A little more muscle than plumage for a Fujian black tea. The tobacco character makes for a more bucolic cup, but it doesn’t give up on the rose-like sweetness. An affable aroma and an agreeable steeper.

Produced March 30, 2024 by Mr. Huang Bang Ming in Chixi Village, Ningde City, Fujian Province. It’s a one bud, two leaf pick from the Jin Guanyin cultivar growing at approximately 1,600 feet.

For more excellent teas from Mr. Huang Bang Ming, check out Wandering Monk, White Lighting, and Lion’s Mountain Silver Needles.

The Jin Guanyin cultivar was originally known as Mingke 1 and is a hybrid of Huang Jin Gui and Tieguanyin - both home to Anxi County. It’s also known simply as #204, the number given to it by the Fujian Tea Research Center.

We usually get this tea from our good friend Mr. Soup, but he was unable to produce it in 2024.  For other great teas from Mr. Soup, check out Agate Hunter, Rock Tumbler, and Gravity.

Ingredients: black tea

Steeping Instructions

4 grams | 10-12 oz water | 212°F | Steep 4 min.

Traditional Steeping

Use 6 grams of tea in a 150ml teapot or gaiwan and boiling water.

• 10 second Rinse (discard)
• 1^st Steep – 25 seconds
• 2^nd Steep – 25 seconds
• 3^rd Steep – 60 seconds
• 4^th Steep – 3 minutes

Number of Cups

2 oz makes 19 cups, 4 oz makes 38 cups, 1 lb makes 151 cups