Everything about this tea is exquisite, from the way the leaves are processed to the final aroma and flavor. This Imperial Dian Hong (Yunnan Red) tea from Norbu Tea is processed by hand and even rolled into shape by hand.  The leaves are rolled in a way that the dried leaves look like long slender tippy spears.

This is a very mild black tea (as most Yunnan teas are), with a very smooth taste that has honey-like overtones and a distinctly beautiful light black tea flavor.  The flavor has a sweet and silken finish on the palate, which is enhanced greatly if you add sweetener, yet still pronounced if you drink it plain.

Norbu Tea describes this tea as:

Dian Hong translates literally as ‘Yunnan Red.’  Dian is another name for Yunnan Province, named for the Bronze Age Dian Kingdom that was later incorporated into the Han Empire.  In China, what we refer to as ‘black’ tea is called ‘red’ tea because the infused liquor is a reddish brown color.

This exquisite Dian Hong is hand crafted from estate grown tea from the Feng Qing area to the south of Dali in Western Yunnan.  The whole leaf and bud complexes from the tea plants are hand picked, processed, and rolled by hand into the needle shaped finished product.  It is a remarkably refined black tea with the characteristically Yunnan malty sweetness in the background, a pleasant and slightly drying astringency, and very little bitterness.  It is also quite infusible, lasting well beyond 3 or 4 gong fu style steepings.  For those who are unfamiliar with Yunnan black teas, the flavor is similar to the teas from the Assam region in India.  Whole leaf black tea of this supreme quality is almost unheard of in the Western market for black tea, so enjoy the rare opportunity to taste an incredible example of what skilled craftsmanship can do for the category we know as black tea.

This is honestly the highest quality Dian Hong that I’ve tasted, ideal for Gongfu Tea Ceremonies (as are most Norbu teas).  The flavor profile includes many subtle undertones that bring to mind sunshine and autumn leaves.  This tea is ideal served hot, with or without sweetener.  Do not serve chilled or with milk as both of these would diminish the overall flavor profile which make this such a uniquely beautiful Yunnan tea.  You can also get several steepings from these beautiful leaves!