2021 Fengqing Shai Hong - Yunnan Sun-dried Black Tea

Shai Hong (晒红, "Sun-Dried Red") is a distinctive style of Yunnan black tea, crafted using the traditional steps of withering, rolling, fermentation, and sun-drying. Unlike Dian Hong, which is dried using tea-baking machines, Shai Hong undergoes a gentler drying process at lower temperatures, preserving a slightly higher humidity level. This allows its enzymes and complex compounds to continue transforming over time, enhancing its flavor as it ages.

This particular Shai Hong comes from Fengqing County, the birthplace of Yunnan black tea. It is made from the Lao Pin Zhong (老品种, "Old Varieties") cultivar, which is a diverse mix of wild and seed-grown trees such as Fengqing Da Ye Zhong and Mengku Da Ye Zhong, many of which have been growing since the 1950s.

Historically, Fengqing only produced raw leaf tea (Maocha) for Sheng Pu-erh. However, in the spring of 1939, during a period of political and economic instability, the Chinese government sent a group of tea experts to Yunnan to develop new tea production methods that could support international trade. The newly established Shunning Tea Factory (later renamed Fengqing Tea Factory in 1954) successfully produced black tea using Yunnan’s big-leaf tea varietal, marking the birth of Dian Hong.

In the early days, tea producers sun-dried their tea leaves to cut costs, but later they would finish the drying process with tea-baking machines, producing what became known as Dian Hong black tea. For this reason, some veteran tea producers in Fengqing traditionally regarded Shai Hong as a semi-finished product of Dian Hong. However, with the rise of Pu-erh tea's popularity, Shai Hong also gained recognition in the market for its aging potential.

While some Shai Hong teas are compressed into cakes like Sheng Pu-erh, this particular tea remains in loose-leaf form, offering a more accessible and versatile brewing experience. Harvested in spring 2021, it captures the essence of traditional Fengqing craftsmanship, balancing bold sweetness, smooth texture, and rich complexity that will continue to evolve with time.