Liu An Cha – Post-Fermented Chinese Dark Tea from Anhui (Traditional Sacred Tea)

Origin: Qimen County, Anhui Province, China

Specificity:

Liu An Cha is a post-fermented Chinese dark tea (hei cha), falling between green tea and black tea.
Stemming from a tradition dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, this rare tea is known for its natural fermentation, unique character, and excellent aging potential.

Packaging:

Compressed tea, carefully packaged to preserve its aromas and promote its evolution over time

Aromatic Profile (Bouquet):

Rich and deep, with characteristic notes of damp undergrowth, old wood, earth, medicinal plants, and resinous nuances.
The infusion reveals a subtle balance between slight bitterness, freshness, and minerality.

Taste (on the palate):

The initial taste is slightly bitter and astringent, quickly evolving into a persistent sweetness (hui gan) that coats the palate.

Notes of:

·        Chinese herbs

·        dried fruits

·        damp wood

·        earth and minerality

With successive infusions, the tea becomes rounder, sweeter, and develops a long, fresh, and sweet finish.

Liquor (Color):

Beautiful amber color with reddish reflections, clear and bright.
It intensifies to a deep amber with successive infusions.

Texture:

Supple, round, and structured, with a slight tannic presence and a nice length on the palate.

Benefits of Liu An Cha

Considered a “sacred tea”, Liu An Cha is traditionally appreciated for its numerous virtues:

·        Promotes digestion

·        Helps reduce internal heat (cooling effect)

·        Contributes to natural detoxification

·        Provides mental clarity and a feeling of freshness

Rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, and minerals, it integrates perfectly into a daily wellness routine.

Dosage:

8 to 10 grams, up to 12 g depending on the number of people

Preparation:

1.     Awaken the tea with water at 100°C (2–3 seconds), ideally two rinses

2.     Infuse at 90°C:

o   1st infusion: 6 seconds

o   2nd infusion: 9 seconds

o   Add 5 to 6 seconds to each infusion

This method allows the full aromatic richness of the tea to be revealed over many infusions.

Storage:

·        Store in its original packaging

·        Avoid airtight containers

·        Keep away from strong odors (incense, spices, tobacco)

·        Store in a well-ventilated and dry place

Like all dark teas (hei cha), Liu An Cha evolves with time and gains in complexity.
No age limit – a true cellar tea.

Why choose Liu An Cha?

Liu An Cha is an exceptional tea, combining Chinese tradition, natural benefits, and sensory richness.
Ideal for lovers of fermented, digestive, and evolving teas, it accompanies both moments of calm and daily rituals.

Liu An Cha – The Living Heritage of Imperial Dark Teas

Born in the ancient mists of Qimen County, in the heart of Anhui Province, Liu An Cha is more than just a tea: it is a living memory, shaped by time, land, and people.

Originating from the millennia-old traditions of the Ming and Qing dynasties, this post-fermented dark tea, once considered a "sacred tea", traverses the centuries with rare elegance. Each leaf, slowly transformed, bears the imprint of the climate, the soil, and ancient Chinese craftsmanship.

An Alchemy of Earth and Time

Compact and deep, Liu An Cha reveals, from the very first infusions, an amber liquor with reddish hues, clear like a stone polished by the years.

Its fragrance evokes a walk after the rain: old wood, damp undergrowth, precious resins, and medicinal herbs.

In the mouth, the experience is evolving, almost meditative.
A noble and structuring initial slight bitterness gives way to a persistent sweetness, a sugary caress that settles slowly and lastingly.

With successive infusions, the tea opens up, rounds out, and reveals deep nuances of dried fruits, living earth, and patinated wood. A sensation of inner freshness appears, like a calm breath passing through the body and mind.

A Tea of Well-being and Balance

For generations, Liu An Cha has been recognized for its natural virtues:
it aids digestion, soothes excesses, refreshes the body, and supports inner balance.

Its richness in polyphenols and minerals makes it a valuable daily ally, promoting mental clarity, lightness, and gentle vitality.

It's a tea that doesn't rush; it settles.
It doesn't stimulate; it harmonizes.

The Art of Long Time

Like all great dark teas, Liu An Cha is a tea of patience.
It evolves, matures, transforms over the years, gaining in depth, roundness, and complexity.

When stored in good conditions, it becomes a living work of art, a silent companion that tells a different story with each tasting.

A Sensory and Spiritual Experience

Drinking Liu An Cha is to slow down.
It is to rediscover the taste of time, of matter, of the essential.

It is a moment suspended between earth and sky, between tradition and sensation, where the body calms and the spirit brightens.

A tea for those who seek more than a taste: a presence.