Jiangnan rhyme in black tea: Jiuqu Hongmei

YuanJia131

Jiuqu Hongmei tea originated during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, introduced to Dashi Mountain in Hangzhou by immigrants from northern Fujian. By combining black tea processing techniques with local tea leaves, they created this unique black tea variety. Today, the core production area of Jiuqu Hongmei is concentrated in Shuangpu Town of the West Lake District in Hangzhou, with the highest quality produced in Dashi Mountain, Hubu.

Though not at a high altitude, this area borders the Qiantang River, where persistent moisture and morning mist nourish tea plants, allowing fresh leaves to accumulate abundant amino acids and aromatic compounds. Each year, one bud and two leaves are harvested before the Grain Rain season, undergoing processes such as withering, rolling, and fermentation—each step meticulously balanced to preserve the tea's vibrancy while transforming it into a mellow, smooth flavor. What makes it truly special is the five-month aging period, allowing bitterness to fully dissipate, leaving only a soft, sweet richness. This unique patience makes it the most heartwarming tea during the winter.

Unlike the bold and flamboyant nature of most black teas, the elegance of Jiǔqǔ Hóngméi lies precisely in the words "delicate, soft, and refined," imbued with a unique charm of West Lake. Its slender, fishhook-like leaves are covered with fine golden down, revealing white tips against an oil-black base. When held lightly in the palm, they intertwine into loops, as lively as the wind shattered by West Lake, whispering into the tea cup.  

From winning the gold medal at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition to claiming the top award at the 1929 West Lake Expo, and later being recognized as a Zhejiang Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, this tea, born amidst the mountains of West Lake, has long transcended its secluded valleys, blending the purity of the mountains and the softness of the waters into its brew.

It is often said that "black tea is the drink of winter." The warmth of Jiuguxihongmei tea extends beyond the soothing heat between lips and teeth—it embodies the unique softness of Jiangnan. Unlike the robust intensity of northern black teas, it resembles the gentle winter sunlight of West Lake, neither scorching yet capable of melting into the very core of one's being.