What is Jin Jun Mei Red Tea?

Chinese Tea
Written By Guest User

Jin Jun Mei is a Chinese Red tea (called Black tea in the West) made only from buds.

JUN JUN MEI

Beautiful Golden Eyebrow

• Type: Red (black tea in the west)

• Terroir: Tong Mu, Fujian Province

• Taste: fruit, floral, chocolate

• Aroma: floral, sweet, fruity

• Jin Jun Mei is a fairly new tea – it was invented in 2006 and quickly became one of the most popular red teas in China

Which makes it sharper and more savory in taste.

It’s known for its chocolatey sweet flavor.

And for being one of the most popular and expensive Red teas on the market. 

It’s grown in the rocky soils of Fujian Province, which also adds a slight minerality to the tea.

The literal translation of the name from Mandarin is Beautiful Golden Eyebrow. 

This refers to its silky red color and small shape.

Let’s talk and learn more about this relatively new tea.

Brewing Jin Jun Mei with a Gaiwan

History of Jin Jun Mei

Jin Jun Mei hasn’t been around long. 

In fact, it was developed in 2006.

But it quickly became one of the most popular Red teas in China, mainly because of its smart marketing…

Which has made Jin Jun Mei one of the most expensive Red teas on the market.

Sometimes fetching prices of thousands of dollars.

What’s wild is that it’s been reported to sell for upwards of $16,000 a kilo.

Why Was Jin Jun Mei Created in 2006?

Aren’t all teas “invented”? 

Yes. 

But styles of tea go through years of refining where their flavors start to become familiar, popular, and reproducible.  

So that’s what makes Jin Jun Mei’s story kind of wild…

It was invented, then blew up.

Even more interesting is that it was invented in what’s arguably one of the most important Red tea-growing regions, Fujian. 

This province already produced really popular and expensive teas like:

The story is really interesting, I suggest checking it out here.

Rea Tea in China

Red tea (in general) wasn’t always popular in China.

In fact, it was long thought of as improperly made green tea and was sold for export.

It became very popular in the West under the name of ¨Black tea¨.

But paradoxically, it was not widely consumed in China.

Because of its marketing and subsequent popularity, Jin Jun Mei has caused a “Red tea revival” in China.

Making Red tea quite popular and more widely consumed…

And finally appreciated by connoisseurs. 

Notes In China, our ¨Black tea¨ is called Red tea. The “black” of Black tea in the west refers to the color of the dried tea leaves, while the “red” of Chinese Red tea refers to the color of the tea liquor. Chinese also have a tea they call ¨Black tea¨ which is fermented and has nothing to do with the Black tea we know in the West. To clear up any confusion, check out our article Is Red Tea The Same As Black Tea?

More specifically, the true growing terroir (microclimate) is Tong Mu - a natural forest reserve.

It’s also where Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (the world’s oldest red tea) is grown.

The soil of Fujian and Wuyi mountains is super rocky. 

Which adds a beautiful minerality to the teas grown there.

How to Brew Jin Jun Mei ?

All Red tea can be brewed in multiple ways.

So if you’re a beginner to loose leaf tea -- relax.

It’s usually pretty forgiving.

Meaning it’s often still tasty when under or over-brewed. 

But it can get pretty strong, and might get bitter kind of quickly.

Each of these brewing methods will yield slightly different results:

Grandpa Style

The easiest way to brew Red tea is by throwing a sprinkle of loose leaves in a cup, mug, or bowl and adding water. 

Sip after a few minutes, then add more water to rebrew. 

This way is super simple and effective.

But it can be annoying to sift the leaves through your tea.

Western Style

Western-style brewing of Jin Jun Mei is simple.

This style of brewing uses: 

  • A small amount of tea leaf 

  • And a large amount of water

The resulting brew can get strong.

But it won't be as complex as the other brewing methods because of the high water-to-leaf ratio.

Add 2-5 grams of Red tea to your teapot, add boiling water, and brew for 3-5 minutes. 

Brewing with a Gai Wan (the Traditional “Gong Fu” Method)

Brewing Red tea with a Gaiwan will give you the best results.

If you’ve never used a gaiwan before, don’t sweat it.

Basically, a gaiwan is just a small bowl with a lid that holds the tea leaves in. 

It makes sure they don’t fall out when you pour the brew into a cup. 

High-quality Chinese teas are “designed” to be brewed this way.

This means you’ll get a lot more flavor, aroma, and body out of the tea when brewing this way.

If you’ve never brewed with a Gaiwan before, check out our guide: How to Brew Tea With a Gaiwan, here. 

It’ll show you how easy it is.Basically, just add about 5 grams of Red tea to a standard 110ml gaiwan.

Then add some boiling water and pour out the tea quickly. 

Using quick steeps for this brewing method is important.

Otherwise, the tea will over-brew.

You can brew these same leaves about 5-10 times. Just adjust your brew time if the tea is too light or too strong.

For more details, be sure to check out the “How to Brew” section in our What is Chinese Red Tea article.

Let’s Talk Jin Jun Mei Red Tea

If you found this article helpful, or if you’re interested in learning more about other kinds of Chinese Tea:

Stop by our Steeper’s Union –  our private Facebook group for tea lovers.

It’s the best place to ask questions, learn more about tea, and connect with other tea people.

Also, what are your thoughts on Jin Jun Mei?

  • Have you had it before? 

  • Is it your favorite tea?

  • Where do you normally buy it from?

You can comment below and let us know.

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