Fascinating discussion. Sorry to join late - had to find a new way to
post to Usenet since major ISPs dropped access. First attempt at
posting through Google. Any recommendations for cheap/free Usenet
services?

niisonge wrote:
> Proposed suggestions include:
> 1. hei cha
> 2. dark tea
> 3. fu tea (note: a new name meaning "happiness")
> 4. return to original, direct chinese tranlation: black tea

None of these is compelling, though I'd favor hei cha. Following on
Lew's point, it's a pronounceable term that might carry the cachet of
exoticism before becoming a mainstream term.

However, there seem to remain plenty of alternatives. In the West,
more usually equates to better. What about twice-cured, fully cured,
perfectly ripe, 100% ripe, mature, complete, etc.?

Seems like a good place to look for market-embraced terminology would
be other affordable-luxury consumables that have undergone somewhat
similar processing like wine, spirits, cigars, c***** and cheese.

-DM