Gold Thread Reserve

Our Gold Thread Reserve is the first pick of the Spring season, from Feng Qing tea garden. It is comprised of young tender leaf buds, each individually hand-picked to not only deliver the aromatics for which this tea is known, but also the sweetness and exceptionally smooth mouth feel that can only come from early stage tea buds.

Developed in the late 1930's, Gold Thread Reserve is alternatively known as Jin Ya Dian Hong. "Jin Ya" means "gold bud" in Chinese, and "Dian Hong" means Yunnan red. The tea was crafted from the buds of the Da Ye tea plant, an ancient cultivar indigenous to Yunnan Province and one traditionally used to produce Pu-erh teas.

Once harvested, the tea is left to sun wither, a step that breaks down the tea's cell walls and begins the enzymatic oxidation process. Once withered, they are bruised and allowed to sit until the light green color of the buds take on a yellowish golden hue, at which point the tea is given its final roast.

The result is exceptionally smooth, breathtakingly aromatic and complex. The golden red infusion yields a malty sweetness (maltiness is enhanced by sun withering), with notes of orange, raisins, maple syrup and brown sugar.

Brewing Guide

We've always said that higher grade teas were easier to brew than their later harvest counterparts. Gold Thread Reserve is no exception. It's exceptionally smooth without much astringency or heaviness. The Gold Thread Reserve should be brewed to accentuate the best that this tea has to offer: it's smooth mouth feel and exceptional aromatics.

To do so, we suggest using water that's a little more below boil (200 degrees), and allowing the tea to steep for no longer than 1 minute 30 seconds on the first brew, adding 30 seconds on subsequent infusions.