Harvest Location: Anhua, Hunan Province
Harvest Date: 2014
Cultivar: Qianli Xiang
Elevation: 800m
 
Tian Jian (天尖) means “Heavenly Tips,” a name that honors the delicate young leaf buds prized in this tea.
 
This unique dark tea is carefully crafted through two essential processes: pile-fermentation to develop rich microbial complexity, and drying over pine wood fires. This Tian Jian was smoked very lightly, giving it a subtle background smokiness.
 
Unlike denser compressed teas, Tian Jian is lightly pressed into woven bamboo baskets, allowing the tea leaves room to breathe. This gentle compression promotes healthy aging, encouraging beneficial microorganisms to thrive and deepen the tea’s flavor over time.