11.10.09
Jin Junmei: Another tea bubble?
posted by Daniel Hong | 7 comments
This is a crazy time for Jin Junmei (Golden Junmei), a newborn black tea that sells for 100 dollars an ounce. Similar to Pu-erh, Jin Junmei is hot and getting more and more popular, especially in Fuzhou and Xiamen (two cities in the Fujian province of China). Most people buy it as a gift, despite the cost. It’s clearly the darling of high society.
Jin Junmei is very rare and unique. Made from the bud only of a wild tea tree located on a 1,500-meter-high mountain in the Wuyi Nature Reserve, this tea is harvested just before the Qingming Festival. One worker can pick 2,000 buds a day, but to produce 500 grams of tea requires harvesting 60,000 to 80,000 buds - very labor intensive! The real Jin Junmei can only be found in Tongmu village, which produces a total of 2,500 kilograms per year.
There is no doubt that Jin Junmei is a super black tea. Created in 2005 by Master Liang Junde, the tea is processed using a method similar to that used to produce Lapsang Souchong, but without smoke braising. Characterized by small tender leaves, when brewed, Jin Junmei is very beautiful - clear and golden yellow with an amazing floral fruity Harney taste.
In China, black tea is not popular, despite teas such as Lapsang Souchong, Keemun, and Golden Yunnan. But now. more people know about black tea through Jin Junmei.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I’d have to say most of the special black teas I try do not seem to give me the flavor boost i get without mixing an herbal or tisane with it.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I suspect there will always be a luxury market for just about anything. People are willing to pay extreme prices to elevate themselves - I can afford this special tea - I’m special. It becomes a status symbol. There was an interesting book I read a few years ago called Mass Affluence. The author’s point suggested that people like to see themselves above everyone else and will pay dearly for that privilege. People do it for wine so why not tea.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I’d love to have a small cup of this at a tasting just to see about the flavor and how it feels to drink it. I wouldn’t need a whole ounce and would want to share it if I had a pot of it. Probably this would be a rather appealing fine tea to a Westerner.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Thanks for this very interesting and informative post Daniel. It’s always a gift to have the opportunity to experience a new tea, no matter what the price.
Lisa - Have you tried any of the black teas from Assam or Darjeeling. In our store, we sell my favorite black tea which is Golden Lion’s Paw. It is the most robustly flavorful tea I know, with a rich and intoxicating aroma and flavor with caramel notes, and without having to add any other tea or herbs to it. An outstanding tea.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Sandy,
I concur about the Golden Lion’s Paw, it is definitely one of my favorites when it comes to Black teas (when I’m in the mood as you know I’m usually a Japanese Green fan)
but as I always say keep drinking what you like (but don’t worry about the status thing, it’s sort of like those people who go to the opera and really DON’T like the productions at all but they get the best seats to be seen and not enjoy the drama, the staging, costuming etc. and most especially the music). I’d love to try a bit of this not for the status but just because I enjoy trying new teas.
Peace and blessing to all,
Fr. Patrick
November 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hi Daniel:
Hey, I thought you were an expert on Tie Guan Yin. Jin Junmei too!? Good to see your name. I hope all is well. How about mentioning the red bud Tie Guan Yin?!
January 5th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hey Dan, sorry have no time to show you the red bud Tie Guan Yin last time you came. The red bud TGY is very beautiful especially when it begins to sprout but I’ve no chance to take a photo for it yet, so maybe next tea season.
I’m drinking Jin Junmei now, I’m loving it, it’s the most soft black tea I’ve ever drinked.