Gong Mei 贡眉 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: White Tea (白茶)
Location: Jinping Village (锦屏村), Zhenghe County, Fujian Province
Altitude: 850–1200 m
Harvest Date: April 10, 2025
Cultivar: Qun Ti Zhong 群体种 (also called Xiao Cai Cha 小菜茶 or Tu Cha 土茶)
Age of Tea Trees: Around 100 years, naturally grown and unmanaged
The Story of This Tea
Before 2017, many high-grade Shou Mei teas with a large number of buds were sold under the name Gong Mei. When the national white tea standard was introduced in 2018, Gong Mei was formally defined as tea made from the tender shoots of the Qun Ti Zhong cultivar, processed through withering, drying, and sorting. True Gong Mei must therefore meet both criteria: the raw material must come from Qun Ti Zhong, and the leaves must be fine, tender shoots.
The raw material for this 2025 Gong Mei comes from the mountain fields of Jinping Rotten Stone in Zhenghe County. Jinping Village lies on the border of Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces, surrounded by misty forests and steep mountains. Known as a natural oxygen bar, this region provides an unspoiled environment for tea. The tea gardens stretch between 850 and 1200 meters in altitude, where cool nights and warm days slow the leaf growth and concentrate the natural sweetness.
The soil is formed from weathered volcanic gravel and shale. Although shallow, it is rich in minerals and organic matter. The century-old Qun Ti Zhong bushes grow wild in cracks between rocks, drawing deep nourishment from the mountain. Their unmanaged, natural state allows them to express the essence of the environment in the cup, giving this Gong Mei its rich, clean, and layered complexity.
Aroma and Flavour
This tea opens with a floral fragrance underpinned by light fir wood and a touch of sweetness. The liquor is thick, smooth, and resonant, carrying the mineral clarity of its rocky soil. The flavour is mellow and full-bodied with balanced sweetness and depth. As the session continues, a gentle sweetness remains on the tongue, giving a long and harmonious finish that combines floral, woody, and rock-like qualities.
- Aroma: Floral fragrance with gentle fir wood and sweet undertones
- Flavor: Rich, mellow, and balanced with full-bodied sweetness
- Texture: Smooth and thick with subtle minerality
- Aftertaste: Sweet, penetrating, and long-lasting
- Character: Combines floral, woody, and rock-derived complexity
- Steeping Endurance: 8 to 10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan or Qing Shui Ni Yixing teapot (清水泥壶) to highlight sweetness and minerality
- Ratio: 4–5 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 90–95 °C spring water
- Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 8–10 times, gradually lengthening steeping time
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: 90 °C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion. Resteep 2–3 times with slightly longer durations
Why Choose This Tea
This 2025 Gong Mei from Jinping Village represents the meeting of heritage, wild ecology, and fine craftsmanship. Made from century-old Qun Ti Zhong bushes that grow untended in mountain rock crevices, it brings together floral aroma, woody warmth, and mineral depth. With its natural complexity and long, sweet finish, this tea stands as a true expression of Fujian white tea’s balance between purity and strength.