JinJunMei (Golden Eyebrow)-Best Seller Must Try!

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JinJunMei (Golden Eyebrow)-Best Seller Must Try!

$25.00 AUD

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50g
100g

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Jin Jun Mei — Golden Eyebrow

Also known as: Jin Jun Mei, Golden Eyebrow, Jinjunmei, 金骏眉

Let me confess: Jin Jun Mei is my favourite black tea. My number one, no contest.

It's the one I never get tired of recommending, and it's our best-selling black tea by a mile. This is the tea I've put real time and care into — hunting down the version that gives you the most for your money, because when something's this good, I want to get it right.

So if you haven't tried our Jin Jun Mei yet — nothing else.

Just try it. Trust me on this one.

What Is Jin Jun Mei?

Here's the surprising part: Jin Jun Mei is actually a new tea.

It was only created in 2005 — and in that short time it's taken the Chinese tea world by storm, becoming one of the most sought-after black teas in the country.

It was born in Tong Mu Guan, deep in the Wu-Yi mountains of Fujian, from a team of tea masters led by Jiang Yuanxun. They took the centuries-old craft of Lapsang Souchong and reinvented it — using single spring buds alone to create something far more refined.

Why Jin Jun Mei Is So Prized

Jin Jun Mei is made from buds alone — no leaves — picked in early spring.

It takes somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 tender buds to make a single 500g. That's an extraordinary amount of hand-picking, which is exactly why authentic Jin Jun Mei sits right at the top of the Chinese black tea world — prized by collectors, and given as a gift to honoured guests.

Where Jin Jun Mei Sits in the World of Chinese Black Tea

Four of our most-loved Chinese black teas — see the difference in the cup:

Modern varieties recently created, and much loved

Variety	Origin	Aroma	Taste	Our teas
This tea Jin Jun Mei Golden Eyebrow · 2005	Wu-Yi, Fujian	Delicate honey and fruit, like lychee and longan	Refined, full and smooth; golden cup	Jin Jun Mei
Ying Hong No.9 bred 1988	Guangdong	Rich, high and fragrant	Mellow and smooth, low astringency; deep red	Ying Hong No.9

Traditional classics

Variety	Origin	Aroma	Taste	Our teas
Lapsang Souchong the original black tea	Wu-Yi, Fujian	Smoky pinewood, flower and date	Bold, warming, longan-sweet; deep amber	Smoked · Unsmoked
Keemun world's top three	Anhui	Orchid and rose "Keemun fragrance"	Silky, gently sweet; bright red	Keemun
Dian Hong Yunnan red, golden-tipped	Yunnan	Honey, longan, hint of pine	Full, smooth, honey-sweet; orange-red	Yunnan Golden Tips · Gu Shu Dian Hong

What Jin Jun Mei Tastes Like

This is where Jin Jun Mei wins you over.

The aroma is a layered, complex sweetness — honey, ripe fruit, a whisper of flowers — all lifting out of the cup and lingering long after. The taste is fresh, smooth and mellow, with a clean sweetness and a long, sweet finish that keeps you coming back.

Brew it and it unfolds in stages: the first few steeps are all rich honey; then the fruit notes come forward; and even after seven or eight infusions there's still a gentle sweetness left in the leaf. One small measure goes a long, lovely way.

Jin Jun Mei vs Lapsang Souchong

The two share a home — both come from Tong Mu Guan — but they're quite different teas:

The leaf: Jin Jun Mei uses single buds only; Lapsang Souchong uses a bud with one or two leaves.
The style: Jin Jun Mei is unsmoked, letting its natural honey-and-fruit fragrance shine; traditional Lapsang Souchong is smoked over pine.
The tier: Jin Jun Mei is the premium, top-shelf tea; Lapsang Souchong is the bold, characterful everyday classic.

Think of Jin Jun Mei as Lapsang's refined, modern cousin — same roots, very different personality.

Brew this Jin Jun Mei the right way

— check out our professional Brewing Guide, Storage Care and The Origins below 👇

🍵 Brewing Guide

How to Brew Jin Jun Mei

Jin Jun Mei is all tender golden buds, so it asks for a gentle hand — the honey-and-fruit aroma is delicate, and too much heat will scald it away.

The Vessel: Gaiwan or Glass Infuser?

The Gaiwan: the traditional choice, and a white porcelain one lets you admire the amber-gold liquor and its golden ring.
Our Recommendation: our Glass Tea Infuser. All glass, so you can watch the golden buds and the bright ring of colour in the cup.

Follow this ritual for the perfect cup:

Temperature: 90–95°C. Not fully boiling — let boiled water stand a minute or two first. Water that's too hot flattens the delicate honey aroma.
Leaf to water: about 3–5g to 150ml.
Step 1 – Warm the Vessel: Rinse with hot water and discard.
Step 2 – The Inhale: Add the buds, shake gently, and breathe in the honey-and-fruit fragrance.
Step 3 – No Rinse: Don't rinse Jin Jun Mei — these are precious buds and the golden down is part of the pleasure. Go straight to your first brew.
Step 4 – The Infusion: Pour gently down the inner wall, never straight onto the buds. A soft pour keeps the liquor clean and sweet.
Step 5 – Timing:

First few brews: 5–10 seconds, poured fairly quickly.
Later brews: add about 5 seconds each round. Good for 8–10 steeps.

Master's Tip: Follow the aroma as it changes — the first few steeps are richest in honey, the middle rounds bring out the fruit, and there's still a gentle sweetness long after. Don't rush it.

📦 Storage & Care

Storage Care for Jin Jun Mei

Jin Jun Mei is best enjoyed fresh, while its delicate aroma is at its peak.

Room temperature is best. Keep it somewhere cool, dry and dark. Don't refrigerate black tea — the fridge brings damp and odours.
Keep it sealed. Store it airtight, away from air and moisture, so the honey-and-fruit fragrance stays lively. A Tea Bag Sealer is handy for resealing between sessions.
Away from light and smells. An opaque tin or sealed jar protects it best. Keep it clear of coffee, spices and anything strongly scented.
Enjoy it within a couple of years. Unlike white or dark tea, Jin Jun Mei doesn't age for the better — it's at its finest fresh, so drink it while it's bright.

🌿 The Origins

The Origins of Jin Jun Mei

Home — Tong Mu Guan, Wu-Yi: Grown in Tong Mu Guan, high in the Wu-Yi mountains of Fujian — the birthplace of black tea itself, and the original home of Lapsang Souchong.
A Modern Creation: Developed in 2005 by a team of tea masters led by Jiang Yuanxun, who reinvented the traditional Lapsang craft using single buds alone.
All Buds, Hand-Picked: Made from early-spring single buds — 50,000 to 60,000 of them for every 500g — which is why it's so refined, and so prized.
Unsmoked: Unlike traditional Lapsang Souchong, Jin Jun Mei is left unsmoked, so its natural honey, fruit and flower notes come through clean and clear.
VGT Sourcing: For 18 years, Valley Green Tea has been a trusted place to buy authentic loose leaf Chinese tea online in Australia. We buy new-season stock and air-freight it fresh to Sydney. Explore the rest of our black tea collection.

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