D-CN-031
Sichuan Kang Zhuan
康砖
Border dark brick, from Sichuan, China.
Dark tea (post-fermented)
Sichuan Kang Zhuan is strongest on body, smoothness and woody. Typical tasting words: dry wood, damp earth, bark, caramel, leather. Produced in Ya'an since the Tang and Song dynasties, this tea was traditionally transported along the Tea Horse Road to Tibet. A primary historic staple for border populations, widely simmered and blended with yak butter and salt.
Also known as Kang Zhuan, Tibetan Tea, Zang Cha and Sichuan Brick Tea.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Sichuan, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
- Harvest
- summer to autumn coarse pluck
- Elevation
- mid
- Oxidation
- 70 to 100%
- Roast
- light
- Leaf
- compressed
- Price band
- affordable
- Availability
- specialist
- Ageing
- made for ageing
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- low
Made by: kill-green, then rolling, then pile fermentation, then steaming, then compression into bricks, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Sichuan Kang Zhuan carries a typical estimate of 35 mg of caffeine, within a range of 20 to 50 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 | 3.8 g | 95 to 100 °C | 3 min, 4 min, 5 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6 g | 98 to 100 °C | Rinse, then 15 s, 20 s, 25 s, 35 s, 45 s, 60 s |
Up to 8 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- breakfast
- after_meal
- cold_weather
Pairs with red_meat, cheese and pastry. Milk: yes. Iced: no. Sweetener: yes. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- D-CN-029Anhua Dark Tea Cake
shares smoothness and sweetness - D-CN-026Hunan Qian Liang (Thousand Tael)
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-030Ya'an Tibetan Brick (Zang Cha)
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-032Hubei Qing Zhuan
shares body and smoothness - O-CN-011Wuyi Lao Cong Shui Xian
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-025Hunan Fu Zhuan Brick
shares body and smoothness
More: all dark tea (post-fermented) teas, teas from Sichuan, China, or filter the whole drawer.