Description

Jin Jun Mei 2026 Spring — Honey Sweet Loose Leaf Tea

he 2026 spring harvest came in clean. I opened a sample tin last week. The dry leaf smelled like brown sugar and dried apricot. I brewed a gongfu round at 195°F. The first steep was honey. The third was malt and lychee. The fifth was cocoa. I drank it all afternoon.

This is what high-mountain Jin Jun Mei can do when the weather cooperates. It is not smoky like Lapsang Souchong. It is sweet, soft, and built for resteeping. This guide covers what Jin Jun Mei actually tastes like, how to brew it, how it differs from regular black tea, and how to store it to keep this fresh spring harvest tasting its absolute best.

What Is Jin Jun Mei Black Tea?

Jin Jun Mei (金骏眉) is a Chinese black tea. It is made only from the unopened top buds of the tea plant. No leaves. Just buds covered in fine golden hairs. The buds are hand-plucked, withered, rolled, and fully oxidized. The result is a thin, golden-tipped leaf that brews a bright orange-gold liquor.

Jin Jun Mei started in Wuyi, Fujian in 2005. It was the first Chinese black tea made entirely from buds. The 2026 spring lot we sell comes from a single estate in Shouning County at 1,000 m elevation.

How it is different from regular black tea？

Regular black tea uses the top two leaves and a bud. Jin Jun Mei uses only the bud. That means a thinner leaf, less bitterness, and more of the natural sweetness that lives in the bud.

What Does Jin Jun Mei Tea Taste Like?

The 2026 spring lot tastes like honey, dried lychee, and a soft malt finish. There is no smoke. There is no dry bite. The cup feels soft in the mouth. The sweet note hangs around for 20 to 30 seconds after you swallow.

The first steep is mostly honey. By the third, the malt shows up. By the fifth, you get cocoa and a faint stone-fruit edge. You can re-steep this tea all afternoon. It keeps changing.

How Do You Brew Jin Jun Mei for the Sweetest Cup?

Jin Jun Mei is brewed light. Use less leaf than you think. Use cooler water than black tea. Steep short.

Western (Mug or Teapot)

1. Use 2 grams of leaf per 240 ml of water.
2. Heat water to 195°F (90°C). Do not use boiling water.
3. Steep 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Re-steep 2 to 3 more times. Add 30 seconds each round.

Gongfu (Gaiwan or Small Pot)

1. Use 3 grams of leaf in a 100 ml gaiwan.
2. Water at 195°F (90°C).
3. Pour a 3-second rinse. Pour it out fully.
4. First steep: 5 seconds. Add 3 seconds per round. You will get 6 to 8 infusions.

Why Choose High Mountain Jin Jun Mei Over Regular Black Tea?

Two things set the high-mountain version apart: where the tea grows, and how it tastes because of it.

The 2026 lot comes from a single estate at 1,000 m in Shouning County. At that elevation, the air is cool. Mist sits on the garden most mornings. The temperature swing between day and night is large. Tea bushes grow slowly under those conditions. Slow growth packs more amino acids and sugars into the leaf. That is what makes the cup smooth and sweet.

Regular black tea grows lower. The bushes grow faster. The leaf is bigger, bolder, and often more bitter. You can read more in our high mountain tea benefits guide, or in the official FAO report on tea cultivation in mountain regions overview.

The 2026 spring lot is part of our [single-bud black teas] collection. It is the cleanest harvest we have cupped in five years. Browse the full [premium black tea collection] for related lots.

Is Jin Jun Mei Tea Smoky Like Lapsang Souchong?

No. Both teas come from Fujian. The similarity stops there.

Lapsang Souchong is smoked over pine wood. The smoke is the point. Jin Jun Mei skips the smoking step. You get honey, lychee, and malt. No smoke. If you want a smoky black tea, we have Lapsang Souchong available separately. If you want a clean, sweet, single-bud black tea, this is it.

You can read about the origins of Lapsang Souchong in the Encyclopedia Britannica tea processing entry.

What Is the Caffeine Level of Jin Jun Mei Black Tea?

Jin Jun Mei is medium in caffeine for a black tea. According to the USDA FoodData Central black tea caffeine data, an 8 oz cup of brewed black tea has 40 to 70 mg of caffeine. The same size coffee has about 95 mg. Jin Jun Mei sits in the lower part of that range because the leaves are buds, not mature foliage.

There is published research on the antioxidant content of black tea inside the NIH PubMed database on the antioxidant profile of black tea. I will leave the specific health claims to the researchers. If you are caffeine-sensitive, drink this before 3 p.m.

How Should You Store Loose Leaf Jin Jun Mei Tea?

Keep the leaves in an opaque, airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place. Keep away from sunlight, moisture, and strong odors like spices or coffee.

Jin Jun Mei does not need refrigeration. The leaves are dry. They will not spoil quickly. Properly stored, the flavor stays bright for 12 to 18 months. After that, the cup starts to fade.

Frequently Asked Questions