Tea Type:
Black Tea (Red Tea)
Where To Buy:
Yezi Tea
Product Description:
If Arthur Conan Doyle had wanted to pen a mystery set in China, he would have sent Sherlock Holmes to find some Jin Jun Mei tea. And Holmes likely would have failed. For Jin Jun Mei is an extremely rare tea. However, due to a collaboration between Yezi Tea and tea farmer Wu Qiong, we are able to bring you the finest Jin Jun Mei from the Tan Yang Mountains of China.
Jin Jun Mei grows at 4,500 feet above sea level, at which altitude there is very little agricultural land available to grow tea. This in large part explains why there is so little Jin Jun Mei to go around. But we can be thankful for the little Jin Jun Mei that is available every year. This loose-leaf tea, like no other, engages your senses at multiples levels: with its complex taste, whose body and rhythm evolve for as many as fifteen brews; its fragrance, which evokes a world of faraway orchids; and the tea leaves themselves, which are shaped like eyebrows perched neatly over dove-shaped eyes.
Even More Info about this tea.
Tasters Review:
Anytime I hear of a tea that could possibly stand up to 15 infusions I’m ‘game’. Especially when it’s a black tea. This Jin Jun Mei Black Tea from Yezi Tea lives up to the product description of being complex – having multiple levels – and engaging senses. Over time I have found that I have a special place in my heart for black tea with leaves like these…shaped like eyebrows…multi-colored…two or three toned when dry and then melting into a muddy brown colored leaf when wet. With this tea – there is no real way to ‘screw it up’. It’s tasty if over infused, under infused, while using too little or too much loose leaf…you name it. It doesn’t get bitter. It has a very pleasing flavor but also a very versatile flavor depending on how much or how little you use, how long you infuse, or depending on the temperature of your water. It’s fantastic hot or cold. This could easily be considered one of my go-to black teas.
Jun Chiyabari Second Flush Nepal Black Tea from Single Origin Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Single Origin Teas
Tea Description:
Jun Chiyabari, a neighbor to the famous Darjeeling tea province, offers truly excellent tea. Notes of maple and floral undertones of rose bring a unique touch. One of the smaller tea estates at around 123 acres, and one of the youngest – planted in 2002! – Jun Chiyabari offers a delicious tea that highlights how high altitude growing can bring out delightful flavors if processed correctly.
Produced in hand-rolled batches with an exemplary level of care, the leaves are nicely curled, and provide a prime example of how high quality tea is not limited to the Darjeeling gardens.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Although this Jun Chiyabari Second Flush Nepal Black Tea from Single Origin Teas is not technically a Darjeeling, it still has many remarkable similarities to a Darjeeling. It has that crisp, “sparkling” taste of a Darjeeling … it is lighter in body and it has a sweet, wine-like quality that reminds me of a Darjeeling.
However, I am noticing some differences, as well. I note less muscatel-like notes here. There are some, but they seem to be more of a background note than a prominent note. There is a slight “lemon-y” quality that I notice toward the finish.
And then I notice the rose-like notes. These are lovely! It’s like an undercurrent of rose notes – not a heavy essence, but, like an ever-present wisp of rose-y flavor. The floral tones give the cup a pleasant sweetness, and there is something more to it … an almost autumnal sweetness. After reading the above description, I realized that what I noticed was the maple notes. I don’t know that what I’m tasting is a distinct maple taste, but it is a definite sweetness that has an autumn-like taste to it.
I am really glad that I tried this Jun Chiyabari tea. I’ve tried several teas from this estate and while they have all been very good teas, I am finding this one to be just a little different from the others I’ve tried. Different is good!
Jun Chiyabari Nepalese Black Tea from Imperial Tea Garden
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Imperial Tea Garden
Tea Description:
Jun Chiyabari is a luxury black tea (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) with ethereal notes of muscatel that whispers true himalayan beauty. Grown on mountainside elavations reaching 7000 feet above sea level in the Hile Hills Dhankuta district of Nepal. The exceptionally clean air, rich mountain soil and pure sunshine help Jun Chiyabari continually exceed the quality of many darjeeling teas. It is no surprise that Jun Chiyabari black tea ranks so high as a source for powerful antioxidants. With polyphenol levels of 10.7% by dry weight, this is truly a gourmet black tea for the connoisseur and those individuals that desire a healthy black tea alternative.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having tried a couple of Jun Chiyabari teas, I was only too happy to be in possession of another sampling of this Nepalese black tea. Imperial Tea Garden has the “touch” when it comes to selecting top notch teas, and this offering is an example of what I mean.
This is a delightful “Darjeeling-esque” black tea is very much like a second flush Darjeeling, with notes of muscatel, its compelling fruit notes, hints of earth and wood, and a dry finish that is reminiscent of wine. It has a fair amount of astringency that leaves the palate feeling clean after each sip. The aftertaste is sweet and grape-y!
This tea also has a slightly heavier texture to it than a typical Darjeeling, which I would ordinarily classify as a light or even sparkling sort of texture. This has a texture that is more like a Ceylon.
A really charming cup of hot tea in the afternoon, or if you are looking for iced refreshment, this tea tastes great chilled and served with a sprig of mint!
Jun Chiyabari FTGFOP1 Autumnal Black Tea from Rare Tea Republic
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Rare Tea Republic
Tea Description:
This outstanding selection is rich and flavorful and offers excellent value. Sweet and creamy notes of caramel and Turkish apricot dominate a sweet and smooth liquor. This is a superb example of the quality achievable by skillful cultivation and manufacture and a fantastic every morning tea.
Jun Chiyabari FTGFOP1 Autumnal was an award winning tea at the North American Tea Championship.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is an outstanding tea! But then, I’ve come to expect nothing less from Rare Tea Republic. Every tea that I’ve tried from them thus far has been nothing less than stellar.
I never tried a Turkish apricot, but, this tea does have a certain fruity note to it that is similar to an apricot or a peach. It is sweet and luscious! The above description also suggests notes of caramel, and I’m tasting that too. However, the caramel tones here are different than ones I might experience in another black or even a pu-erh tea. This tea has a lighter body, and the caramel tones are not a heavy, “thick” kind of caramel taste, but instead, it tastes like hints of caramelized fruit: a sweet, light, vibrant taste that delights the palate!
This tea has many similarities to what I’ve come to know as Darjeeling-esque qualities, but, it doesn’t have that muscatel note. This does have the light crispness of a Darjeeling, however, and a similar dry note toward the end of the sip. The aftertaste is sweet and slightly fruit-like.
Overall, I found this to be a remarkably refreshing and delicious tea, one that I think should be on the MUST TRY list of every tea aficionado!