Yunnan red tea is produced in Yunnan Province. It is made from the fresh leaves of Yunnan large-leaf tea trees by withering, rolling or cutting, fermenting and baking. It was successfully trial-produced in Fengqing, Yunnan Province in 1939. Later, because of successive wars, Yunnan Red was forced to interrupt production until the 1950s, when it began to develop, and then continued to expand production. Because of its excellent quality, it is well received by the international market. In China, Yunnan Red Tea is also the top tea in black tea.
With the continuous improvement of processing technology and the continuous updating of categories, new types of Dianhong have been developed, such as Jinzhen (Golden Needle), Songzhen (Pine Needle), Jinya (Golden Bud), Jinsi (Golden Silk), and Jinluo (Golden Spiral).
Dianhong Jinzhen (Golden Needle)
This tea is named after the line because of its strip shape like “needle” and its “golden” yellow color. The selection of Dianhong Jinzhen is quite exquisite, the best Dianhong Jinzhen usually uses a bud of fresh leaves as raw material, and the lower grade Dianhong Jinzhen usually uses a bud of one leaf as raw material.
The conventional production process of black tea is the process of withering, rolling, fermentation and drying, while Jinzhen has an additional process of mechanical strip making, which is also to make the dry tea more beautiful.
The bud tip of Yunnan red day Lily is golden and bright in color, the dry tea maltose flavor is rich and lasting, the color, aroma and taste are all good, after brewing, the soup is red and yellow and bright in color, the maltose flavor is overflowing, after drinking, the mouth is sweet and smooth for a long time, the Yunnan red day Lily flavor is high and mellow, the taste is strong, and it belongs to the top grade of Yunnan red.
Dianhong Songzhen (Pine Needle)
This tea is made and named as the brother and sister tea of Jinzhen Dianhong, which is refined by picking one bud and one leaf of tea. From the appearance of dry tea, the overall color is golden and dark, the strip is straight, more slender than golden needle, the Miao Feng is beautiful and complete, and the golden hair is slightly obvious.
As far as the market price is concerned, it is relatively lower than that of Jinzhen, but the taste is not particularly good, so the price of tea sold in the market is uneven, it is difficult to select good quality tea, Fengqing is the most “obvious”.
Dianhong Jinya (Golden Bud)
Dianhong Jinya is a high-end product of Yunnan black tea, which is picked from Yunnan large-leaf species with one bud and two leaves, one bud and three leaves, and single leaf with the same tenderness. The initial process is withering, rolling, fermentation and drying. Refined tea is divided into four categories: itself, long body, round body and light body, which are screened and assembled.
The shape of this tea is natural and full, and the tea bud is straight (golden bud) or slightly curved (also known as semi-curved golden bud), which is also a tea named after the shape. Picking one bud and one leaf, the spring bud before Ming Dynasty is made by traditional Yunnan black tea technology. The shape is tight and even, plump and full, and the tenderness is very high. The bud is golden yellow, wrapped with gold, and has natural honey fragrance.
Good quality single bud refined from a relatively high level, relative to the market, in the relatively same price, the quality of Fengqing is also “advanced”.
Dianhong Jinsi (Golden Silk)
Yunnan Red Gold Silk, like Golden Needle, is usually made from a bud of fresh leaves, which belongs to the top grade of Yunnan Red.
The leaves of Yunnan Red Golden Silk are large and tough, and the shape is like silk after being made. The tea has more tender buds and more bud sesame oil. The buds are strong, the leaves are big, the appearance is tight, the color is dark and moist, the golden hair is especially obvious, the taste is strong, the tone is bright, the aroma is heavy, the pungent, and the leaves are red, even, tender and bright.
Dianhong Jinluo (Golden Spiral)
Yunnan Red Golden Snail, picking tea materials such as single bud, one bud and one leaf, one bud and two leaves, is named after the shape of “snail”.
The craft of Yunnan Red Golden Snail is quite special, using Biluochun Tea to shape, and the degree of rolling is heavier than other types. Its appearance is heavy and solid, after brewing, the soup color is golden, the taste is mellow, the return is sweet and the body fluid is produced, smooth and long.
There are also similar green appearance of golden snails on the market, but the overall taste of red golden snails is characterized by bitter and astringent tea soup, and only a few people can accept the taste of this tea.