Liu'an Lan Cha Tea
An Cha · Liu'an Basket Tea
Liu'an Lan Cha, often shortened to An Cha, is a rare basket-aged dark tea from southern Anhui with a history stretching back to the Ming dynasty.
Flavor Profile
What does Liu'an Lan Cha taste like?
Liu'an Lan Cha, often shortened to An Cha, is a rare basket-aged dark tea from southern Anhui with a history stretching back to the Ming dynasty. After an initial processing similar to green tea, the leaves are packed into bamboo baskets lined with bamboo husk and left to ferment slowly for years. The result is gentle and refined: smooth, earthy-woody with camphor coolness and a light herbal sweetness, softer than Hunan bricks and closer in spirit to aged Liu Bao.
Bar length reflects the relative prominence of each flavor note (dominant first), not a laboratory measurement.
Origin
Anhui (Qimen area), China
Liu'an Lan Cha is produced around Qimen and Shitai counties in Anhui; the 'lan' refers to the bamboo basket (basket in local dialect) used for aging.
The birthplace of tea, producing every major tea style from green to dark.
Brewing Guide
How to Brew Liu'an Lan Cha
Brewing parameters are a starting point and can be adjusted to taste.
Caffeine
Caffeine in Liu'an Lan Cha
Typical brewed serving
Liu'an Lan Cha is a medium-caffeine dark tea. A typical brewed serving contains about 20–40 mg of caffeine.
Values can vary depending on quantity, brewing time, serving size, and preparation method.
Fit
Who is Liu'an Lan Cha for?
Experienced drinkers
Better once you've explored a few teas — it rewards a little brewing attention.
When to drink it
Comfortable at any time of day.
Flavor direction
Medium-bodied, leads with earthy notes — a dark tea with earthy, woody, smooth character.
Keep Exploring
If you like Liu'an Lan Cha
Side by Side
Want to see how Liu'an Lan Cha compares?
Put Liu'an Lan Cha next to Liu Bao and compare flavor, origin, caffeine, and brewing side by side.
FAQ
Liu'an Lan Cha Tea FAQ
Quick answers about Liu'an Lan Cha tea, drawn from its flavor, origin, caffeine, and brewing profile.
What is Liu'an Lan Cha tea?
Liu'an Lan Cha, often shortened to An Cha, is a rare basket-aged dark tea from southern Anhui with a history stretching back to the Ming dynasty. It is also known as An Cha and Liu'an Basket Tea.
Does Liu'an Lan Cha tea have caffeine?
Yes. Liu'an Lan Cha is a medium-caffeine tea, typically 20–40 mg per brewed serving.
What does Liu'an Lan Cha tea taste like?
Liu'an Lan Cha is known for a profile led by Earthy, Woody, and Smooth, with a medium body.
How do you brew Liu'an Lan Cha tea?
Use about 5 g of tea per 250 ml of water at 95–100°C, steeping for 0.5–1 minutes. It can be re-steeped 5–8 times.
Is Liu'an Lan Cha tea bitter?
Bitterness is not a defining note of Liu'an Lan Cha; its profile centers on Earthy, Woody, and Smooth.