Mountainous, sub-tropical Yunnan Province is thought to be where the tea plant Camellia sinensis originated.  There are wild tea plants still growing there which are over 1000 years of age!  The tea bush from Yunnan has larger leaves than tea growing in other parts of China, and consequently Yunnan teas are often referred to as "big leaf" teas. Black teas from Yunnan are highly regarded for their rich, generous "malt and pepper" qualities, and have long been recognised for their quality. Gray & Seddon select gongfu leaf grades of Yunnan black tea seasonally and the following list offers some of the best breakfast teas on offer this year.

Supreme Sunshine Tea
Despite the protracted world surplus in low-grade black tea flooding markets, the gongfu teas of Yunnan province have been quietly gaining popularity with European tea drinkers. Oftentimes compared with the Assam orthodox teas owing to their leaf & beverage characteristics, the Yunnan blacks however go much deeper. Bright & spicy teas with a depth & complexity of flavour unsurpassed by any Assam. Yunnan is situated to the southwestern corner of China. A province that is one of the greatest tea-making regions in the world. And one that lays claim to being the origin of tea itself. To confuse matters slightly, the region is also known by the name, Dian. A title that is firmly associated with its culture & traditions. The tea-growing areas of Yunnan are home to an enormous variety of manufactured tea. Teas that very nearly map out the entire history of tea cultivation & production. Kunming is the provincial town & a major centre for tea commerce. Further south is Pu'er. A town with a long history in trading compressed (brick) teas. Yunnan's remote hilly forests such as the Ba Da "Big Black Mountain" of the Xishuangbanna region are home to some of the oldest tea trees in the world. Tea growing there measure over 20 metres high & are estimated to be more than 800 years old. These trees continue to be a primary source for connoisseurs eager to make the finest grades of Pu'er tea. The highland gardens of Yunnan rise to 2,500m & are acclaimed for their broad-leafed tea varieties. Commercial production of Dian Hong Cha (Yunnan Red Tea) began in the mid 1930s. Gongfu teas which have now become well known for their large golden-yellow leaves & spicy-malt aroma. There are several regions in Yunnan known for production of such gongfu-style teas, the Menghai tea growing district in the far south of the province being one of the most respected.

China Black
Chinese black teas are indeed various shades of red. A spectrum of colour ranging from sparkling coppery tints to the more intense burgundies. The teas are normally accompanied by floral & fruity flavours. Almost always mellow with moderate astringency & full on the palate, (a flavour profile very much unlike the Indian black teas). The provinces of China noted for their gongfu style tea are located in central & southern regions. Anhui, Sichuan and Yunnan making the most outstanding teas. While other regions grow and process black teas few rarely make it to the international scene. A noteworthy list would include; Hubei in central China making the 'burnt' Hubei Black. Yixing to the east with their rarely seen Yixing Black: a tea noted for its rich flavour & sour-dry aftertaste. Hunan, which manufactures what might be described as the definitive Chinese black tea export: soft & fruity palate with a dazzling depth of redness. Guangdong province in the south has a relatively well-known kind of black tea called, Ying-de. A tea previously exported to continental Europe. Close by there's Fujian with its many specialty gongfu blacks. Lapsang Souchong from Wuyi Shan perhaps being the most famous (although this pine-smoked leaf is often made from oolong). Scarcely seen kinds of tea are made on the island of Hainan. The Hainan Blacks are big leaf teas possessing mildly astringent flavours. But, as good as these Chinese black teas are, in terms of flavour and original character, towering above all are the highland grown teas of Anhui and Yunnan. Receiving most attention from international commentators are those teas grown at Qimen (Anhui), producing Qi Hong, or Keemun, & Menghai (Yunnan) with the Dian Hong Cha. The latter distinguished by its big-golden leaves.

For better information on the availability of specialist
Yunnan teas contact Gray & Seddon.
YUNNAN TEA ENQUIRIES