The dried leaves of this tea have a lovely fragrance, in and of themselves. After I steeped the tea there was certainly the vanilla aroma, and I was very excited to try a sip. This tea is very mellow, with a delicious and subtle flavor, and it is incredibly smooth on the finish. I can understand the price point, and I am so pleased to have tried this and have a full four ounces to enjoy! I think the description for this tea is very accurate (and that is, of course, what enticed me). I would be willing to purchase again, as TeaSource is generally so reasonably priced that I can definitely afford an indulgence every now and then.
TeaSourceSKU: 37522
In stock (33)
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The fragrances of vanilla and cigars saturate the texture of a gentle fog. The cup recalls cardamom, brown sugar, and nutmeg, yet comes back to the present with a bright, attentive finish. The product of old lands with long memories.
This “Jin Jun Mei” style black tea was produced April 9-11, 2026 by Mr. Li Jilin in Caodun Village, Wuyi City, Fujian Province. It’s a bud only pick of the Mei Zhan cultivar growing at approximately 1,700 feet. The production techniques are incredibly sophisticated for a black tea. The room is heated by burning the charcoal of the pagoda tree (Sophora Japonica) during the withering process. The rolling of the leaves begins on a machine – gently - slowly raising pressure until the inner juices emerge, and then finished by hand. The fermentation takes up to eight hours with oxygen levels artificially increased to facilitate the process. The results justify the efforts.
For more excellent teas by Mr. Li Jilin check out Jasper, Ruby, and Ancient River.
This tea was previously called Jin Jun Mei.
Ingredients
black tea
Steeping Instructions
Western Steeping Method
Steep 4 grams of tea in 10–12 oz of 212°F (100°C) water for 3 minutes.
Approximate Cups of Tea per Package
This estimate is based on the recommended steeping instructions for this tea. Actual yield will vary depending on your steeping method and personal preference.
2 ounce
Makes about
14
cups of tea
4 ounce
Makes about
28
cups of tea
Tea Type
Black tea
Origin
China
Sub-origin
Fujian
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