Yunnan Colorful said

hello,why people called "red tea" as "Black tea"?

hi,steepster,
Now “Red tea”was unsally called “Black tea”,such as Qimen black tea,Fujian gongfu black tea,Yunnan black tea,etc.but black tea was often called “Dark tea”.
I am interest in why people call this?

6 Replies

kOmpir said

Chinese call it ‘red tea’ because the leaves that achieve full fermentation have a deep red hue. After you fire/bake them they get a black color and thus get classified as ‘black tea’ in the west.

Yunnan Colorful said

oh,pretty answer.
but many people said:this kind of difference their names different countries is because westers relatively emphasis on the color of tea,whereas Chinese people relatively emphasis on color of ths soup.
Do you think so? thanks.

K S said

My understanding is in the west the early importers emphasized the color of the leaves and called it black tea. Today that is the name we use because of tradition. Eastern tradition is to call it red based on the liquor.

Yunnan Colorful said

K S Thanks.
When we began to found our tea company in kunmimg,Yunnan.I fand this tea’s name was interested.As a tea lover,he(She) understant what tea is.as a beginer,it is difficult.Thanks again.

K S said

Language and tradition differences can sometimes be confusing but that is what is great about Steepster. It helps bring us together.

Yunnan Colorful said

K S Thanks.
You are right.I like China ancient tradition and English.

hello,why people called "red tea" as "Black tea"?

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