Gongjian tea is produced in Anhua County, Hunan Province. It is one of the “Jiancha” varieties of Anhua dark tea, belonging to the dark tea category. Jiancha can be divided into three types: Tianjian, Gongjian, and Shengjian. Gongjian is primarily made from second-grade dark rough tea. It is characterized by a dark, lustrous appearance, a clear, bright liquor, and a mellow, smoky aroma.
Gongjian Tea: Fine Loose Tea Made from Second-Grade Tea Leaves
Gongjian tea is crafted from dark rough tea. While the highest-grade dark rough tea is typically reserved for Tianjian tea, second-grade dark rough tea is used for Gongjian tea. Gongjian generally uses young shoots consisting of one bud and two leaves, with spring harvest yielding the finest quality. The production process includes sorting, picking, high-temperature steaming to soften, rolling, baking, blending, and packaging. Higher-quality Gongjian tea is usually packed in bamboo baskets; the tea leaves are placed into the baskets while steaming-softened to press them into a mass. This not only facilitates transportation but also helps enhance the fermentation quality of the tea.
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- Anhua Gongjian Tea: A Relatively Affordable Dark Tea