Anhua Huazhuan Tea: Dark Tea with Patterned Brick Surfaces

Anhua Huazhuan Tea is produced in Anhua County, Hunan Province. It belongs to the brick tea category of Anhua dark tea and is a type of dark tea. Anhua dark tea can be divided into Jiancha, Huajuanchuan, and brick teas, with brick teas further categorized into Huazhuan, Heizhuan, Fuzhuan, and Qingzhuan. The defining feature of Huazhuan tea is the exquisite pattern carved onto the surface of the brick, which is how it earned the name “Huazhuan” (Patterned Brick).

History of Huazhuan Tea

The history of Anhua dark tea dates back to Huajuan tea. With technological advancements, it gradually evolved into brick teas. Some brick teas were named “Huazhuan” (patterned brick) because of the patterns carved on their surfaces to distinguish them from other brick teas. The common specification for Huazhuan tea is 35 cm in length, 18 cm in width, and 3 cm in thickness, weighing approximately 2 kg. However, dimensions and weights may be slightly adjusted to facilitate sales and transportation.

Craftsmanship and Characteristics

The production process of Huazhuan tea is meticulous. Premium dark rough tea (heimaocha) is selected as the raw material and undergoes screening, crushing, and blending to form a semi-finished product. It is then steam-pressed into a brick shape, and finally baked and packaged to complete production. High-quality Huazhuan tea features a dark brown brick surface, a pure internal aroma, and a rich, slightly astringent tea liquor with a pine wood note. Well-pressed Huazhuan tea should have a flat appearance, clear patterns, and distinct edges. Top-tier, well-preserved Anhua Huazhuan tea improves in quality as aging time increases, embodying the concept of “the older, the better.”

In recent years, the “golden flowers” (Eurotium cristatum) of Fuzhuan tea have gained popularity. This fermentation process has also been applied to Huazhuan tea, leading to the appearance of golden flower Huazhuan tea on the market.

Brewing Method for Anhua Huazhuan Tea

Before brewing Huazhuan tea, use a tea knife or mallet to break the tea brick into appropriate pieces. You can choose to steep or boil the tea. When boiling, stir constantly to ensure the tea essence is released evenly. You can also add sugar, milk, or other ingredients according to personal taste. For general brewing, a Yixing purple clay teapot is recommended, using boiling water at 100°C. The initial brewing time is about 3 minutes, with each subsequent steep increased by 40 to 60 seconds.