What is Dian Hong Red Tea?
What is Dian Hong Red Tea?
Red tea (known as Black tea in the West) is the most consumed tea in the world.
In fact, out of all the consumed tea in America in 2019, 84% was Red tea.
Chinese red tea in particular is gaining popularity in the West.
So today, I want to introduce you to one of the most famous Chinese Red teas: Dian Hong.
Although red tea finds its origin in China, the country surprisingly only recently started enjoying this type of tea –
Which was often shunned in favor of its green counterpart.
Read on to learn what kind of tea Dian Hong is, its taste, history, and what makes it so unique.
DIAN HONG
Yunnan Red, Yunnan Black
• Type: Red (black tea in the west)
• Terroir: Yunnan Province
• Taste: fruit, floral, honey sweet
• Aroma: floral, sweet, fruity
• Leaves for Dian Hong are often used for Pu Er tea, making this a stronger full bodied red tea.
What is Dian Hong Red Tea?
Dian Hong is a Red tea from China’s Yunnan Province.
It’s known for its sweet, fruity taste.
It’s usually a bit stronger than other Chinese Red teas.
This is because it’s processed with leaves from a tea plant varietal that produces teas that are more astringent (bitter).
History of Dian Hong
Dian Hong is a relatively new tea.
It was first produced in the early 20th century.
Yunnan, where this type of red tea is grown, is primarily known for the production of Pu Er tea.
Although relatively new, Dian Hong has become quite popular in recent years.
What does Dian Hong Taste Like?
Dian Hong is sweet, floral, and honey-like.
Dian Hong tends to be a little stronger and more astringent (bitter) in comparison to other Red teas.
Such as Qi Men or Jin Jun Mei.
This is because it’s made from leaves usually used for Pu Er tea.
A type of tea known for being bitter and aggressive.
All true tea is made from the same plant: the Camellia Sinensis.
But some varietals yield different flavors.
Most Red tea is made from Camellia Sinensis var Sinensis, which is a smaller leaf varietal.
Dian Hong is different though.
It’s usually made from Camellia Sinensis var Assamica, a larger leaf varietal used for Pu Er known for being aggressive and astringent.
Which makes it quite unique.
Also, it’s worth noting that in the west, red tea is known as “black tea.”
But in Chinese tea, “black tea” refers to fermented tea such as Shou Pu Er (Ripe Pu Er).
If you feel a bit confused with the “red tea” and “black tea” terms, try to read our article Is Red Tea The Same As Black Tea? here.
It will definitely clear things up.
Where Dian Hong Red Tea is From?
Every Chinese province has a one-word name –
Yunnan’s is Dian.
You can think of it like a “nickname” or an abbreviation.
Like how NYC is called the “big apple.”
And “Hong” means red in Chinese.
So, Dian Hong translates as Yunnan Red.
Yunnan is a mountainous region located in southwest China.
Tea-wise, it’s mainly known for its production of Pu Er tea –
Which is often quite astringent.
Many different mountains in Yunnan produce tea.
Taste and quality of the raw tea leaf material vary depending on:
The exact mountain
And the specific growing location
And so just like with Pu Er, Dian Hong’s taste will vary slightly depending on the specifics of the tea’s growing location.
Yunnan has quite a few old tea trees (200 plus years old).
And Dian Hong is sometimes made from those leaves.
Geeky info: Older trees (also called “gushu”, meaning ancient tree) yield more flavor because their deeper roots supply more nutrients. So the taste of the earth and its nutrients is transferred inside the leaf.
How to Brew Dian Hong
Red tea can be brewed a few ways.
It tends to be pretty forgiving.
Meaning it’s usually still tasty when under or over-brewed.
But it’s quite strong, so it can get bitter kind of quickly.
Grandpa Style
One of the simplest ways to brew Red tea is by throwing a sprinkle of loose leaves in a cup, mug, or bowl and adding water.
Sip after a few minutes, then add more water to rebrew.
This way is super easy.
But effective.
Western Style
Western-style brewing of Dian Hong is also quite simple.
It uses a small amount of tea leaf and a large amount of water.
The resulting brew can be strong.
But it won't be as complex as the other brewing methods because of the high water-to-leaf ratio.
Basically, you just add 2-5 grams of Red tea into a teapot and brew for 3-5 minutes.
Brewing with a Gaiwan (the Traditional “Gong Fu” Method)
Brewing Dian Hong with a gaiwan will give you the best overall results.
A gaiwan is a simple brewing device used for most Chinese teas.
It’s basically just a small bowl with a lid that holds the leaves.
The lid makes sure they don’t fall out when you pour the tea into a cup.
High-quality loose leaf teas are “designed” to be brewed this way.
Meaning you’ll get a lot more flavor, aroma, and body out of the tea.
If you haven’t brewed with a gaiwan before, check out our easy guide on How to Brew Tea with a Gaiwan.
It’ll show you how easy it is.
Basically, you add about 5 grams of Red tea to a standard 110ml gaiwan, add some boiling water, and pour out the tea quickly.
Using quick steeps for this brewing method is important, otherwise the tea will over-brew.You can brew these same leaves about 5-10 times. Just adjust your brew time if the tea is too light or too strong.
Be sure to check out our detailed “How to Brew Red Tea” section in our “What is Chinese Red Tea” article if you have any other brewing questions.
Let’s Talk Tea
If you found this article helpful, or if you’re interested in learning more about Red tea, stop by our Steeper’s Union – a private Facebook group for tea lovers.
It’s the best place to ask questions, learn more about tea, and connect with other tea people.
And if you’ve experienced drinking Dian Hong Red tea before, do tell us in the comments section below.
We would love to know your thoughts on this tea.
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