2024 Jiu Qu Hong Mei Black Tea (LongJing Black Tea)

24春 | 西湖 九曲红梅 · 极品特级 

A very delicate Jiu Qu Hong Mei Black Tea from the Hangzhou’s West Lake region, produced with the same leaf used to make Long Jing (Dragon Well) green tea.  Superior Grade.

The Jiu Qu Hong Mei we have selected is from Long Wu Village, a core Xi Hu (Westlake) growing region in Hangzhou. This core Westlake region produces some of the most valued Long Jing tea (not the lesser grades from outlying Hangzhou, or even further out in Zhejiang province). This grade ("Top Superior") is the highest available for this tea, and provides a very refined tasting experience.

This year, we sourced a very early Spring picking that proved to be remarkable, with a greater emphasis on floral notes and a smoother, lighter body. Light toffee aroma arises from the warmed leaf, while the delicate soup presents magnolia florals and fresh plums. Later steeps reveal notes of milk chocolate laced with yellow raisins.

Brew gently to start, using 90C water and flash (2s) brews for the first several infusions, moving to boiling water and 5s steeps in later brews.

This is a tea that ages gracefully in the medium term; we find it matures well in 1-3 years, becoming smoother, less floral but with more chocolatey raisin character with age. 

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