Hua Zhuan花砖茶

Hua Zhuan is a hunan-dark pu-erh & dark tea from Anhua, Hunan, China. Brew it at 100°C with 7g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 9 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. A quick rinse is recommended.

Tasting notes

If Fu Zhuan is the quirky one in the Anhua brick family, Hua Zhuan is the steady sibling. No golden flowers, no mushroom weirdness — just clean, workmanlike hei cha with a smoky edge that comes from the old-school pine-fire drying. The liquor pours a bright orange-amber, much lighter than you'd expect from how dark the brick looks. First few sips are smooth and a little sweet, with a resin-smoke note that reads more like a cold campfire the morning after than anything heavy. Underneath there's a dry-wood character — think old cedar shelving. The finish is short and clean, no lingering bitterness or the dusty astringency cheaper Anhua bricks sometimes throw. Aged examples (5+ years) round the smoke into something closer to dried longan and soft sandalwood. Brew hot, steep a little longer than puerh at the same ratio — hei cha rewards patience. Honest daily-drinker tea, not showy.

Flavor profile

One of Anhua's 'three bricks' alongside Fu Zhuan and Hei Zhuan. The brew is orange-amber with a clean, mellow sweetness and hints of smoked pinewood. Compared to Fu Zhuan, Hua Zhuan lacks golden flowers but offers a slightly smokier, more straightforward dark tea character. Aged examples smooth out into a soft, sweet woodiness.

Terroir

Mountainous Hunan, same terroir as other Anhua san zhuan (three bricks)

Brewing

Rinse: Rinse 10 seconds — compressed brick needs a wake-up and dust removal.

1. Quick rinse — pour off immediately.
2. Steep 1: 15 seconds
3. Steep 2: 20 seconds
4. Steep 3: 25 seconds
5. Steep 4: 30 seconds
6. Steep 5: 40 seconds
7. Steep 6: 50 seconds
8. Steep 7: 60 seconds
9. Steep 8: 80 seconds
10. Steep 9: 120 seconds

Break brick with a tea knife or pick. Use maximum heat and ceramic or clay teaware. Can also be boiled Mongolian-style with milk.

Aroma & taste

Processing

• kill-green
• rolled
• pile-fermented
• compressed into bricks with floral pattern

Sources

• https://www.teasenz.com/hunan-anhua-dark-tea-sampler
• https://yunnansourcing.com/products/2015-bai-sha-xi-jin-fu-rui-fu-zhuan-brick-tea-of-hunan
• https://www.teawithneldon.com/post/the-mystery-of-chinese-dark-teas-an-in-depth-provincial-tour-of-heicha