Chacodex

Jiu Qu Hong Mei

Nine Bends Red Plum - a rare Hangzhou black tea with a distinctive plum-honey sweetness, nearly lost and recently revived.

Type
Black Tea
Origin
China · Zhejiang
Oxidation
full
Caffeine
medium
Brew temp
90°C
Brew time
3–4 min
Flavor notes
plum, honey, smooth

History

Jiu Qu Hong Mei (九曲红梅), or Nine Bends Red Plum, is one of China's rarest and most poetic black teas - produced in the hills surrounding Hangzhou's West Lake, the same region famous for Dragon Well green tea. Named after the nine-bend creek near its origin and the plum blossom-like fragrance of the finished tea, it was once a tribute tea offered to the imperial court. During the 20th century, Jiu Qu Hong Mei nearly disappeared as Hangzhou's tea farmers focused entirely on the more profitable Dragon Well. By the early 2000s, fewer than a handful of producers remained. Revival efforts by local government and passionate tea masters have brought it back from the brink, though production remains tiny - estimated at under 5,000 kg per year.

Processing

Orthodox black tea processing with meticulous care. Spring-harvested leaves (one bud, one or two leaves) are withered for 12–16 hours, then rolled into thin, curved strips reminiscent of fish hooks - a distinctive shape. Full oxidation is carefully controlled to develop the signature plum-like sweetness without heaviness. The tea is dried at moderate temperatures to preserve aromatics. The processing shares DNA with Keemun's gongfu method but produces a distinctly different flavor profile, influenced by Hangzhou's unique terroir.

Tasting Notes

Appearance

Thin, curved, hook-shaped dark leaves - the distinctive shape is a hallmark of authentic Jiu Qu Hong Mei. The leaves are smaller and more delicate than most Chinese black teas. When brewed, the liquor is a clear, bright red-amber - the 'red plum' color that gives the tea its name.

Aroma

Distinctive plum blossom and honey - sweet, fruity, and refined. There's a subtle floral quality reminiscent of the plum trees that grow alongside the tea gardens. The aroma is gentler and more nuanced than robust black teas.

Taste

Smooth, sweet, and elegantly fruity - ripe plum, honey, and a gentle floral sweetness. The body is medium-light with exceptional smoothness. There's a refreshing quality unusual in black teas, perhaps influenced by the same terroir that makes Dragon Well so distinctive. The finish is clean, sweet, and lingering with a plum-like aftertaste.

Brewing Guide

Western Style

  • Leaf: 3g per 200ml
  • Water: 90°C (194°F)
  • Time: 3–4 minutes
  • Infusions: 2–3 infusions

Gongfu Style

  • Leaf: 5g per 100ml
  • Water: 90°C (194°F)
  • Time: 30s first, +10s each subsequent
  • Infusions: 5–6 infusions

Step-by-step

  1. Below boiling. Heat water to 90°C. Like its neighbor Dragon Well, Jiu Qu Hong Mei's delicacy is preserved at sub-boiling temperatures. Tip: The plum sweetness is most vivid at 85–90°C.
  2. Appreciate the leaf. Note the distinctive hook-shaped leaves - this shape is a marker of authentic Jiu Qu Hong Mei. Tip: Use a glass cup to watch the leaves dance and the liquor develop its 'red plum' color.
  3. First steep. Steep 30 seconds (gongfu) or 3 minutes (western). The liquor should be a clear red-amber. Tip: The plum character is most pronounced in the first steep.
  4. Multiple infusions. Gongfu style yields 5–6 infusions, with the character shifting from fruity to honey to a gentle sweetness. Tip: This is a tea to slow down with - its subtlety rewards patience.

Health Benefits

  • Full oxidation produces theaflavins and thearubigins
  • The clean West Lake-area growing environment ensures minimal contaminants
  • Moderate caffeine with high amino acid content for balanced energy
  • Small-batch artisanal production means careful, quality-focused processing

Food Pairings

  • Chinese plum-based desserts and preserves
  • Light pastries and fruit tarts
  • Delicate dim sum - crystal shrimp dumplings, custard buns
  • Fresh stone fruit - peaches, plums, apricots
  • Best enjoyed in quiet contemplation, ideally near water

Buying Guide

What to look for

  • Distinctive hook-shaped thin leaves - this shape is unique to Jiu Qu Hong Mei
  • Sweet, plum-honey aroma from dry leaves
  • Hangzhou or West Lake area origin - genuine production is extremely localized
  • Spring harvest only - this tea is not produced year-round

Quality indicators

  • Tiny production (under 5,000 kg/year) means genuine Jiu Qu Hong Mei is rare outside China
  • The liquor should be brilliantly clear with a distinctive red-amber 'plum' color
  • Sweetness should dominate - any bitterness indicates inferior quality
  • Established Hangzhou tea shops and direct-from-producer sources are most reliable

Price range: $30–60 for standard, $80–150+ for premium spring harvest from traditional producers

Storage: Store airtight. Best within 1 year for peak plum fragrance.

Fun Facts

  • Jiu Qu Hong Mei nearly went extinct in the late 20th century - at one point, fewer than three families still produced it.
  • The 'Nine Bends' in the name refers to the winding mountain stream near the original tea gardens.
  • Despite being from the same region as Dragon Well (China's most famous green tea), Jiu Qu Hong Mei is a fully oxidized black tea.
  • The tea was historically served at imperial plum blossom viewing parties in the Qing Dynasty.
  • Annual production is estimated at under 5,000 kg - making it one of China's rarest commercially available teas.

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