Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud Tea
Honey, malt and dried fruit from Fengqing's golden buds.
Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud is a bud-heavy Dian Hong from Fengqing County, known in Chinese as Jin Ya. The cup is amber and silky, with honey, malt, cocoa and dried fruit. Brewed in a teapot at 90°C.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 52 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 21.7 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
Related reading
| Brewing method | Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:100 |
| Dose & yield | 2.4g → 240g |
| Grind size | Whole Leaf |
| Water temperature | 194°F / 90°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.4 g loose-leaf black tea
- 240 g filtered water at 90°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 2.4 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 90°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 3:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 52 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Sweet in the first steeps
Golden bud Dian Hong is sweetest early. If you re-steep, keep the temperature the same and add about 30 seconds each time.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud is a bud-heavy Dian Hong from Fengqing County, known in Chinese as Jin Ya. The cup is amber and silky, with honey, malt, cocoa and dried fruit. Brewed in a teapot at 90°C.
Origin & Story
Jin Ya means golden bud, and sellers use the name for the most bud-heavy Dian Hong. Dian Hong, Yunnan's black tea, comes in many styles, among them Golden Needle, Yunnan Pure Gold, Yunnan Gold, Broken Yunnan, Pine Needle and Golden Snail, and what sets it apart from other Chinese black teas is the amount of fine bud in the dried leaf.
It began in 1938 in Fengqing County, in the west of Yunnan, where the tea expert Feng Shaoqiu found tall, vigorous tea trees and set up a trial for export black tea. The leaf comes from the province's large-leaf tea, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, which gives the buds their size and the cup its body.
The cup is light and fragrant, an amber liquor with a smooth taste and a sweet, malty profile. Sellers list honey and caramelized sweetness, mild chocolate, cocoa, a light floral aroma and sour or dried fruit.
Brew with water at about 90°C and about 10 g of leaf per liter, or roughly 2.5 g for a 240 ml cup, and steep for three to four minutes in a teapot before you add anything. A gongfu brew of 4 g in 100 ml gives sweet, quick infusions of 20 to 30 seconds.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 82/100 |
| Acidity | 48/100 |
| Bitterness | 22/100 |
| Body | 74/100 |
| Aroma | 90/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 52 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud Tea?
Target 90°C (194°F).
How long should Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud Tea be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-4:00. Method: Teapot. Ratio: 10g leaves per Liter. Grind or leaf format: Whole Leaf.
What does Jin Ya mean?
Jin Ya means golden bud. It is the name for Dian Hong made with a high share of golden buds, which gives a sweet, silky cup.
Where is Dian Hong made?
Mostly in western and southern Yunnan, with Fengqing County in the west as its birthplace and best-known source.
Who should avoid Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Bud Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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