Jiuqu Hongmei: The Hangzhou Black Tea Every Longjing Drinker Should Know

Longjing dominates the international image of Hangzhou tea so completely that many drinkers are surprised to discover the city also has a famous black tea tradition. Jiuqu Hongmei—often translated as Nine-Bend Red Plum—is the darker, warmer side of the same regional story.

Local Hangzhou sources describe it as one of the city’s two celebrated “red and green” teas alongside West Lake Longjing. That pairing is useful because the two teas demonstrate how dramatically processing can transform the drinking experience.

What Makes Jiuqu Hongmei Different?

Unlike green tea, Jiuqu Hongmei is fully oxidised. The leaves become darker, the liquor shifts toward amber and red-gold, and the flavour gains more warmth, fruit and body. Instead of the fresh, pan-fired restraint of Longjing, Jiuqu Hongmei can feel rounded, aromatic and comforting.

Our Hangzhou Jiuqu Hongmei Black Tea – 250g Traditional Paper-Wrapped Chinese Red Tea presents the style in a traditional format that fits the tea’s old-Hangzhou character particularly well.

A Tea With Deep Hangzhou Roots

Jiuqu Hongmei has a long local history and remains closely associated with Hangzhou’s tea landscape. In recent years, the tea has received renewed attention from local producers and cultural organisations, partly because it offers a different story from the city’s globally famous green tea.

For modern drinkers, that makes Jiuqu Hongmei more than a curiosity. It expands the idea of Hangzhou tea from one famous spring green tea into a broader regional culture with multiple processing traditions.

What Does Jiuqu Hongmei Taste Like?

Expect a richer cup than Longjing. Depending on leaf and brewing, the tea may suggest ripe fruit, soft malt, honeyed warmth, dried fruit or a gentle plum-like aromatic impression. The liquor is typically much deeper in colour and the mouthfeel can feel rounder.

It is an especially useful choice for anyone who normally drinks English Breakfast, Assam, Darjeeling or other black teas but wants to explore Chinese tea without jumping immediately into Pu-erh.

How to Brew Jiuqu Hongmei

Use hotter water than you would for Longjing. Around 90–95°C is a practical starting point. For western-style brewing, use roughly 3–4 grams per 200 ml and steep for around two to three minutes, then adjust.

For gongfu-style brewing, use more leaf and shorter infusions. A porcelain gaiwan works especially well because it keeps the aroma clear and makes it easy to compare each steep.

Jiuqu Hongmei vs Longjing

The contrast is one of the best educational tastings in Chinese tea.

Longjing: green, flat-leaf, fresh, lightly roasted, pale liquor.
Jiuqu Hongmei: dark leaf, fuller oxidation, amber-red liquor, warmer fruit and malt character.

Taste them side by side and it becomes obvious that “Chinese tea” is not a single flavour category.

What to Eat With It

Jiuqu Hongmei handles richer food better than delicate green tea. Try it with walnut cake, dark chocolate, butter cookies, roast nuts, dried fruit, char siu-style dishes or lightly spiced savoury food. Its warmth also makes it particularly satisfying in cooler weather.

Why Traditional Paper Wrapping Works

Paper-wrapped tea has a tactile, archival quality that suits Jiuqu Hongmei. It feels less like a mass-market beverage and more like something from a traditional tea counter or private study. For gifting, that can be more distinctive than glossy packaging.

Pair the wrapped tea with a dark wooden tray, small porcelain cup or glass fairness pitcher for a refined presentation.

Jiuqu Hongmei for Coffee Drinkers

If you are moving from coffee into tea, Jiuqu Hongmei is a practical bridge. It has more body and warmth than most green tea, but it remains clean enough to drink without milk. The flavour is complex without requiring the earthy profile that some first-time Pu-erh drinkers find challenging.

FAQ

Is Jiuqu Hongmei a green tea?

No. It is a black tea, referred to as red tea in Chinese terminology.

Does it taste like Longjing?

No. They come from different processing styles and occupy very different sensory territory.

Can it be brewed more than once?

Yes. Loose-leaf Jiuqu Hongmei can be re-steeped, especially when brewed gongfu style.

Can I add milk?

You can, but many drinkers prefer it plain because the tea has enough natural aroma and sweetness to stand on its own.

Is it suitable as a gift?

Yes. It is especially interesting for someone who already knows Longjing and wants to explore a less obvious side of Hangzhou tea.

The Other Side of Hangzhou Tea

Jiuqu Hongmei deserves attention because it complicates the familiar story. Hangzhou is not only pale green liquor and flat Dragon Well leaves. It also has a darker, red-gold tradition with its own flavour, history and mood. For anyone building a serious Chinese tea shelf, that contrast is exactly what makes the category interesting.