In 2023, Zhengshantang and Ningxia Zhihuigong Cultural Industry Group jointly established Ningxia Zhengshantang Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Through the innovative collaboration between "Ningxia Medlar" and Zhengshantang, combined the craftsmanship of Jinjunmei black tea with authentic Ningxia Medlar leaves to develop Medlar Leaf Substitute Black Tea (referred to as "Medlar Black Tea"). This deepens the integration and development of "Medlar + Black Tea."
Zhengshantang, starting from Wuyi Mountain, the "birthplace of world black tea," has now journeyed to Ningxia, the "hometown of Chinese Medlar." With 400 years of dedication to black tea, they have partnered with Ningxia’s authentic medlar leaf products to create a new standard for health-enhancing black tea—Medlar Black Tea!
Medlar Black Tea is made from the buds or tender leaves of new medlar branches from Ningxia, refined by following the processes of withering, rolling, fermenting, and drying, which are typical in black tea production. The sensory qualities of this product include: a tight, dark glossy appearance, bright orange-yellow liquor, sweet and fresh fragrance, and a mellow, smooth taste. It retains the unique flavor of medlar leaves while incorporating the sweet, rich characteristics of black tea.
Medlar Black Tea is an innovative product, made from authentic ingredients with fresh creativity and exquisite craftsmanship. Its health benefits are worth further exploration and research. The leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots of medlar all have medicinal properties. According to the Animal Science Institute of the Ningxia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, a comparison of the nutrients in different parts of the medlar plant showed that medlar leaves contain significantly higher levels of flavonoids and polysaccharides than medlar berries, making them effective for antioxidation, lowering blood sugar, and protecting the liver and kidneys. Medlar leaves also contain eight times more iron than medlar berries. These nutritional advantages help boost the immune system.
Taste
Goji black tea · Goji Leave
Made from the buds or tender leaves of young medlar branches from Ningxia, following traditional black tea processing methods such as withering, rolling, fermenting, and drying.
Net weight: 50 G/1.76 Oz
Raw materials: Ningxia medlar leaves
Dry tea: A mix of brown and green, dark and moist; dry tea has a honeyed fruity fragrance and medlar leaf aroma
Soup:Orange-yellow
Taste: Sweet and mellow
Goji black tea · Lapsang Souchong
Crafted from authentic medlar leaves from Ningxia, processed with black tea techniques, then blended with Wuyi black tea. The black tea originates from Lapsang Souchong, while the medlar is the most authentic from Ningxia. "Medlar Black Tea · Zheng" derives its name from the word "Zheng" (meaning "authentic") to emphasize its pure origins and traditional craftsmanship. Savoring this tea reveals the original charm of black tea with a hint of pine smoke aroma.
Net weight: 50 G/1.76 Oz
Raw materials: Ningxia medlar leaves, Lapsang Souchong black tea
Dry tea: Dark brown with a slight green tinge; dry tea carries a pine smoke aroma
Soup:Orange-yellow
Taste: Sweet and mellow, with a longan broth flavor and a subtle pine smoke scent
Goji black tea · Wuyi Black Tea
Crafted from authentic medlar leaves from Ningxia, processed with black tea techniques, then blended with Wuyi black tea. "Medlar Black Tea · Su(粟）" carries layers of flavor that evoke the feeling of being surrounded by lush green mountains.
Net weight: 50 G/1.76 Oz
Raw materials: Ningxia medlar leaves, Wuyi black tea
Dry Tea: Dark brown, glossy; dry tea has a honeyed fruity fragrance
Soup: Orange-red
Taste:Sweet and mellow, with floral honey notes, a sweet potato-like aroma, and a hint of medlar leaf fragrance
How to brew
It is advisable to use a 120ml gaiwan for brewing.
1.Add 5g of tea after warming the cup and smell the tea aroma
2.Prepare pure water that stops boiling at 100°C
3.1-3 course fast rush out, do not soak for a long time. 4-6 courses soak for 5-10s, 6-10 courses about 15s.
