Have you noticed that there are many tea stems in quite a few dark teas? Why is this so? Let's take a look at the answer……
Reasons:
1. Picking Standards
The picking standards for Hunan dark tea require more mature fresh leaves, so it is quite normal to find tea stems in compressed tea such as cakes, tuos, and bricks.
2. Taste Requirements
As the nutrient-conducting organ of fresh leaves, tea stems contain higher levels of sugar, which gives dark tea its unique sweet taste.
3. Compression Requirements
A certain amount of tea stems can increase the air gaps within compressed Fu brick tea, ensuring adequate oxygen supply, which is beneficial for the formation of quality. Additionally, a certain stem content helps with the drainage of moisture from the brick and increases its structural strength and integrity.
4. Favorable for the Growth and Reproduction of Golden Flowers
The golden flowers (Eurotium cristatum) in Fu brick tea are aerobic fungi. When the stem content in Fu brick tea is too low, it can affect ventilation due to the tight compression, which is not conducive to the growth and reproduction of the golden flowers. Moreover, the national standards for the stem content in dark tea are clearly defined, for example, the stem content in Fu brick tea should be between 15% to 18%.
Nutritional Value of Tea Stems:
Tea stems contain different levels of nutrients compared to tea leaves, such as higher levels of tea polysaccharides, which can be converted into many absorbable nutrients for the human body, similar to tea leaves. Tea polysaccharides are actually a powerful tool for lowering blood sugar. It is precisely because of their miraculous properties that nomadic peoples consider tea an indispensable beverage.
