ValleyGreenTea

Junshan Yinzhen

$27.30 AUD

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Jun Shan Yin Zhen — The Yellow Tea Once Fit for Emperors

Also Known As

Jun Shan Yin Zhen is also searched as: junshan yinzhen, jun shan silver needle, and Junshan Yellow Tea.君山银针, 君山銀針, 黄茶, 黃茶

Most tea drinkers have never tasted yellow tea.

It's the rarest of China's six tea types — the one almost nobody makes anymore, and few people ever get to try.

So if you've had green, black and oolong, but never yellow, you're about to taste something genuinely uncommon.

And Jun Shan Yin Zhen is the finest yellow tea there is. One of China's Ten Famous Teas, once kept for emperors alone. Now it's yours to brew at home.

Watch the "Three Rises and Falls"

Here's the part people fall in love with.

Drop these slim golden buds into a tall glass of hot water, and they stand upright like tiny needles. Then, slowly, they begin to dance — rising to the surface, sinking back down, and rising again. Three times over.

It's called the "three rises and three falls" (三起三落), and no other tea does it quite like this.

"Gold Wrapped in Jade"

Look closely at the dry buds. Each one is plump and golden, wrapped in a fine layer of soft white down.

The Chinese call it "gold wrapped in jade" (金镶玉) — and once you've seen it catch the light, the name makes perfect sense.

These are tip buds only, picked young and tender, the way the finest teas are.

How It Tastes

The cup pours a bright, clear orange-gold.

The first sip is smooth and softly sweet, with a warm, roasted-chestnut note that lingers.

There's none of the sharp, grassy edge of green tea here — just a mellow, comforting sweetness that makes you reach for the next sip. It's the kind of tea you slow down for.

Where It Comes From

Real Jun Shan Yin Zhen grows on Junshan, a tiny island — under 1 km² — in Dongting Lake, near Yueyang in Hunan.

Misty lake air, rich soil, a place you could sail right past. That rare little island is what makes this tea taste like nowhere else.

Brew this Jun Shan Yin Zhen the right way

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

🍵 Brewing Guide

How to Brew Jun Shan Yin Zhen

Brewing Jun Shan Yin Zhen is a quiet ritual. This is a tea to slow down for — and to watch, as the golden buds perform their famous "three rises and three falls" (三起三落).

The Vessel: Gaiwan or Glass Infuser?

The Gaiwan: the traditional choice, giving you millisecond control over the pour.
Our Recommendation: our Glass Tea Infuser is ideal here. All glass, inside and out — so you get precise control and a crystal-clear view of the buds standing, rising and falling. You can lift the inner glass at any moment to separate the leaves from the liquor, so the tea never over-steeps.

Follow this ritual for the perfect cup:

Temperature: 85–90°C only. Never use boiling water — it scorches the delicate buds and turns the cup bitter. Let boiled water stand about a minute first.
Step 1 – Warm the Soul: Rinse the vessel with hot water and discard. This also helps the buds stand upright.
Step 2 – The Inhale: Add the dry buds (about 3g), shake gently, and breathe in their soft, sweet fragrance.
Step 3 – The Infusion: Pour water gently down the inner wall — never straight onto the buds. A harsh stream knocks them about and spoils the "three rises and falls". Let the buds settle, then watch them begin to dance.
Step 4 – Timing:

1st brew (5–8s): pour fairly soon — no rinse needed for this tea.
2nd brew (10–15s).
3rd brew (20–30s).
Each brew after: add another 15–20 seconds

The Secret: Never empty the glass completely. Leave about 1/3 of the liquor before topping up with hot water. This keeps the flavour rich and even across every brew. These buds re-steep 3–4 times.

Master's Tip: Leave the lid off after each pour. Smothering these delicate buds "cooks" them and makes the next steep dull.

📦 Storage & Care

Storage Care for Jun Shan Yin Zhen

Jun Shan Yin Zhen is a delicate bud tea. It stays freshest kept cold.

Refrigerate it. Keep the sealed pack in the fridge to preserve its freshness and aroma.
Seal it well first. Keep it airtight so it doesn't pick up fridge odours or moisture. A Tea Bag Sealer helps.
Let it return to room temperature before opening. This stops condensation forming on the cold leaf.
Keep the four "avoids" in mind: away from heat, moisture, light and air.
Store it separately from coffee, spices and anything strongly scented.

🌿 The Origins

The Origins of Jun Shan Yin Zhen

Home — Junshan, Hunan: Grown in the Junshan area of Hunan Province, China. It was originally made only on Junshan Island in Dongting Lake — under 1 km² in size.
Why It's Special: The island's unique environment and climate give the leaf a quality not found elsewhere. Its limited production made it so prized it was once used only by Chinese emperors.
The Leaf: Made from tip buds alone, like fine green tea. A classic yellow tea, with a yellow tone in both dry leaf and liquor.
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 our full yellow tea collection.

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