#038Jhinhsuan｜No.12 (Jhinhsuan) Muscatel Black Tea

The story behind the creation of Honey Fragrance Black Tea
 Honey-scented black tea is made from tea leaves that have been bitten by a small insect called a leafhopper, which gives the tea a sweet aroma. It is the same as the English "Muscatel Black Tea." Like Darjeeling's second flush, black tea made in the hot and humid summer months yields a large quantity of tea leaves that have been bitten by leafhoppers, which thrive in the summer. Incidentally, the term "honey scent" (蜜香) is a common Taiwanese expression for the aroma of honey/flower nectar. Taiwanese honey is usually made from the blossoms of fruits such as longan and lychee, and has a slightly tropical and fruity taste. Also, like Oriental Beauty tea, because it is made from tea leaves bitten by leafhoppers, the price of Honey-scented black tea has risen as it has become a substitute for Oriental Beauty, whose price has skyrocketed. In the 1990s, the Hualien County government began promoting organic farming, and Taiwan's Honey-scented black tea gradually replaced Taitung's Honey-scented black tea, becoming a regional specialty tea. As the area of pesticide-free tea plantations has expanded, the number of brown planthoppers has surged due to the absence of pesticides. Honey-scented black tea is popular, and in line with pesticide-free and organic farming policies, production of honey-scented black tea has increased in many producing regions. Currently, varieties include Sanxia honey-scented black tea, Pinglin honey-scented black tea, Hualien honey-scented black tea, Taitung honey-scented black tea, Alishan honey-scented black tea, and Lishan honey-scented black tea.

 Jin Xuan is a popular variety developed by the Taiwanese government through decades of research at the Tea Improvement Station, which is run by the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (now the Council of Agriculture) and is known for its vigorous growth and milky, buttery aroma.

 Lian Yanying, the tea master at Xiaocha Micha Garden, blends various varieties and seasonal tea leaves, including fruity and fragrant red oolong tea, to create and offer superior flavors. Jin Xuan Honey Black Tea is made using the Jin Zhen variety (Taiwanese tea No. 12) and finished as a honey black tea. The tea leaves were bitten by summer leafhoppers, resulting in a rich and fragrant black tea with a sweet aroma.


 Aroma & Flavor | Mandarin orange, pickled plum, dried apricot, woody
 How to make it: wilting, fermentation, drying
 Origin | Nantou Mingjian
 Farm｜Xiaochamai Tea Farm Lianyanying
 Variety｜Kinxuan (Taiwan tea 12 varieties)
 Elevation | 300m
 Fermentation | 100%
 Roasting | 10%
 Production period | July

 Tea leaves: water
 5g: 150ml

 Hot water temperature
 98 degrees

 Infusion time (H)
 First brew/1 minute
 Second brew/1 minute 20 seconds
 Third brew/1 minute 30 seconds
 *To fully enjoy the fragrance, we recommend using the Taiwanese double cup.
 *Since water quality varies by region, please use the above steeping time as a guideline and adjust it to your preference.

 Cold brew (C)
 5g of tea leaves, 600ml of water, refrigerate for 6-8 hours.