chun meeless commonly spelled zhen-meiand also sometimes called mei cha, is a variety of Chinese green tea. The name, which is sometimes concatenated with chunmee, translates as “beautiful eyebrows”, reflecting the fact that the dried leaves of this tea are formed into small curves resembling eyebrows. This particular variety of green tea is usually available at a very reasonable price, even in batches of considerable quality.

Flavor and smell:

Chun Mee tea is characterized by its pronounced sour taste. It is considerably more bitter than most green teas. This acidity, while often considered a desirable characteristic, can become overwhelming if the tea is not brewed correctly. With this tea, more than other pan-cooked Chinese teas, care is taken to observe both the temperature of the water and the duration of the steeping: all green teas are best brewed with water well below boiling point (160-180F or 71- 82C ), but in the case of this tea, the lower temperature is particularly important to avoid unpleasant acidity in the brewed cup. The duration of the soaking is a matter of personal taste and also depends on the amount of sheet used. With any good loose leaf green tea, the leaf will be good for multiple infusions.

The aroma profile of chunmee is highly variable. It typically has a noticeable but slight smokiness to it, considerably less smoky than a typical gunpowder green tea. In many ways, its aroma is typical of a pan-cooked Chinese green tea, with some herbaceous undertones and a noticeable roasted quality. However, chunmee is quite diverse, and some batches have noticeable floral, fruity, or nutty qualities to the aroma.

Young hyson and chunmee:

chun mee is technically the highest degree of hyson young Green Tea. Young hyson is a variety of green tea that is the highest grade of hyson tea. Young hyson is sometimes referred to as “lucky dragon tea”. Because the lower grades of young hyson are rarely sold in the United States and other Western countries, the terms young hyson and chun mee are sometimes used interchangeably.

Regional and other variations between different teas of this style:

Chun mee is not commonly divided into varieties with well-recognized names, but companies will often select special batches and give them names. Chun mee also varies considerably depending on the region in which it is produced, as the unique climate and soil conditions in different regions translate into different flavor and aroma profiles of the final tea. It is produced in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, and Hunan provinces, and possibly others. Young Hyson tea is also produced in Sri Lanka.

Organic chunmee is now widely available, and many tea companies are beginning to offer this tea in certified fair trade forms as well. One company even offers a decaf form. Chunmee is generally only available as a loose leaf tea, with one notable exception: Tazo Envy, while not widely known, is a green tea of ​​this style.