Best Seller From: Yunnan Province
Organic Yunnan Black
About Our Organic Yunnan Black
Our Yunnan Black (滇紅茶 — Dianhong) is Rachel's tea. Every morning, without exception. Full-bodied, amber, a natural sweetness that doesn't need anything added — notes of dried fruit and honey that show up on their own. Never bitter, even when you forget it's steeping.
This one comes from Lincang, in Yunnan's southwest corner — a stone's throw from Burma, home to some of the oldest cultivated tea trees on earth. The Da Ye big-leaf cultivar is what makes Yunnan black different from most Chinese blacks: more body, richer aroma, a cup that can genuinely hold its own against coffee without milk or sugar to prop it up.
The golden tips in the dry leaf aren't decoration. They're bud material — the reason the cup runs sweet instead of sharp. USDA Organic, sourced directly from a worker-owned cooperative. Resteeped easily three or four times. It tends to be a sample-to-tin-to-pound tea. Worth starting with a sample if you're not sure.
Brewing Guidelines for Organic Yunnan Black
3:00 MIN
210 F
1.5 TSP - 2G PER CUP
Brewing Guidelines are for one 8 oz. cup.
The best way to brew your tea is the way you like - don't let anyone tell you different. Our guidelines are configured for making your tea a cup at a time - maybe with our stainless tea filter. If making by the pot, maintain temperature and time but try with slightly less tea than the math would suggest.
Serving calculation assumes re-steeping your leaves once. After all, these are teas so nice, you'll steep them twice.
For more brewing instructions, read our brewing guidelines.
Yunnan Black Tea (Dianhong): Origin, Flavor, and How to Brew It
Yunnan Province sits in China's southwest (bordering Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam) at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 meters. It's the oldest tea-growing region in the world, home to Pu'er, home to ancient tea trees still standing after centuries. But Yunnan black tea, Dianhong specifically, is a recent invention. Large-scale production didn't begin until 1938, when a tea scientist named Feng Shaoqiu was sent west during the Second Sino-Japanese War to see if the big-leaf trees of Fengqing County could be processed as black tea. They could. The first commercial export reached London in 1939 and reportedly fetched 800 pennies per pound. The tea earned its name, Dianhong, the following year.
What makes it taste the way it does is the plant. Most Chinese black teas use the smaller Camellia sinensis var. sinensis leaf. Yunnan black uses Da Ye, the big leaf, genetically native to Yunnan, higher in polyphenols, processed whole-leaf in the Chinese style. The result is fuller-bodied than a Wuyuan Black or Keemun, with dried fruit, a slight maltiness, and a natural sweetness that doesn't need any help. No astringency in a well-made version.
Brewing: 210°F water, 3 minutes, 1.5 tsp (2g) per 8 oz cup. Do a quick 30-second rinse before the first steep to open the leaves — it's worth it. Then steep again. And again. Three or four infusions are normal; the later steeps get softer and sometimes sweeter. Works as a western-style pot or a travel mug. Cold-steeps overnight in the fridge without complaint.
Sourcing: Certified USDA Organic, sourced directly from a worker-owned cooperative in Yunnan Province.
FAQ
What does Yunnan Black taste like?
Amber-colored with notes of dried fruit, honey, and a light maltiness. Fuller-bodied than most Chinese black teas but without bitterness or astringency. There's a natural sweetness that shows up without anything added — that's the golden-tip bud material doing its job.
Is Yunnan Black good for everyday drinking?
It's what Rachel drinks every morning. It's forgiving to steep, substantial enough to replace coffee, and interesting enough that you don't get tired of it. The fact that it resteeped three or four times also means a tin lasts longer than you'd expect.
Can I drink this instead of coffee?
Yes, and a number of customers do. It's more body-forward than other Chinese black teas, closer in presence to coffee than a delicate Wuyuan Black, without the spike-and-crash of caffeine from a large cup of coffee. David put it plainly: "I am replacing my coffee with Yunnan Black."
How much caffeine is in Yunnan Black?
Black teas have measured about 16–58 mg per cup in published lab analysis (not our own tea), well under a standard cup of coffee, and that range overlaps green and oolong almost completely. Steep time and water temperature move it most; a second steep of the same leaves still carries most of the first one's caffeine.
What's the difference between Yunnan Black and Golden Monkey?
Both come from Yunnan's Da Ye big-leaf cultivar. Golden Monkey is made almost entirely from buds — sweeter, lighter, more explicitly fruity. Yunnan Black has those golden tips mixed into full leaves, which gives it more body and earthiness alongside the sweetness. Related teas, different weight classes.
Is this the same as Dianhong?