The more times of brewing, the longer the soaking time, in order to ensure the stability of the tea soup.
What is the difference between Chinese black tea and Western black tea?
Chinese black tea uses small-leaf or large-leaf tea trees, which are hand-picked and made with traditional and innovative techniques to create complex flavors of flowers, fruits, honey or smoke. Western black tea usually uses large-leaf varieties, which are made into crushed tea through CTC (crush-tear-curl) process obtain a strong refreshing feeling and are optimized for the taste of milk and sugar. Chinese tea pursues the pure taste of tea.
Why are your lapsang souchong and Jinjunmei so famous?
Lapsang souchong black tea was first created by our company family's ancestors. It has the aroma of pine smoke and longan, and is the originator of the world's black tea. Jinjunmei was first created by Jiang Yuanxun, the founder of Zhengshantang. It has the aroma of flower, fruit and honey, and a sweet taste. It is a representative work of China's high-end black tea. They not only have a profound historical heritage and unique production process, but also have obvious advantages in aroma, taste and appearance.
What is the correct way to brew Chinese black tea?
①Use pure water above 95°C. ②Use a 120-150 ml covered bowl and add 3-5 grams of tea leaves. ③Drain the tea immediately after the first three infusions, soak for 10 seconds for the 4th-6th infusion to increase the aroma, and extend the infusion time by 5 seconds each time thereafter. High-quality black tea can be brewed more than 8 times in a row
Why can Chinese black tea be steeped multiple times?
Unlike tea bags with crushed leaves, high-quality loose leaf tea extracts substances more slowly and retains its aroma for a longer time. Tea's resistance to brewing is also an important indicator of tea quality. For example, Zhengshantang Jinjunmei, the raw materials come from the core protection area of Wuyishan National Park at high altitude. They are harvested once a year, and only the first spring tea tree buds are harvested. After the accumulation of summer, autumn and winter, the tea buds are rich in substances, so 3 grams of tea can be repeatedly brewed more than 12 times.
Do I need to add milk/sugar to Chinese black tea?
High-quality black tea can brew a rich aroma and sweet taste without adding anything. If you like, you can also try milk and sugar with strong tea (for example, crush the black tea and boil it into a deep red soup). But we recommend tasting it directly first, you may discover a new world!
What are the health benefits of Chinese black tea?
Chinese black tea contains antioxidant ingredients such as tea polyphenols and theaflavins, which can beautify the skin and promote digestion. Moderate drinking can help enhance immunity, and its gentle fermentation process can protect the stomach and intestines, making it suitable for long-term drinking.
How to identify high-quality Chinese black tea?
High-quality black tea leaves are tight and oily, with a rich aroma and no impurities. After brewing, the tea soup is orange-yellow or orange-red, translucent and clear, with a mellow and sweet taste, and the leaves are soft and complete.
Why does Chinese black tea have different flavors such as fruity and honey?
High-end Chinese tea pursues the original taste of tea without adding any flavors. Different tea tree varieties (such as Feizixiao’s lychee aroma), origin climate (such as lapsang souchong’s herbal aroma) and process differences (such as pinewood smoking gives lapsang souchong’s pine smoke aroma) together create a rich aroma.
Can black tea be stored for a long time like Pu'er tea?
Black tea can be stored for a long time, but it needs to be sealed and moisture-proof to avoid light. Long-term storage will easily cause the aroma to lose. After 3-5 years of transformation, the black tea with rich substances will become more mellow and present a unique aged flavor.
Is there any particular preference for drinking black tea in different seasons?
In autumn and winter, it is advisable to drink strong black tea to warm the body and nourish the stomach; in spring and summer, lightly fermented black tea (such as Junmei black tea) or cold brew can be used to cool down. It is recommended to drink tea with snacks in the morning to refresh yourself, and drink it in the evening to reduce the concentration of tea.
Skip to content
