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Pu-erh & dark tea · Hunan hei cha

Anhua Dark Tea

安化黑茶, Hunan hei cha

7.1/10 editor's score

The dark teas of Anhua County in Hunan, made loose, in baskets, logs and bricks. A Tea Horse Road tradition.

Dark teaTea Horse RoadHunan
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Anhua Dark Tea, top-down

What you need

3 g leafAnhua Dark Tea
250 ml water95 to 100°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorClear amber-red
Served inTeapot and cup

At a glance

The dark teas of Anhua County in Hunan, made loose, in baskets, logs and bricks.

CaffeineMedium~25 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit7.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpring to autumnLeaf from spring to summer.
Pairs withRoast meats, Stews, NutsLess good with delicate desserts
Grown atHills of AnhuaAnhua, Hunan
Served inTeapot and cupA general choice

About Anhua Dark Tea

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe dark teas as slowly oxidised and fermented, and often pressed for ageing 2.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

AnhuaHunanCHINA
Region
Anhua County, Hunan 1
Known for
Source of Anhua dark tea 1
History
A nodal point of the Tea Horse Road 1
Dark tea origins
Possibly Ming dynasty 2

More from Anhua and China.

History and culture

Anhua was an important stop on the Tea Horse Road 1.

Some accounts place the first dark tea in the Ming dynasty, in the 15th and 16th centuries 2.

Editor's score

7.1/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 6.5Origin & heritage: 7.0Availability: 7.0Value: 8.0Beginner-friendliness: 7.5Versatility: 7.5Flavour 6.5Heritage 7.0Availability 7.0Value 8.0Beginners 7.5Versatility 7.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Anhua Dark Tea~25 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Ageing shapes the tea more than season. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Local Camellia sinensis of Anhua.

How it is made
01Kill-green

Heated.

02Rolling

Rolled.

03Piling

Piled to ferment 2.

04Drying

Dried and packed.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafDark leaf, loose or pressed.
LiquorClear amber-red.
After steeping
Wet leafDark, coarse leaf.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Roast meats
  • Stews
  • Nuts

Best avoided

  • Delicate desserts

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Store in a clean, odour-free place with some airflow and steady, moderate humidity.
  • Keep cakes in their paper wrappers, away from sunlight and strong smells.
  • Unlike most teas, many pu-erh and dark teas are kept for years and change as they age.
Grades and fakes

Many shapes: loose, basket, log and brick.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Should smell clean and woody.
  2. Fu Zhuan is Anhua's famous brick style.
FAQ
Is it the same as Fu Zhuan?

Fu Zhuan is one Anhua style. Anhua also makes loose and basket teas.

Find it inPu-erh & dark teasTeas from ChinaAnhuaDark teaTea Horse RoadHunan

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Anhua County". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhua_County
  2. Wikipedia, "Fermented tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermented_tea
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.