What is Jin Jun Mei?

Jin Jun Mei, meaning “Golden Beautiful Eyebrow,” is a premium black tea developed in 2005 from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province. Created as a modern evolution of the traditional Lapsang Souchong, Jin Jun Mei uses only the tenderest tea buds and is processed without smoking, resulting in a refined, naturally sweet black tea that has become one of China most prestigious and expensive teas.

Development and Innovation

Jin Jun Mei was developed by tea master Jiang Yuanxiong in the Tongmu region of Wuyi Mountain. Dissatisfied with the traditional smoked Lapsang Souchong, he experimented with using pure buds and a modified processing method that eliminated the smoking step. The result was a tea with extraordinary sweetness, complexity, and a beautiful golden appearance. Jin Jun Mei quickly gained fame and is now considered a benchmark for premium Chinese black tea.

Premium Harvesting

The production of Jin Jun Mei is extremely selective:

  • Harvest period: Only during early spring (late March to mid-April)
  • Picking standard: Only single unopened buds, no leaves
  • Yield: Approximately 60,000-80,000 buds are needed for just 500g of finished tea
  • Skilled labor: Experienced pickers carefully select each bud by hand

Production Process

Jin Jun Mei undergoes a carefully controlled black tea processing method:

  • Withering: Buds are withered indoors with controlled humidity for 8-12 hours
  • Rolling: Gentle rolling to break cell walls without damaging the delicate buds
  • Fermentation: Controlled oxidation for 6-8 hours, developing the golden color and sweet flavor
  • Drying: Gradual drying at low temperatures to preserve the delicate aroma compounds

Quality Characteristics

Jin Jun Mei is distinguished by several remarkable qualities:

  • Appearance: The buds are golden-yellow, slender, and covered with fine down. They are tightly rolled and uniform in size.
  • Aroma: Complex layers of honey, floral, fruity, and chocolate notes
  • Liquor: Bright golden-yellow color, clear and brilliant
  • Taste: Exceptionally smooth and sweet with notes of honey, caramel, and orchid. No bitterness or astringency.
  • Aftertaste: Long-lasting sweet aftertaste that lingers on the palate

Grading

Jin Jun Mei is typically graded into three levels:

  • Special Grade: Pure buds, golden color, highest sweetness and complexity
  • Grade 1: Mostly buds with occasional small leaves, still excellent quality
  • Grade 2: Buds and one-leaf sets, more robust flavor

Brewing Guide

Jin Jun Mei is best brewed Gongfu style to fully appreciate its complexity:

  1. Use a porcelain or glass gaiwan (100-120ml)
  2. Dosage: 5g tea
  3. Water temperature: 90-95C
  4. First steep: 5 seconds (rinse)
  5. Subsequent steeps: 10, 15, 20, 30 seconds (can steep 8-10 times)
  6. The later steeps reveal different flavor notes, from honey to floral

Tasting Notes

When tasting Jin Jun Mei, pay attention to the evolving flavor profile across steeps. The early steeps emphasize sweet honey and caramel notes, middle steeps develop floral and orchid aromas, and later steeps reveal a subtle fruity character with a cooling, mineral finish.