B-CN-017
Purple Tea Zijuan Black
紫娟红茶
Anthocyanin-rich black, from Yunnan, China.
Black tea
Purple Tea Zijuan Black is strongest on astringency, brightness and body. Typical tasting words: blackcurrant, cranberry, oak, malt, rose. Bred by the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the 1980s from naturally occurring purple-pigmented tea trees. Appeals to specialty collectors intrigued by its distinct botanical ancestry and unusual dusky hue.
Also known as Zijuan Hong Cha, Purple Beauty Black and Zi Juan.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Yunnan, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Zijuan
- Harvest
- Spring, April to May
- Elevation
- high
- Oxidation
- 85 to 95%
- Roast
- very light
- Leaf
- twisted
- Price band
- premium
- Availability
- specialist
- Ageing
- worthwhile
- Forgiving to brew
- 3 of 5
- L-theanine
- moderate
Made by: withering, then rolling, then oxidation, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Purple Tea Zijuan Black carries a typical estimate of 50 mg of caffeine, within a range of 35 to 65 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 90 to 95 °C | 3 min, 4 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 5 g | 90 to 95 °C | Rinse, then 15 s, 20 s, 30 s, 45 s, 60 s, 75 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 3 g | Fridge | 8 to 12 hours |
Up to 6 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- afternoon
- afternoon
- study_focus
- meditation
Pairs with cheese, nuts and fruit. Milk: no. Iced: yes. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: no.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- B-IN-030Munnar Black
shares astringency and brightness - O-LK-048Ceylon Oolong
shares astringency and brightness - B-KE-038Kenyan Orthodox Black
shares astringency and brightness - B-GB-054Cornish Black Tea
shares brightness and body - B-NP-042Nepal Black
shares brightness and body - O-KE-053Kenyan Purple Oolong
shares brightness and body
More: all black tea teas, teas from Yunnan, China, or filter the whole drawer.