The production process of Anhua Fuzhuan tea is similar to other brick teas, but the final, crucial step known as “fa hua” (fruiting/blossoming) determines its quality and price. This technique is designed to cultivate “golden flowers” within the tea. Fuzhuan bricks abundant in golden flowers are considered top-tier dark tea, while poor results lead to lower-grade products, creating a stark price difference. This is why golden flowers are so essential to Anhua Fuzhuan tea.
What are Anhua Fuzhuan Tea Golden Flowers?
“Jin Hua” (golden flowers) refers to the microbial growth on tea leaves, which produces Eurotium cristatum. Tea masters noticed long ago that aged dark tea sometimes developed golden particles. Unlike mold, these Eurotium cristatum spores are beneficial microorganisms that draw available nutrients from the tea leaves, transforming their characteristics. The formation of Jin Hua helps enhance the flavor and mouthfeel of Fuzhuan brick tea.
In the past, due to technological limitations, it was very difficult for Fuzhuan tea to develop Jin Hua. However, as Anhua dark tea grew increasingly popular, ongoing research revealed that controlled humidity and temperature allow Eurotium cristatum to thrive. Consequently, the production of Jin Hua dark teas has expanded in recent years. Today, Jin Hua can appear not only in Fuzhuan tea, but also in Qianliang tea, Qing brick, black brick, and Huazhuan tea, though Fuzhuan tea remains the most popular.
Beyond taking the flavor to the next level, Jin Hua itself is believed to contain beneficial nutrients for the human body and can help enhance the activity of pepsin, trypsin, and amylase while inhibiting lipase activity. It is widely thought that the more prominent the Jin Hua in Fuzhuan tea, the better the quality and the better it tastes as it ages. This is also why Jin Hua Fuzhuan tea commands a consistently high price.
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