Guangxi Black vs Hunan Black

Guangxi Black

Guangxi black tea comes from the karst hills of southern China, not far from the Liu Bao dark-tea region. The cup is mellow and gently sweet: honey and light caramel notes with a soft, round body and a clean finish. It rarely shows the drama of Wuyi or Yunnan blacks, but its balance and smoothness make it a comfortable daily tea, and it has long been blended into export breakfast teas for its easy, affable character.

Hunan Black

Hunan black tea, known locally as Hunan Hong Cha, comes from the hills of central-south China and is less famous internationally than Keemun or Dian Hong. The cup is smooth and sweet with notes of honey, dried fruit, and a gentle woody warmth, finishing clean with mild astringency. It is an easy everyday tea — straightforward, mellow, and forgiving across a range of brewing strengths and temperatures. A comfortable daily drinker rather than a showpiece.

Guangxi Black

Water temperature

90–95°C

Leaf to water

3g / 250ml

Steep time

3–4 min

Re-steep

1–2 times

Hunan Black

Water temperature

90–95°C

Leaf to water

3g / 250ml

Steep time

3–4 min

Re-steep

1–2 times

Guangxi Black

Medium caffeine — roughly 30–55 mg per brewed serving

A moderate, steady lift without an intense spike.

Hunan Black

Medium caffeine — roughly 30–55 mg per brewed serving

A moderate, steady lift without an intense spike.

Guangxi Black

China · Guangxi

Guangxi's humid, subtropical climate supports both black tea and the province's famous dark teas.

Hunan Black

China · Hunan

Hunan province produces a range of red teas, historically traded inland as well as exported.