Nan Nuoshan Black Tea, Yunnan, China

Nanuo Mountain Black Tea from Yunnan

Originating from Nanuo Mountain in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, which is known as “the First Ancient Tea Village in the World”, this area is not only a key production region for Pu’er tea but also produces black tea of exceptional quality. Nanuo Mountain Black Tea is loved by many tea enthusiasts for its unique floral and honey aroma, mellow and full-bodied liquor texture, and prominent sweet aftertaste.

The following table helps you quickly understand the main characteristics of Nanuo Mountain Black Tea:

Feature Dimension Detailed Description
Origin, Production Area & Environment Gelanghe Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It has an average altitude of 1,400 meters, an annual precipitation of 1,500-1,750 millimeters, and an average annual temperature of 16-18°C. The area is surrounded by mist, with fertile soil, an excellent ecological environment, and no pollution.
Raw Material Characteristics Mostly uses fresh leaves from ancient Yunnan large-leaf tea trees with a tree age of over 200 years. The leaves are plump and thick, rich in internal substances.
Processing Technology Features Drawing on the traditional techniques of Yunnan Black Tea and Lapsang Souchong, it undergoes natural withering, “Guohongguo” (fixing in a hot iron wok at high temperature), natural fermentation, and sun-drying (instead of oven-drying), maximizing the retention of tea activity.
Dry Tea Appearance Tight and slender strips, dark brown and moist in color, with obvious golden fuzz.
Liquor Color Orange-yellow and bright or orange-red and translucent, clear and shiny.
Aroma Elegant floral and honey aroma, accompanied by mountain and fruity notes. The aroma is restrained rather than overwhelming, fresh and clean, with a distinct lingering fragrance at the bottom of the cup.
Taste & Flavor The tea liquor is full and smooth, sweet and mellow. It has a slight bitterness and astringency, with a fast and long-lasting sweet aftertaste, obvious saliva production, and a long and delicate aftertaste in the throat.
Infusion Endurance Highly enduring, generally brewable for more than ten times, and the release of water-soluble extracts remains stable in subsequent infusions.
Wet Leaves (Leaf Base) Plump and soft, uniform dark reddish-brown in color, with good activity.

🍃 Core of Quality: Technology and Raw Materials

The excellent quality of Nanuo Mountain Black Tea is inseparable from its unique processing technology and high-quality ancient tea tree raw materials.

– Processing Technology: It combines the technical characteristics of traditional Yunnan Black Tea and Lapsang Souchong. Natural withering (instead of using a withering trough) and the unique “Guohongguo” (fixing in a hot iron wok at high temperature) process make the aroma more prominent and the taste more mellow. The natural fermentation and sun-drying (sun-dried black tea) process, instead of high-temperature oven-drying, retains the active enzymes and internal substances in the tea to the greatest extent. This gives Nanuo Mountain Sun-Dried Black Tea the potential for post-aging similar to Pu’er tea; as time passes, its aroma and taste will become more mellow and sweet.
– Ancient Tea Tree Raw Materials: Fresh leaves are selected from ancient Yunnan large-leaf tea trees with a tree age of over 100 years. These ancient tea trees have deep and extensive root systems, which can absorb more minerals and nutrients from the deep soil. This makes the tea rich and balanced in internal substances (such as tea polyphenols, amino acids, and sugars), resulting in a tea liquor that is naturally full, thick, sweet, mellow, and enduring, with a stronger mountain charm.

🫖 Brewing and Tasting Suggestions

To fully showcase the charm of Nanuo Mountain Black Tea, the brewing method is crucial:

– Tea Sets: Gaiwan (lidded bowl) or porcelain teapot is recommended to better appreciate the liquor color and experience the changes in aroma.
– Water Temperature: The suitable water temperature ranges from 90°C to 95°C. Excessively high temperature may cause astringency in the tea liquor, while too low temperature makes it difficult to fully release the aroma and internal substances.
– Tea Quantity: Generally, 3-5 grams of tea is appropriate for a 100-milliliter container. It can be adjusted according to personal preference for the strength of the tea.
– Brewing: For the first 5 infusions, it is recommended to pour out the tea liquor quickly. After that, the steeping time can be appropriately extended according to the concentration of the tea liquor. Authentic Nanuo Mountain Ancient Tree Black Tea is very enduring and remains fragrant even after more than ten infusions.
– Tasting Method: In addition to drinking it plain, you can also try making blended drinks by adding honey, milk, or lemon for a unique flavor. In summer, cold brewing (soaking in cold water for a long time) is a great option, as the tea liquor becomes cool, refreshing, and sweet, which is also very popular.

✅ How to Select and Preserve

– Selection: High-quality Nanuo Mountain Ancient Tree Black Tea has tight, dark brown dry tea strips with obvious fuzz. When smelled, it has a fresh and natural floral and honey aroma instead of a caramel or roasted smell. The liquor color is orange-yellow or orange-red, bright and translucent, without turbidity or dullness. The taste is sweet, mellow, and smooth, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
– Preservation: Tea absorbs odors and moisture easily, so it must be sealed and stored in a dark, moisture-proof, odor-free, cool, and dry environment. For Nanuo Mountain Black Tea made using the “sun-dried” process, due to its aging potential, its quality may be further improved if stored for a long time under suitable conditions.