China Red Snail – Black Tea

Taste & Brew

China Red Snail has a beautiful dark amber color, and the taste is uniquely distinct. Since we’re talking about black tea, a slight bitterness is to be expected, but it’s also necessary for the overall harmony of flavors. What’s more, it’s a sign that you’re drinking a real high-quality tea from Yunnan.

Origins

Red Snail tea, also known as Hong Se Xie or Feng Qing Red Snail, comes from the Chinese province of Yunnan, specifically the Fengqing region. It’s one of the oldest and most important tea areas in China. It is situated at an altitude of 1 600m, which provides ideal conditions for the Chinese tea plant (Camellia sinensis) to grow and accumulate precious aromatic substances in each leaf. In addition, Fengqing is characterized by a mild climate which gives the shrubs plenty of time to develop layered flavor.

This particular tea variety, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, is known for its hardiness and ability to produce strong, tasty teas used to produce Red Snail tea. It’s harvested in spring when the tea plants are at their best and have young, fresh leaves. Workers hand-pick them to send the best quality leaves and buds for processing.

Once the tea arrives at the processing plant, it is left to wilt briefly. In this step, the leaves lose some of their moisture and stiffness. Oxidation follows – this takes several hours and results in dark red leaves with a very strong fragrance. This stage is followed by the careful shaping of the tea into the characteristic form reminiscent of tiny snail shells. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also help to capture the aroma and essential oils released during the steeping process. The final step is drying, which stops oxidation and stabilizes the final flavor of the tea.

If you want to enjoy China Red Snail to the fullest, remember a few rules: use clean, ideally filtered water at a temperature of 90-95 °C to pour over the tea leaves, using a ratio of 4-5 grams of tea per 150 ml of water. The tea leaves should have enough space to open properly and release all the aromatic properties. Steep the tea for 2-3 minutes with each infusion. Drink it slowly and carefully. In China, tea is a part of social gatherings where people exchange ideas, relax and enjoy being present. Get inspired.

Tea packaging preview

We pack our teas in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. This container protects the quality of the tea against humidity, light or foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew.