Red Plum Classic

Red Plum Classic Black Tea｜九曲紅梅

 Tasting notes: Malty, plum, bamboo
 Origin: Meijiawu, Hangzhou, China
 Cultivar: 群體種 Qunti Zhong (Old Tree)
 Elevation: 340m
 Oxidation: ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿

While Longjing green tea enjoys enormous fame, there is also a popular black tea produced in the same West Lake region from the same plants, called Red Plum Classic.

Why we love it:

• It's interesting to see how the flavour of the same plant changes with processing methods. Compare this black tea to our Pre-Qingming Longjing to taste the difference!
• It has that maltiness of black tea, with layers of plum and hints of bamboo. 
• It is from Meijiawu - a certified Longjing production area and a village with more than 600 years of history.
• It is made from the 群體種 Qunti Zhong cultivar- - an older plant that has naturally reproduced over time through survival of the fittest. Its leaves are not as "pretty" as the commercially propagated cultivar, but it yields more layered flavours.
• The majority of this tea is produced in summer but this batch is more premium because it was harvested in spring (Pre-Guyu - before the Grain Rains).
• Fun fact: The Chinese name 九曲紅梅 literally means "nine bends red plum". Nine Bends refers to Wuyi Mountain's main river, from where this tea is said to originate.

What is Longjing tea?