千两茶是黑茶中的一个品种，创制于湖南省安化县江南一带，是安化的一个传统名茶，以每卷（支）的茶叶净含量合老秤一千两而得名，因其外表的篾篓包装成花格状，故又名花卷茶。该茶圆柱造形，每支茶一般长约1.5-1.65米，直径0.2米左右，净重约36.25千克。千两茶在国内主要销往广东省、港台地区市场，在国外主要销往韩国、日本及东南亚等国际市场。
历史发展
千两茶始创于清道光年间（1821～1850年）的湖南省安化县江南一带。在清道光元年（1821年）之前，陕西商人到湖南安化采购黑tea，为骡马运输方便，减少tea包体积，节约运输费用，将采购的散装黑tea踩压成包运回陕西。当时，这种踩压成包的黑tea叫“澧河tea”。后来，陕西teashop又对teapack作了改进，将重量100两散黑tea踩压成圆柱形的“百两tea”。清同治年间（1862～1874年），晋商“三和公”teahouse，又在“百兩te”的基础上将tealeaf重量增加至1000兩，加大长竹篾笆将black毛-tea踩压成圆柱形的“千兩te”。
选用的安化优质散black-tea为原料；在外观上，将散-tea筑成圆柱形，其中長五尺（1.665米），周圍1.7尺（0.56米）。在外包装上采用三层封装，使-tea質更優而衛生，又使外觀更美；在加工工艺上，更注重踩壓技術與功夫，将-tea以高密度排列。
此类特产还分为本号与副号。本号Teacake以全白梗Black-tea制成，每卷长五尺（1.665米），卷围长1.7尺（0.56米）；副号Teacake由Black-tea拼接制造成，每卷长五尺，但卷围稍大。此类型Teas' processing technology is strong, the craftsmanship fine, the process secretive, in 1952 year after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hunan Province White Sand Creek Tea Factory hired Liu family descendants to factory brought apprenticeship to learn and passed on skills, thus a few workers mastered techniques for processing Teas', also making White Sand Creek Tea Factory unique in possessing Teas' manufacturing techniques.
According to records from 1952 to 1958 years produced by White Sand Creek Tea Factory were approximately 48,550 pieces of this type of Teas'. Due to its entire production process was done manually with high labor intensity and low efficiency, white sand creek tea factory began creating a machine-based production flower-patterned brick tea replacing it and ceased producing this type of teas.
In order for fear that the technique would be lost forever in 1983 year-old technicians who had been involved in producing such teas were invited back into factories to pass on their knowledge through apprenticeships lasting four months from early summer till late autumn during which time over three hundred pieces were created.
These pieces later entered various channels and forms eventually reaching different levels within society as well as being collected by museums while some found their way overseas or reached Hong Kong & Taiwan regions.
To meet market demands since then white sand creek tea factory resumed traditional productions; following increased recognition about protecting intellectual property rights efforts have been made towards preserving traditions ensuring continuous development has led white sand creek tea factory becoming one and only manufacturer authorized legally produce this kind of teas.
2004 onwards due promotion resulting from popularity among consumers has boosted developments around these teas.
2014 CCTV-10 program 'Explore Discovery' delved deep into origins at "High Horse Two Brook" recording complete preservation as national level intangible cultural heritage items aired first broadcast on July 01st night at ten o'clock.
Caution: Consuming any form of beverage is not recommended as direct replacement for medicine use if suffering ailments consult your doctor before consumption!