Sichuan Ya’An Tibetan Dark Tea 2015 The first Dark Tea born in the famous Ancient Tea Horse Road Ya’An Tibetan Dark Tea, the first Dark Tea in China, also called “Bian Xiao Cha” or “Bian Cha”, which means “Border-sale Tea” – literally because this Tea was sold on the border area from Ya’An to Tibet. Ya’An located in the southwest part of Sichuan, right next to Tibet. Sichuan supply a large quantity of Tea to Tibet for more than two centuries, the route leading from Sichuan to Tibet become the famous Ancient Tea Horse Road – the complete length of the road was over 4,000 kilometers. The long trade road created an unique and favorable post-fermented Dark Tea – as traders spent months to travel from Ya’An to Tibet, the fresh Green Tea is fermented and aged when they arrived in Tibet. Nowadays, the Tea is processed through 32 steps – including steps of plucking, green-killing, several repeating steps of wet-piling, steaming and drying, etc. In 2008, the technique of producing Ya’An Tibetan Dark Tea is being included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Old photo of traders on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. They are carrying the Tibetan Dark Tea packed in the bamboo basket. Weight per pack: 25g Tea Farm Location: Ya’An, Sichuan, China Harvest Time: Spring 2015 Tasting Notes: mellow, earthy, woody Tea Liquor Colour: Bright and clear red-brown colour
