced in Fengqing, Yunxian, Baoshan, Xishuangbanna, Pu-erh, etc.

Yunnan

Then the new batch of black tea was transported to Hong Kong within bamboo tea cages, and then put on the market in wooden cases and aluminum cans. Surprisingly, it was warmly welcomed by customers in Hong Kong. It has proved to be a successful tea and eventually named with its place of origin (Dian Hong) by Mr. Feng.

In order to further expand the production of Yunnan black tea.In early 1939, Feng Shaoqiu was ordered to build Fengqing Tea Factory (then called Shunning Experimental Tea Factory). At the same time, a large number of technical personnel from Zhejiang, Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi and other provinces were called to Yunnan to engage in tea production in Yunnan.

Some local tea farmers often take part in the company's tea training courses, which indirectly provides human resources for yunnan black tea to expand reproduction.

In 1940, yunnan black tea changed its name to "Dianhong", and the name "Dianhong" has been used ever since.At present, yunnan black tea production areas are mainly concentrated in more than 20 counties in six prefectures along the Lancang River in Yunnan, namely Lincang, Baoshan, Simao, Xishuangbanna, Dehong and Honghe.

Why Is This Black Tea Shaped Like a Small Sphere?

The adoption of the dragon pearl shape is not just for the sake of convenience in brewing and carrying; the limited production of this tea type, coupled with its higher cost and the necessity of manual craftsmanship, distinguishes it from mass-produced molded teas like cakes or bricks. Dragon pearls usually use high-quality tea leaves, and the expertise of experienced individuals in their production gives them more aging and tasting value compared to machine-pressed teas.

Growing Environment

Fengqing County is the hometown of Dian Hong tea in the world, with a long history of tea cultivation and processing. The famous "Dian Hong" tea originated here, including the Jinxiu Tea King, a cultivated ancient tea tree with over 3,200 years of history.

Fengqing County is located in the southwest of Yunnan Province, bordered by Changning County of Baoshan City and Weishan County of Dali Prefecture to the north, Nanjian County of Dali Prefecture and Yun County of Lincang City to the east, and Yun County and Yongde County to the south, adjacent to Changning County to the west. The maximum east-west span of the county is 59 kilometers, and the maximum north-south span is 91 kilometers, with a total land area of 3323.78 square kilometers.

Fengqing County has rugged terrain, with high mountains and steep landforms, mainly composed of the Hengduan Mountains at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan and the continued mountain ranges of northwest Yunnan. The Three Rivers Confluence, Jinsha River, Lancang River, and the peaks of Guanyin Mountain, Luoshan Mountain, and Jieshan Mountain in the northwest Yunnan mountain range intersect, forming numerous valleys and ridges. These rivers create fertile valleys and moist soils, providing excellent water sources for agriculture.

The Terrain Of Fengqing County

It is in a subtropical monsoon climate zone with a humid climate and distinct seasons. The summers are moderately warm, and winters are not extremely cold. Due to the significant differences in elevation, the temperature and precipitation distribution varies. The fertile soil in the river valleys and foothills, rich in organic matter, is conducive to the growth of tea trees. The diversity in soil texture at different altitudes contributes to the varied quality of black tea.

Aging Period of Sun-dried Dragon Pearl Black Tea

Fresh Tea Period: Newly made Sun-dried black tea has a slight green taste, a subtle fragrance, a modest presence, fresh leaves in the cup, orange-yellow tea soup, and a sweet and smooth taste.

Early Transformation: After a few months of storage, the green taste diminishes, and the tea aroma becomes more prominent, with a deepening color of the tea soup.

Mid-term Transformation: After three years of storage, the transformation of tea yellow and red elements is high, resulting in a very pleasing drinking experience.

Late Transformation: After more than ten years of aging, a significant portion transforms into tea brown elements, possessing a rich medicinal fragrance and a lingering aftertaste.

In the past, the storage of Sun-dried black tea was often less organized, with loose-leaf tea being predominant. Later, inspired by the tight-pressing technique of Pu'er tea, it was compressed into cakes, bricks, and tuos. Storage requirements are similar to Pu'er tea, conducive to long-term storage and exhibiting a more fragrant taste with time.

Sidenote: Although this tea can be preserved for a long time, we still believe it is best not to store it for more than 3 years, as the taste will deviate from the essence of black tea if stored for too long.

In conclusion, Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea is an exceptionally unique tea product. It not only preserves the distinctive flavor and high quality of Dian Hong tea but also boasts a unique appearance and taste. If you are a tea enthusiast, consider trying Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea—you are sure to be captivated by its unique charm.