Among the many dazzling exhibits that will be displayed at the Hunan Culture Expo in Paris from Aug 28 to 31, dark tea from Anhua county might not initially draw many people's attention.

However, its unassuming appearance belies the fact that it has been dubbed the "drinkable antique" because of its long history.

Historical records show the trade in dark tea from Hunan dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was one of the major commodities traded via the Ancient Tea Horse Road - a network of caravan paths winding through the mountains of Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces all the way to South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is also referred to as the Southern Silk Road.

The tea's popularity, especially among foreigners and China's nomadic peoples, has been attributed to its health-giving properties, especially its ability to counteract the negative effects of greasy food.

The fermented tea - which usually comes in the form of tea bricks - is easy to store, and maintains its flavor for decades after production.

The dark tea that will be exhibited in Paris was produced by the Xianglushan Tea Industry Co Ltd based in Yiyang city, which administers Anhua county.

The company produces about 2,000 tons of tea every year, and sells its products to numerous countries and regions.

(China Daily European Weekly 08/26/2016 page17)