Yes. Dianhong is the Chinese name: "Dian" for Yunnan Province, "hong" for red (which is what the Chinese call black tea). Yunnan black, Dianhong, Yunnan red — same tea.
Customer Reviews for Organic Yunnan Black
I admit it - I am a tea "snob" in the way some people are coffee "snobs." I am particular about the tea and how it is brewed. And I know that anything Little Red Cup offers will be high quality. Yunnan Black is simply the best. No more tea bags, no more bland brews. It is rich, aromatic, and wonderful. Tea as it should be.
I have recently switched to consuming tea on a daily basis after finally giving up coffee for good.
I have been pursuing the perfect tea and organic and free trade were a must.
Finding your small company and receiving your thoughtful note in addition to this delicious tea has definitely enhanced my life in a wonderful way.
I look forward to hopping out of bed in the morning and thoroughly enjoying a cup or two to begin my busy day and then relaxing with another cup for "happy hour" late afternoon to wind down the day.
I never realized how tea can offer such pleasant energy when needed yet be so soothing to the nervous system and mind. Not to mention how delicious served black or with a splash of cream and bit of sugar as a real treat!
Thank you for sharing your love of tea and your superior customer service. I will definitely be back for more!
My recipe for one cup of chai:
Bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil in a pot on your highest heat.
Add 1.5 teaspoon Yunnan Black tea from the Little Red Cup Tea Company.
Add one quarter teaspoon ground cardamon.
Boil until you see the dark tea color.
Add 1/4 cup of half and half to the boiling tea ( heat is still on your highest heat ).
Stir with wooden spoon to prevent skalding.
Lift the pot off of the heat source when the chai begins to boil over with small bubbles.
Put the pot back on the heat source and stir until the chai froths up again.
Remove the pot from the heat source.
Put the pot back on the heat source and stir until the chai froths up again, one last time.
The chai almost boils over three times.
Pour into a cup with a cotton cloth as a strainer.
Add maple syrup to taste.
Enjoy!
Gentle black tea. Hard to find such a thing. Mellow, can have multiple times a day. The majority of the folks in my family found this to be their Little Red Cups’ favorite tea from all the 12 of their teas they tried.
One of the very best tasting teas that I have ever had.
AH
From a Little Red Cup sampler set of black teas this one quickly became my daily go to. It is very light and so lends itself to drinking throughout the day. I often brew 3-4 mugs from the same leaves and it is never in the least bit bitter. The aroma of the dry tea is lightly sweet and fruity. When brewed a deeper yet subtle woody or earthy note emerges and I’ve noticed the spent leaves are reminiscent of seaweed or the ocean. The flavor has hints of all the aromas noted but so subtly light and balanced that no one stands out or overwhelms the others. A classic!
The consistent favorites like the Yunnan Black are my everyday go-tos, but don’t sleep on the limited supply special release teas like the Rangsai Mountain Green!
The Yunnan Black tea is my favorite of all of Little Red Cup’s teas. It is my everyday drinking tea and I also use it to make kombucha. While I’ve enjoyed all of the teas I’ve purchased from Little Red Cup, this tea is the one I keep coming back to. I refuse to buy any other tea at this point because it’s just that good!
The best black tea i ever drank...
Very strong flavor and caffeine.
I think this will make great ice tea.
I will be ordering more soon.
Thank you very much to Little Red Cup Tea Co.
for providing this excellent tea.
This tea has a wonderful flavor. It is smooth and rich and tastes very high quality. This is my favorite black tea.
- 5 stars: 62 (93%)
- 4 stars: 4 (6%)
- 3 stars: 1 (1%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)
Delicious!! My wife were avid tea drinkers in our youth and decided, why did we quit? Did some reviews on line of and vendors. I really liked your presentation and now really appreciate your efforts to supply a wonderful tea! And I hope you keep sending those snippets for tea lovers. We'll be trying others!
Amazing tea at a great price
Delicious!
The Yunnan Black is a mellow yet hearty cuppa.
I brewed this tea for five or six minutes trying to get it to be stronger. It was a beautiful color but it was a very mild flavor. And I use twice as much as the direction said. I'm disappointed
This Yunnan starts out as long, yellow tipped "needles" that beautifully unfurl to full leaves in the pot. Tastes exactly as Yunnan should and I have been enjoying brewing more than once.
Finally I have a tea purveyor. Short experience so far has been most enjoyed on my part. First bought at a Fair where the staff was both fun and competent, and then this last purchase on line, where I received the tea and a handwritten note of thanks.
EXCELLENT!!!!!!
I finally have a tea purveyor.
If you're a pure black tea drinker, this one is excellent. It's a very high quality tea for a surprisingly reasonable price. No astringency or bitterness. Just a medium-bold, kind of nutty tea (in my opinion.)
