ClayZenith Journal · Chinese Black Tea
Chinese Black Tea Beyond English Breakfast: Jin Jun Mei, Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong & Jiu Qu Hong Mei
Chinese black tea can be honeyed, floral, fruity, malty or gently smoky. The category is far wider than the breakfast blends familiar to many Western drinkers.
Tea Culture & Origins Editor
Western tea drinkers often meet black tea through breakfast blends, milk tea or Earl Grey. Chinese hong cha—literally “red tea,” named for the copper-red liquor—offers a different route into the category. Jin Jun Mei emphasizes refined sweetness and aroma, Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong sits at the historic heart of Wuyi black tea, and Jiu Qu Hong Mei shows that Hangzhou is capable of more than green tea.
Chinese black tea is often less about brute strength and more about aromatic detail.
01
Why China Calls It Red Tea
In Chinese, what English speakers call black tea is commonly called hong cha, or red tea, referring to the warm red-copper liquor. English terminology developed around the dark appearance of the oxidized dry leaf.
02
Jin Jun Mei: Honeyed and Refined
Jin Jun Mei originated in the Wuyi area and is associated with fine bud material and a highly aromatic, sweet style. Honey, dried fruit and floral notes are common reference points.
Explore our 2026 Wuyi Jin Jun Mei or the Full Moon Jin Jun Mei Gift Box.
03
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong: The Wuyi Ancestor
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, often linked internationally with Lapsang Souchong, is one of the foundational black teas of the Wuyi region. Traditional styles can show honey, malt, dried fruit and pine-related character depending on production.
04
Jiu Qu Hong Mei: Hangzhou’s Red Plum Tea
Jiu Qu Hong Mei, often translated as Nine Bend Red Plum, is a black tea associated with the Hangzhou region. Its slender dark leaves and warm red liquor offer a fascinating contrast to the green teas for which Zhejiang is more famous.
Explore the 2026 Jiu Qu Hong Mei.
05
Flavor Comparison
Honey · floral · dried fruit
Malt · honey · dried fruit · possible pine nuance
Sweet · fruity · warm · elegant
06
How to Brew
Use 90–98°C water. For a 150ml cup, 2–3g is a good starting point. For Gongfu brewing, use more leaf in a smaller vessel and begin with short infusions. These teas can handle hotter water than delicate green tea.
07
Milk or No Milk?
Premium Chinese black teas are best tasted plain first. Their sweetness and aromatic detail can be masked by milk. Once you understand the tea on its own, there is no rule against experimenting.
08
FAQ
Is Jin Jun Mei stronger than breakfast tea? Not necessarily. It is often more aromatic and refined rather than simply stronger.
Is all Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong smoky? No. Smoke character varies widely by style and production.
Is Jiu Qu Hong Mei a green tea? No. It is a black tea from a region better known internationally for green tea.