At a glance
Dianhong Golden Needle is a needle-shaped Yunnan black-tea style. Jin Zhen means golden needle. The form does not identify one tea-plant cultivar or automatically place every packet above Golden Buds, Golden Silk or Golden Snail.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 滇红金针 |
| Tea family | Black tea |
| Associated origin | Yunnan; actual cultivar and locality depend on the product |
| Leaf form | Long, straight or needle-like bud material |
Taste and appearance
The inherited table describes intact, tight, straight material with pointed tips, lustrous dark leaf and vivid red liquor. Aroma is compared with malt sugar, flowers and fruit; the cup is full, mellow, smooth and sweet. Infused material is even, bud-rich, slender and lively. The golden name and dark-leaf table are retained as different inherited descriptions, not silently reconciled into a universal colour requirement.
The original liquor and infused-leaf photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.
The cover is the original dry-leaf illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Extra grade | Grade 1 | Grade 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-leaf shape | Intact, tight, straight strands with pointed tips | Intact, tight, straight, fairly pointed tips | Intact, tight, straight strands |
| Dry-leaf colour | Lustrous dark leaf | Lustrous dark leaf | Lustrous dark leaf |
| Liquor | Vivid red and bright | Vivid red, fairly bright | Vivid red, fairly bright |
| Aroma | Rich malt-sugar, floral and fruity fragrance | Fragrant malt-sugar, floral and fruity notes | Fragrant malt-sugar, floral and fruity notes |
| Taste | Full, mellow, smooth, lasting sweetness | Mellow, smooth and sweet | Full and mellow |
| Infused leaves | Even buds, slender forms and short stems, lively | Even buds, slender forms and short stems, fairly lively | Even buds, slender forms and short stems, fairly lively |
The dark-colour cells are preserved from the Chinese comparison. Neither the needle form nor a golden name certifies one compulsory picking or a universal quality hierarchy.
Names and origin
The old account names Lincang, Baoshan, Fengqing, Xishuangbanna and Dehong, with Fengqing inside Lincang rather than a separate peer-level region. Identified merchants also name distinct Yunnan localities and cultivar information for their own Golden Needle products. The old mechanical-straightening description is a making account, not proof that all needles use the same machine, cultivar or bud-only standard.
Everyday benefits
Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.
Who may enjoy this tea
It may suit someone exploring straight, bud-focused Yunnan black tea and malty, fruity or floral flavours. A smooth cup does not establish that it is caffeine-free or that longer steeping can never produce bitterness.
When to take care
- Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
- Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.
These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.
How to brew
Original prose: short gaiwan infusions
The earlier Chinese prose gives a white porcelain gaiwan, 1:20 tea-to-water ratio, 95–100°C / 203–212°F water and a 5-second pour after adding water. It does not specify a tea dose. The example below makes the ratio explicit; its amounts are an editorial illustration of the prose, not measurements inferred from the separate graphic.
| Detail | Original prose with an explicit ratio example |
|---|---|
| Tea | 5 g loose Dianhong Golden Needle as an editorial example |
| Actual water | 100 mL / about 3.4 US fl oz, measured; 5 g at 1:20 |
| Vessel | Heat-safe porcelain gaiwan with room for the measured water and leaves |
| Water temperature | 95–100°C / 203–212°F |
| First infusion | 5 seconds, then decant completely; account for filling and pouring time |
| Leaves | Kept separate from the liquid after each pour |
Use your packet’s complete directions first. These inherited methods and editorial examples are awaiting hands-on testing. The earlier five-to-seven-infusion statement is not a guarantee of equal-strength cups. The prose does not specify a leaf rinse; any rinse shown in the separate image is not added silently to this version and is not a validated disinfection step. Let the drink cool enough to sip.
Read the original illustration separately
The original graphic gives 5 g in a nominal 110 mL gaiwan, 95–100°C / 203–212°F and about 5 seconds for each of the first three drinking infusions, then longer waits. Actual water is not measured, so the vessel label does not verify the prose’s 1:20 ratio. Preheating is not validated sterilisation and a stream image does not establish potable water.
For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.
Adjust your cup
| What you notice | One change to try |
|---|---|
| Too strong, bitter or drying | Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time |
| Weak or watery | Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose |
| Later infusions become stronger | Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves |
| Different from a flavour description | Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup |
Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.
How to buy
Check the actual cultivar, county, harvest, picking and maker. Ask what the seller means by Golden Needle and whether its grade is an internal product designation. Do not use dark versus golden colour alone to authenticate the tea or infer an exact oxidation percentage.
See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Extra grade | 500 | 100 |
| Grade 1 | 300 | 60 |
| Grade 2 | 250 | 50 |
Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.
How to store
Original storage method
The earlier entry uses a sealed foil or kraft-paper pouch inside a closed, dry container such as a tin, kept cool, dry and away from light and smells. Its casual tea-table or bookshelf example assumes those conditions: use a suitable cupboard if a shelf is sunny or near steam. Reseal the inner pouch after taking tea. Plain paper without a moisture-resistant lining is not equivalent to a sealed foil pouch.
Its historical targets were below 25°C / 77°F and below 50% relative humidity, with a 24-month general shelf-life reference. These are legacy figures, not a freshly verified expiry date or a remaining-life prediction for an opened packet. The actual product label, seal and storage conditions take precedence. The earlier ordinary-storage method does not require refrigeration; follow any different instruction for your own product.
In a UK or US kitchen
Keep the packet away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, direct sun and spice containers. A decorative outer tin does not replace the inner seal. Keep a small daily portion separate if that helps resealing the main supply. Do not assume a long shelf life from the tea’s dark colour. For opened-packet handling, read storing an opened packet.
Origin, processing and history
The retained five-box map shows picking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. It omits the detailed straightening or needle-shaping discussed in the old prose. Keep it as a simplified black-tea overview, not evidence that every Golden Needle is made by an identical mechanical process.
Common questions
Does Golden Needle mean the same tea as Jin Jun Mei?
No. This entry concerns a needle-shaped Yunnan black tea; Jin Jun Mei is a different named black-tea tradition. A golden appearance does not make them interchangeable or establish a universal ranking. Check actual origin and product specification rather than relying on colour.
Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?
Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.
Compare Jin Jun Mei, or browse the black tea overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.