Junshan Yin Zhen (君山銀針)
archetype: Golden fish in the lake
A golden fish swims through a slow lake: an imperial softness, a fine porridge, a golden calm.
History
Jun Shan Yin Zhen — 'silver needles of Mount Jun' — is one of the rarest teas of China. It grows only on Junshan Island in the middle of Lake Dongting in Hunan (the garden is less than 1 sq. km). The technology is 'men huang' ('dark yellowing'): after fixing and a first drying, the leaf is wrapped in damp cloth, beneath which it slowly steams, losing its green sharpness and gaining a soft yellow sweetness. Made only of buds.
Terroir
The standard is the buds from the northern slopes of the island; outside Junshan a true 'imperial' version is not made.
Leaf
boiled corn, an imperial porridge, acacia honey, a warm sweetness long, even, leaves an 'imperial trail' in the throat — a warm gold
Properties
a very mild tea, low catechins, medium theanine; suits a sensitive stomach even, soft, warm at the centre of the chest; felt as 'the calm of an imperial garden' low to moderate (25–40 mg)
Brewing ritual
a tall glass — to see the buds dance; 80 °C, soft; 4 g / 200 ml. 40s — the buds descend, a warm porridge; 60s — the peak: boiled corn, acacia honey; 90s — a long imperial sweetness; 120s — a late trail — a golden calm.
When to drink
day and early evening. spring and early autumn. when one wants an even noble sweetness, for an important guest, on a special day