Three teas – Darjeeling, Dong Fang Mei Ren (from Taiwan), and Jin Jun Mei (from Wuyishan) – are very similar. Their shared characteristics can also be seen in Zhong Hong, a China red or a China black from the Feng Qing area of Lincang County in Yunnan.
My words will likely spark a row as the experts end up in a hen-and-egg controversy. However, the fact remains that these are all great teas from their respective regions and command premium prices depending upon their availability and demand.
When visiting the offices of the Taiwan Tea Corporation in June, I accidentally coined the term “xi fang mei ren” for Darjeeling tea when some people were struggling with the pronunciation of Darjeeling tea from India. The name fits very snugly because we are the western-most tea-growing region of inner Tibet.
Darjeeling’s annual production has dropped from 11 million kilos to 7.5 million kilos because of fashionable organic production techniques. However, this tea is still in very high demand in tea circles and 25-30 million kilos of tea are sold as Darjeeling under various garbs and blends despite control mechanisms put into place by the Indian Tea Board, such as the Darjeeling Certification Trade Mark (CTM).
Robert Fortune, who collected tea seeds and plants from China in 1840s, could not imagine the potential of his work. The meager fees he received for the great feat he accomplished are truly pitiful in comparison to the rewards that should have been bestowed on Mr. Fortune. If a Nobel Prize was ever awarded for tea in those early days, coffee-drinking Norwegian Robert Fortune would have been a contender.
Since 1976 when I first landed in Chongtong, I have been proudly associated with this tea. Ever since that day, my travels to the far corners of the earth have earned me many smiles and beaming faces, thanks to the wonderful aromas and great cups of Darjeeling.
I love the fact that Darjeeling teas don’t have to hold a competitive resentment toward other tea producing nations rather share in the love of the leaf. Premium teas are honored by all who appreciate the efforts needed to produce such greatness. I’m also happy to hear that organic procedures are being adopted on a large scale as I believe consumption of teas with pesticides can have a negative impact on health and wellness over the long term.
Rajiv, there has got to be a place for you written in the history of Darjeeling tea. You are a great advocate. My own coffee-drinking Norwegian father never had the pleasure of drinking Darjeeling…we just didn’t know about it back in the days when we were drinking Lipton powdered instant tea in a jar.
Sometimes I compare Darjeeling with Pu’er – looking at the topography of the terrain and altitude..but leaf size desist me to do that the next moment – however the fact remains that Darjeeling commands more reviews and previews like wine and pu’er and maybe this new avatar – xi fang Mei ren – will evoke more thoughts in the minds of those avid blog writers to cover Darjeeling to its rightful place in the tea world..it is a white man’s tea but finding its place in the minds and stomach of orient lately…
The above Darjeeling Tea photo is stolen from Facebook and doesn’t belong to the author. He could have atleast credited the owner of the photo. Shame. Internet has become such a place for shameless people to steal whatever they want without seeking permission. Congrats.
Thank you for your concern. Although the photo was originally published on Facebook, it was taken by a good friend of the contributor’s and he did inform her of his post. Of course, in the future, we will be more vigilant about crediting the source in such situations. We have replaced the photo with one taken by the contributor.
Glen I did not know that this photo belonged to you – Kim Hyun Ji had it on her facebook and was mentioned as of Sungma from Darjeeling – however I am sorry if you are hurt.
It does not concern if the photo is mine, what concerns is plagiarism. Glad Erika, you changed the photo.
for me, Dajeeling also have many different kind(s), so some of them are similar with Jin Jun Mei ~, some of them are similar with Dong Fang Mei Ren 東方美人、but I don’t think Jin Jun Mei is similar with dong fang Mei Ren, there are different. of course, I mean the Best 東方美人！
I like & love 東方美人 very much and studied them very much and many years …. it’s my personal commend, Just for everybody’s REF.
椪風茶（膨風茶）、東方美人茶の起源
椪風茶の起源は台湾が日本統治下の頃である（１９２０年代）。当時、伝統的な烏龍茶の品質の改良の為、茶農家は新製法を開発し、重醗酵を普及させた（茶葉の面積の７５％が紅くなるまで醗酵させる）。
１９２０年代のある初夏、新竹北埔区、峨眉区にウンカが大発生し重大な危害を及ぼした。この危害を受けた茶葉は高品質の伝統的な烏龍茶に仕上げるのは難しかったが、ある勤勉で節約家の客家の茶農家は、ウンカの危害に遭った茶葉にも拘らず摘み取り、当時普及した改良製法による重醗酵烏龍茶を生産した。出来上がった茶は特別な熟果香、糖蜜香があり、滋味まろやかでコクがあり、風味も特別だった。その茶農家は生産した少量の茶を台北市まで売りに行ったが、なんと高値で売れたばかりでなく、一般の茶葉の１３倍の値がついた。故郷の人々はこのことを信じず、彼はホラを吹いていると考えた（台湾語及び客家語の「椪風」或いは「膨風」はホラ吹きの意味）。「椪風茶」或いは「膨風茶」の名はこの出来事により広く伝わった。
椪風茶はイギリスに輸出され、イギリス王室はこの形の美しさ、色艶、香りがすばらしいお茶を非常に賞賛し、王侯貴族、文化人達は宮廷に招かれお茶を賜った。席上ある文化人は詩を詠みこの東洋のすばらしいお茶を飲むと、まるで美女の舌先がやさしく、柔らかく、心地よく口の中で行き来しているようだと賞賛した。それゆえに「東方美人茶」という美しい名前も勝ち取ることができた。
欧米で椪風茶は「香檳烏龍」とも呼ばれている。なぜなら椪風茶は烏龍茶類の中で最高級品であり、それはまるでシャンパンがワインの中で最高級品であると言われているのと同様だからである。
I am sorry if I have hurt anybody’s sentiments by using this image here – my intentions are always to promote Darjeeling which has been a passion and an lifelong commitment to me.
My little comment ⇒ 東方美人 is belong to 青茶（烏龍茶）、and Darjeeling Tea or Jin Jun mei are “blcak tea” 紅茶。and we don’t put suger or milk or cream for 東方美人！
Darjeeling Tea & Jin Jun Mei are （完）全発酵 (fermentation) 、and Darjeeling always drinked with mile or suger ….., 東方美人 is belong to 部分発酵、not 100% fermentation, and she does not need any partner, like suger, milk, cream etc. THIS IS ALSO FYI. ご参考まで
台灣東方美人特色是蜜香重發酵 (this is point, not 100% fementation, 與金駿眉，大吉嶺 (100% fementation) 外觀香気特色絕然不同!
The author in his zest to promote Darjeeling, merely picked 2 of the most expensive & well-reputed teas from China and Taiwan to associate with Darjeeling.
Like Athena mentioned above, Dong Fang Mei Ren is a wulong tea, not a black tea like the other 2.
Further, Jin Jun Mei is a bud only, hand made and hand picked tea.
This is the equivalent of marketing a car (whether it is a Ford, a Tata or a Jaguar, it matters not) as similar to a ‘Ferrari’ and a Mercedes Benz. Just tacking on 2 dissimilar well-known, reputable brands.
Right, it’s what I want to say. my English is not so good, but very happy that you can understand, so happy ! If there are any chance, I would like to show everybody “Tea Cremony” for 東方美人、Jin Jun Mei ＆Darjeeling, then you ( everybody) will know what I (we) mean. appreciated !
Thanks Minami, as expected my writing evoked lot of reactions, and your proposal of presenting the tea ceremonies associated with these three most expensive teas of Taiwan, China and India will go a long way in letting people know about these teas. If possible add Gyokuro to this list, being the best of Japan.