“We’re in China for Chinese New Year and my aunt gave us some Jin Jun Mei. I had never heard of this tea before, but I’m told its quite rare, and undergoing some sort of resurgence in China right...” Read full tasting note
The highest grade of Lapsang Souchong is called Jun Mei or Beautiful Eyebrow (in English) because the processed tea leaf resembles an eyebrow. Jun Mei can be further categorized into Gold (Jin) and Silver (Yin) grade; we are carrying the Gold. What is special about Jun Mei Souchong is that unlike other Lapsang Souchong, it is processed using tender, full tea leaves and buds harvested in early spring before the Qing Ming festival.
This tea is also known as Zheng Shan Souchong. Zheng Shan means “Original Mountain” and only tea leaves picked from Wuyi (Tong Mu Guan) harvest area can be called as “Zheng Shan”. These tea leaves have a special characteristics in that they have a subtle hint of a sweet fruit in China called “longan”.
Other names:
Jun Mei Black Tea, Gold Jun Mei Lapsang Souchong
Taste:
The fragrance of Jin Jun Mei Lapsang Souchong are smoky (pine) as any good Lapsang should be, yet the taste has distinct fruity sweet notes underneath the smoky nature of the tea. As this tea ages, the smoky nature will slowly subside while the fruity sweetness of this tea becomes stronger.
Appearance:
Jin Jun Mei Souchong tea leaves are carefully rolled and when infused, they unfurl into young one-bud one-leaf tea leaves. Clear orange color infusion.
Origin:
Wu Yi Shan, Fujian Province, China
Harvest Period:
Spring 2012 (Ming Qian Cha)
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