Black Dragon Pearls Black Tea

Hand-rolled Yunnan black tea pearls that slowly unfurl into a rich, malty cup with gentle cocoa notes and an exceptionally smooth finish.

The Experience

There is something especially satisfying about a tea that transforms before your eyes.

Crafted in Yunnan Province, China, Black Dragon Pearls are formed from fine spring tea leaves and golden buds, carefully rolled into distinctive dark, glossy pearls. Add hot water, and the tightly wound leaves gradually loosen, expand, and reveal the beautiful leaf material hidden within.

Yunnan is one of China's most historically important tea-producing regions, known for its ancient tea-growing traditions and distinctive large-leaf tea varieties. While the province is perhaps most famous for Pu-erh, its black teas—known in China as hong cha, or “red tea”—can be remarkably rich, aromatic, and naturally smooth.

Black Dragon Pearls offer a particularly beautiful expression of that tradition. As the pearls open, they produce a deep, full-bodied liquor with malt at its center and a gentle cocoa-like richness. Despite its depth, the cup remains remarkably smooth and clean, with little harshness and a lingering finish that invites another sip.

The rolled form isn't merely beautiful to watch. It encourages you to slow down, re-steep the leaves, and experience how the tea develops from one infusion to the next.

Tasting Notes

• Top: Gentle cocoa
  
• Mid: Rich malt • Warm black tea
  
• Finish: Smooth • Clean • Lingering
  
• Body: Full

Why You’ll Love It

• Distinctive hand-rolled pearls that dramatically unfurl while brewing
• Rich, full-bodied Yunnan black tea character
• Natural malt and gentle cocoa-like notes with no added flavoring
• Exceptionally smooth despite its depth and richness
• Excellent for multiple infusions
• A beautiful introduction to the craftsmanship of Chinese black tea

Origin, Grade & Ingredients

Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Tea Type: Pure Black Tea
Grade: STOP — Special Tippy Orange Pekoe
Style: Hand-formed rolled pearls
Ingredients: Black tea
Caffeine: Yes

Nothing is added to create the cocoa or malty character in the cup. Those tasting notes develop naturally from the tea leaf, terroir, and craftsmanship.

How to Brew

• 4–6 pearls, or approximately 1 teaspoon
• 205–212°F water
• Steep 3–5 minutes
• Re-steep 2–3 times, adjusting the infusion time to taste

For the full experience, brew in a glass teapot or gaiwan where you can watch the pearls gradually open.

Perfect For

Slow mornings, mindful tea rituals, multiple-infusion sessions, elegant tea service, or anyone who appreciates teas where craftsmanship is as visible as it is flavorful.

From Pearl to Leaf

Before brewing, Black Dragon Pearls almost conceal what they are. Small, dark spheres give few clues to the leaves carefully rolled within them. Hot water changes everything. The pearls begin to loosen, strands of tea emerge, and what appeared compact and simple becomes surprisingly expansive.

That transformation makes this tea especially rewarding to share with someone encountering it for the first time. But the visual experience is only half the story. The same leaves continue revealing themselves in the cup—malt, cocoa, richness, and finally a remarkably smooth finish. Watch the pearls open. Taste the tea evolve. Then steep them again.

Packaging: Our loose teas are sold by the ounce and packaged in food-grade resealable bags.

Explore Our Heritage Chinese Black Teas

Discover the depth and diversity of Chinese black tea through distinctive regions, leaf styles, and centuries of tea craftsmanship.

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