1. What are the "golden flowers" found on Liubao tea?
The "golden flowers" on Liu Bao tea are a common name, but the more professional and precise term is *Eurotium cristatum*. *Eurotium cristatum* is a beneficial bacterium that is good for human health and typically appears in tea as golden or yellow colonies resembling "milan flowers." *Eurotium cristatum* is more commonly found in Fuzhuan dark tea because the Fuzhuan production process includes a specific "flowering" stage. The quantity of "golden flowers" is an indicator of the quality of Fuzhuan tea; a higher content of "golden flowers" indicates better quality and health benefits. In contrast to Fuzhuan tea, Liu Bao tea production does not include a "flowering" process, so "golden flowers" only occasionally appear in Liu Bao tea under specific circumstances.
2. What is *Eurotium cristatum*?
Tea enthusiasts who are somewhat familiar with Liubao tea know that its post-storage transformation involves the participation of specific microorganisms. *Eurotium cristatum* is one such microorganism, and it is a relatively rare and valuable beneficial bacterium that only appears under specific conditions.
3. What impact does *Eurotium cristatum* have on the quality and health benefits of Liubao tea?
While growing in the tea leaves, *Eurotium cristatum* secretes enzymes. These enzymes, through enzymatic action, further transform the substances in the tea leaves, thereby improving the tea's flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. For example, cellulase promotes the conversion of coarse fibers in the tea leaves into soluble sugars, enhancing the taste of the tea; polyphenol oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of catechins into thearubigins, theaflavins, and other oxides, optimizing the color of the tea liquor; simultaneously, with the oxidation of catechins, amino acids and other substances in the tea also undergo oxidation, producing various aromatic compounds, thus making the tea aroma richer.
According to research reports from Hunan Agricultural University and Northwest A&F University in China, *Eurotium cristatum*, the fungus that catalyzes the transformation of tea leaves, produces various substances that have strong effects in lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, regulating carbohydrate metabolism and overall metabolism, and boosting human immunity. *Eurotium cristatum* makes the health benefits of tea even more significant. Therefore, the "golden flowers" on Liu Bao tea are not only safe to consume but also offer numerous health benefits.
4. Why is "golden flower" (a type of Probiotic fungus) rarely seen in Liubao tea?
The "golden flowers" on Liu Bao tea only form under specific factors and conditions. Firstly, the raw materials require relatively coarse and mature tea leaves with abundant internal substances. Furthermore, during the processing of the tea leaves, it is essential that the abundant internal substances within the tea leaves are fully released to facilitate the growth of the *Eurotium cristatum* fungus, which forms the "golden flowers."
Secondly, and most importantly, it requires that *Eurotium cristatum* either accidentally attaches to and survives and grows on the tea leaves during the production process of Liubao tea, or that it attaches to and survives and grows on the dried tea during the subsequent aging process. This is the most difficult aspect, as it is difficult to control artificially and involves a great deal of randomness and uncertainty.
Furthermore, during the post-processing storage and aging of tea leaves, appropriate temperature and humidity conditions are required. Only in such an environment can *Eurotium cristatum* continue to grow without disappearing.
As mentioned above, the growth of *Eurotium cristatum* requires three essential factors: raw materials, the fungal strain, and the storage environment. Therefore, the "golden flowers" (referring to the *Eurotium cristatum* mold) in Liubao tea are relatively rare.
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