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2021 Tian Jian Dragon Ball (2021 Spring)

2021 Tian Jian Dragon Ball (2021 Spring)

MyTeaPal Club

Type
Dark Tea
Origin
Muyangjie, Anhua County, Hunan Province, China
Cultivar
Yuntai Da Ye Qun Ti Zhong
Elevation
600-800 m
Steeping instructions
Portion: Use one dragon ball (~7.3 grams) per serving. Divide with a tea knife if you prefer a lighter flavor. Each dragon ball can last through 8 or more infusions. Water Temperature: 100˚C / 212˚F. Rinse: Rinse for 30 seconds before the first infusion. Steeping: - Entire serving: 7.3g : 150ml. For the first three infusions, steep for 20s, 15s, and 10s. For subsequent infusions, gradually increasing by 5s or 10s based on desired intensity. - Partial serving: 1g : 30ml. Start with 10s, then gradually increasing by 5s or 10s based on desired intensity.
Description
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.

Shipped in February 2025

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