At a glance
Xiao Chi Gan is a Wuyi black-tea trade name that the old collection also calls Tong Jun Mei, or Bronze Eyebrow. It describes a bud-and-leaf style rather than the all-bud idea associated with Jin Jun Mei. The trade names do not establish one universal grade ladder or a single cultivar.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 小赤甘（铜骏眉） |
| Tea family | Black tea |
| Associated origin | Wuyi/Tongmu black-tea tradition, Fujian; actual garden may vary |
| Leaf form | Fine, tightly worked dark strands with some golden hairs |
Taste and appearance
The earlier profile describes fine, tight, even strands with golden hairs and dark leaf with yellow tones. Liquor is described as clear, bright golden yellow, with combined floral and fruity fragrance and a fresh, sweet, lively cup. Copper-coloured infused leaves are part of the sensory account, not an origin test. The earlier prose’s greener-yellow wording is not silently turned into a green-tea classification.
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 | Fine, tight and even, clear golden hairs | Fine and tight, reasonably even, some golden hairs | Fine and tight, reasonably even, a little golden hair |
| Dry-leaf colour | Black with yellow tones | Black with yellow tones | Black with yellow tones |
| Liquor | Golden yellow, clear and bright | Golden yellow, clear and bright | Golden yellow, clear and bright |
| Aroma | Combined floral and fruity fragrance | Lasting floral-fruity fragrance | Delicate floral-fruity fragrance |
| Taste | Fresh, sweet and lively, long finish | Fresh, reasonably sweet and lively, lasting finish | Fresh, reasonably sweet and lively |
| Infused leaves | Bright, copper coloured and even | Bright, copper coloured, reasonably even | Reasonably bright, copper coloured |
The inherited tiers do not establish a universal Bronze Eyebrow grade or certify that no screening was used. Repeated colour and liquor cells are preserved.
Names and origin
The source names Wuyishan in Nanping, Fujian, and claims wild reserve material at 1,500–1,800 m. Named sellers also describe Xiao Chi Gan made with different cultivar and garden information, so that older precise sourcing claim cannot define every packet. The old one-bud/two-leaf and less-open-leaf description is retained as its picking account. Tong Jun Mei is retained for recognition without certifying that every seller uses it identically.
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
Try an identified product if you want a bud-and-leaf Wuyi black tea with a fresh floral-fruity profile. Bronze in an alternative name is not a measured quality score or a reason to assume it is inferior for your taste.
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 Xiao Chi Gan 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 shared original graphic gives 5 g in a nominal 110 mL gaiwan, 95–100°C / 203–212°F water and about 5 seconds for the first three drinking infusions, then longer. Actual water after leaf displacement is not stated. Do not infer the separate prose’s 1:20 ratio from nominal capacity. Warming is preheating, not validated disinfection; use 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 maker, growing locality, cultivar, picking, harvest and smoke status. Ask whether the seller uses Tong Jun Mei as a synonym for this particular product. Hand rolling, no screening and wild reserve material are not universal guarantees from the name alone.
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 | 750 | 150 |
| Grade 1 | 500 | 100 |
| Grade 2 | 350 | 70 |
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 outline shows picking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. An identified maker’s fuller Xiao Chi Gan description includes additional heated working after oxidation and its own drying arrangements. The simple outline is not every operation or proof that all examples are unscreened, handmade, unsmoked or made from one cultivar.
Common questions
Does the Xiao Chi Gan name prove Tongmu wild material from one elevation?
No. It is a tea trade name, and identified products can state different cultivars and gardens. Check the actual maker’s picking, locality and sourcing evidence. The older reserve/wild/elevation account does not certify every modern packet.
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 Da Chi Gan, 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.