I'm very sick at the moment, so my sense of smell and taste is a bit unreliable, but I got notes of cocoa, caramel, honey, and something kind of nutty. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend purchasing.
The Yunnan tea is delicious and fragrant. One of my favorites.
Excellent Yunnan black/gold, whole amber and slate-colored leaves with nice trichromes, brews well with a sweet floral honey note that I’m generally fond of, overall a beautiful tea.
I originally thought of buying a 1lb bag but decided instead to sample to break the ice, excellent company from New England with very healthy staff that I appreciate. I highly recommend this tea.
Best tea I’ve ever had!
Fantastic high quality loose leaf black tea. Can be enjoyed everyday. Never burnt or bitter.
I love this black tea and tend to brew it on the stronger side. It reminds me slightly of the flavors you find in an english breakfast. Highly recommend!
Absolutely wonderful tea. Subtle and delicious. I’ve been drinking it every day. Great mid-day pick-me-up.
Delicious & satisfying - my smooth companion as my favorite afternoon tea
Another winner from Little Red Cup !! This is a delightful robust tea that isn’t overpowering. It is very balanced. I can drink it with milk and sugar or plain. Hot or iced. It is always refreshing. I’ve been a customer here for many years and never been disappointed. Keep up the great work Mike !!!!
This is the second pound of Yunnan black I have ordered from LRC and I am in love. I drink it every morning. It is sweet, smooth, and earthy. The quality of this tea is high and I would totally recommend it.
This stuff makes for a good cup to wake or relax to.
I enjoy the peace and tranquility of sipping Yunnan black tea every morning while gazing at the wildlife out my dining room windows. It is the best tea I have ever had. Thank you!
The Yunnan Black is, hands down, my favorite tea! Wonderful flavor. I have also been very pleased with the tea flask I purchased last time. This company is amazing to work with and values its customers! Always a personalized note included in my orders and everything they sell is of amazing quality!
This is my favorite tea! Steeps beautifully. Never bitter. Almost a sweet note to it but not quite. Little Red Cup is an amazing company that makes you feel like a personal friend of a small business even online!
Another wonderful tea! A “regular” one I like to always have on hand. Sometimes blend in a little lapsang souchong. Been ordering tea here for a while and it’s always fantastic.
I got the sample box as a Christmas present and fell in love with Yunnan Black. It is now my go to tea. The service has been incredible. Thanks everyone!
I’m drinking it now. Love the flavor. Stimulating but not overly. The dry tea leaves are not as easy to handle as my favorite Jade Oolong. I’ll be buying it again.
This an excellent tea for me. I am replacing my coffee with Yunnan Black, For me it is bold and fresh taste that is great any time of the day. t
love it!
From a Little Red Cup sampler set of black teas this one quickly became my daily go to. It is very light and so lends itself to drinking throughout the day. I often brew 3-4 mugs from the same leaves and it is never in the least bit bitter. The aroma of the dry tea is lightly sweet and fruity. When brewed a deeper yet subtle woody or earthy note emerges and I’ve noticed the spent leaves are reminiscent of seaweed or the ocean. The flavor has hints of all the aromas noted but so subtly light and balanced that no one stands out or overwhelms the others. A classic!
Love this tea, which was a gift from my daughter.
It's good stuff!
The consistent favorites like the Yunnan Black are my everyday go-tos, but don’t sleep on the limited supply special release teas like the Rangsai Mountain Green!
I admit it - I am a tea "snob" in the way some people are coffee "snobs." I am particular about the tea and how it is brewed. And I know that anything Little Red Cup offers will be high quality. Yunnan Black is simply the best. No more tea bags, no more bland brews. It is rich, aromatic, and wonderful. Tea as it should be.
The Yunnan Black tea is my favorite of all of Little Red Cup’s teas. It is my everyday drinking tea and I also use it to make kombucha. While I’ve enjoyed all of the teas I’ve purchased from Little Red Cup, this tea is the one I keep coming back to. I refuse to buy any other tea at this point because it’s just that good!
Why Our Tea Is Organic
Tea is among the most heavily treated crops in conventional agriculture. When you steep tea leaves in hot water, you’re making an extraction—and that extraction doesn’t discriminate between flavor compounds and pesticide residues. Every tea we sell meets certified organic standards. Our teas are certified organic by the USDA and MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association), a leading independent organic certifier. This means no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, and annual third-party inspections to verify it. We source from worker-owned cooperatives in rural, mountainous regions of China, where traditional growing methods align naturally with organic standards. These aren’t industrial plantations; they’re small farms where people have been growing tea the same way for generations. Healthier soil produces better tea. Plants grown without synthetic chemical inputs develop more complex flavor profiles. You can taste the difference.
