Hainan Black

Hainan Island sits at the southern tip of China, closer to Vietnam than to Beijing, and it's not the country's most famous tea region. That's part of what makes this tea worth knowing. Our colleague VeeVee, who scouts artisanal teas across China, brought it to our attention, and we're glad she did. The long, thick black leaves brew into a dark, medium-bodied cup with a quiet intensity: stone fruit warmth, slowly roasted plum, and a deep, unhurried finish with almost no bite. For those who find most black teas too brisk, this is a welcome change of pace.