What are the differences between black tea and dark tea? Explained clearly in one article

Black tea and dark tea both belong to China's six major tea categories, and both are fermented teas. Dark tea includes six major varieties: Sanjian, Heizhuan, Huazhuan, Fuzhuan, Qingzhuan and Qianliang tea, while black tea is further classified into Congou black tea, Souchong black tea, broken black tea and black tea crystals. So how do you distinguish these two types of tea? Let's take a look below at the differences between black tea and dark tea!

Differences in the raw materials of black tea and dark tea

1. Dark tea: The raw materials of dark tea are generally made from relatively coarse and old black maocha.

2. Black tea: Black tea is made from the buds and leaves of the tea plant as raw materials, refined through the typical processes of withering, rolling (cutting), fermentation, drying and so on.

Differences in the fermentation of black tea and dark tea

1. Dark tea: The fermentation of dark tea uses external microorganisms for fermentation. It is made through a series of processes including fixation, rolling, pile fermentation and drying. The fermentation time needs to be very long, so the color of its leaves turns dark brown, which is also the origin of the name "dark tea". It is a fully fermented tea.

2. Black tea: The fermentation of black tea is endogenous enzymatic fermentation. Through the polyphenol oxidase in the tea cells themselves, and after a series of chemical reactions, highly polymerized tea polyphenols are ultimately formed. The brewed tea liquor tends to be red, hence the name black tea. It is a fully fermented tea.

Differences in the production areas of black tea and dark tea

1. Dark tea: The main production areas of dark tea include Yiyang, Taojiang, Ningxiang, Hanshou and Linxiang in Hunan; counties such as Chibi (Puqi), Tongshan, Chongyang and Tongcheng in Xianning City in southeastern Hubei; Sichuan; and Yunnan Province. Dark tea is mainly divided into several types such as Hunan Anhua dark tea, Hubei old green tea, Sichuan Liubao tea and Yunnan Pu'er tea.

2. Black tea: Its place of origin is Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, and it later spread to Zhenghe, Danyang, Gutian, Shaxian and other places in Fujian. If classified by the tea form it produces, it can roughly be divided into Souchong black tea (Lapsang Souchong, Waishan Souchong), Congou black tea (Qimen Congou, Dianhong Congou, Minhong Congou, Huhong Congou, Ninghong Congou, Chuanhong Congou, Yihong Congou, Yuehong Congou, Fuliang Congou, Xianghong Congou, Taiwan, China Congou) and so on.

Differences in the effects of black tea and dark tea

1. Dark tea: Dark tea has effects such as quenching thirst, resisting radiation, fighting cancer, preventing cancer, helping to sober one up, promoting digestion, reducing weight, delaying aging and lowering cholesterol. It can enhance the sharpness of the brain's central nervous system activity, improve thinking ability, lower blood pressure, inhibit arteriosclerosis and so on.

2. Black tea: Black tea can help gastrointestinal digestion, promote appetite, induce urination, eliminate edema, and strengthen heart function. At the same time, black tea has strong antibacterial power. Gargling with black tea can prevent colds caused by filterable viruses, and prevent tooth decay and food poisoning, and lower blood sugar levels and high blood pressure.