2021 Tian Jian Dragon Ball - Anhua Dark Tea

Tian Jian (天尖) belongs to the “Three Jian” category of Anhua dark tea, a designation that has been preserved since the Qing Dynasty. It was first developed in the Qianlong period (18th century) when Shanxi and Anhua tea merchants used tender, semi-processed dark tea to create lightly compressed, basket-packed tea. By 1825 (Daoguang period), it was named Tian Jian and designated as an imperial tribute tea. Today, Tian Jian remains one of the finest styles of Anhua heicha, known for its refined taste, lingering sweetness, and smooth body.

This 2021 Tian Jian Dragon Ball, sourced from Muyangjie, was harvested between April 12 and April 20, 2021, before the Guyu solar term, using wild-growing Yuntai Da Ye Qun Ti Zhong tea bushes. The fresh leaves, primarily one bud with two to three leaves, were processed through withering, fixation, rolling, wet piling, and drying. The drying process was completed using a traditional Qixing stove, an intricate seven-star stove fueled by slowly burning pinewood. This method imparts a distinctive warmth and depth to the tea, enhancing its complex aroma.

Hailing from a high-altitude tea-growing region (~800m) in the deep mountains of Anhua, this tea benefits from a misty climate, rich forest cover, and dramatic temperature variations, all of which contribute to its thick, sweet liquor. The tea brews a bright amber infusion with notes of wood and dried fruit, evolving with each steep. It delivers a smooth yet structured mouthfeel, with a lasting sweetness and a cooling aftertaste.