Hei Zhuan vs Hua Zhuan

Hei Zhuan

Hei Zhuan, or Dark Brick, is a dense pressed dark tea from Anhua, Hunan, made from coarser leaves pressed into standardized bricks. The cup is straightforward and grounding: smooth earthy depth, old wood, and a mild natural sweetness with very little bitterness. It was historically produced for trade along the Tea Horse Road, and its compact form made it easy to transport. Brewing is forgiving — rinse, then steep or simmer.

Hua Zhuan

Hua Zhuan, or Flower Brick, is a pressed dark tea from Anhua, Hunan, developed in the 1950s as a more refined counterpart to Hei Zhuan. Despite the name it contains no flowers — 'hua' refers to its patterned surface. The cup is smooth and mildly earthy with woody depth, gentle sweetness, and a clean finish. It brews steadily and handles long sessions, often loosening noticeably in character across infusions.

Hei Zhuan

Water temperature

95–100°C

Leaf to water

5g / 250ml

Steep time

0.5–1 min

Re-steep

5–8 times

Hua Zhuan

Water temperature

95–100°C

Leaf to water

5g / 250ml

Steep time

0.5–1 min

Re-steep

5–8 times

Hei Zhuan

Medium caffeine — roughly 25–50 mg per brewed serving

A moderate, steady lift without an intense spike.

Hua Zhuan

Medium caffeine — roughly 25–50 mg per brewed serving

A moderate, steady lift without an intense spike.

Hei Zhuan

China · Hunan (Anhua)

Hei Zhuan is one of the classic Anhua dark tea bricks traded from Hunan into Tibet and Mongolia.

Hua Zhuan

China · Hunan (Anhua)

Hua Zhuan is pressed in Anhua, Hunan, from finer leaf material than standard Hei Zhuan.