Dark tea is one of the six major teas and a tea cultivated in China. Hunnan is China's largest production base of Dark tea while Baishaxi tea plant, Anhua is the birthplace of Dark tea. Anhua Dark gross tea adopt straditional drying method by wood fire while in primary processing. It has the fame of 'tea as amber' and 'color as iron, with extraordinary fragrance'. It is the traditional drying by wood fire that brings forth the unique quality of Anhua Dark tea.
Tian Jian, Gongjian and Shengjian teas are all Hunan's excellent Dark teas. They are processed from the fresh tea leaves during the Grain Rain perod and mainly served by the rich. In the northwest region of China, they are drinks for the nobles. During the Daoguang years of Qing Dynasty (1825), Tian Jian and Gong Jian were list as articles of tribute and served by the royalty. These teas are primarily processed from Dark Gross Tea that is directly pile-fermented. By this method, the taste is stronger while the quality is more stable. The three teas are packaged by basket in bulk. They are valuable heritages of China's traditional tea culture.
