Yunnan Golden Tips

Yunnan golden tips

Yunnan Golden Tips is a bud-only black tea from Yunnan province, China. The leaves are covered in fine golden hairs (the "tips"), which give this tea its name and its distinctive soft, sweet character. It's one of the more refined Yunnan black teas — lighter and more floral than a typical Dian Hong, with notes of maple sweetness and a clean finish.

Because it's made entirely from buds rather than mature leaves, the flavour is delicate. You'll notice a floral quality that sits somewhere between a black tea and a white tea. It brews at a slightly lower temperature than most black teas (85°C rather than 90°C), which keeps it smooth and prevents any bitterness.

If you're already familiar with our Yunnan Black Tea (Dian Hong), think of Golden Tips as its lighter, more elegant sibling. Dian Hong gives you malt and body; Golden Tips gives you florals and sweetness. Both come from Yunnan, but the bud-only picking and gentler processing create a noticeably different cup.

Brewing guide

Western style: Use 2g per 250ml with 85°C water. Steep 3 minutes. Good for 2 infusions.

Gongfu style: Use 4g per 150ml gaiwan or teapot. Pre-warm the vessel. Brew with 85°C water, 20 seconds for the first 3 infusions, adding 20 seconds from the fourth. You can get about 5 infusions.

Tea profile

Taste: Floral, maple-sweet, refreshing
Type: Black tea (bud-only)
Origin: Yunnan, China
Caffeine: High
Ingredients: Pure loose tea leaves. No artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Storage

Keep in an airtight container, away from light and moisture.

About Yunnan teas

Yunnan province is one of the oldest tea-producing regions in the world. The large-leaf tea varieties grown there produce teas with more natural sweetness and body than most other Chinese tea regions. 

Joanne's tip

A customer who'd visited tea farms in China told us our Yunnan Gold Tips was "the same quality as cups I tried at producer shops" — that's the kind of feedback that makes my day. I'd suggest trying this one in a gaiwan if you have one, at 85°C. The lower temperature matters here — it keeps the florals bright and the sweetness forward. If you're deciding between this and the Dian Hong, get a sample of each ($8) and compare them side by side.