Steeping Instructions
Step 1: Preheat mug with boiling water, discard and refill.
Step 2: Use one in a mug and steep a short time (one minute), or use one in a larger pot (12-20 oz.) and steep a longer time (2-3 min).
Step 3: Steep for 3-5 minutes as desired. Experiment with slightly cooler water. Try one additional steeping if desired.
Description:
This dark tea, similar to pu-erh, from Hunan province of China, is medium to full-bodied, very smooth, with a delicious dusty rose flavor and aroma. Contains dark tea and rose petals. Each piece is approximately 5 grams pressed into the shape of a heart.
Significance:
Dark tea, or heicha, is similar to pu-erh tea in that it is a post fermented tea from China. Thought to have developed through trade along the Tea-Horse Road in China this tea is produced by taking the base, or maocha, and rolling, moistening, and placing in piles to dry. It is then aged and fermented for a long time allowing the leaves to take on their characteristic dark color. It is then pressed into cakes, bricks or a variety of other shapes to be transported and sold.