Huang Jin Gui (黄金桂, Huáng Jīn Guì) also called Huang Dan is a kind of Chinese oolong tea. It is native to the Anxi County of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province.
Huang Jin means “gold” and Gui means “osmanthus”. The tea liquid of Huang Jin Gui is yellow or golden, and the aroma of it is similar to the osmanthus’, so it is called “Huang Jin Gui”. It is also commonly known as “eight immortals tea” in other places.
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History of Huang Jin Gui
Around 1850-1860, an Anxi tea farmer went to visit his relatives. On the way home, he saw two amazing tea trees with striking flowers growing between the cracks of the roadside stones. Then he picked the branches and took them home to plant them in a pot.
After careful cultivation, when the buds and leaves are luxuriant and tender, he picked the bus and leaves to make them into tea for his neighbors to taste. Surprisingly, everyone can smell the strong fragrance of the tea without uncovering the cup lid.
After the discussion among the people, the tea was named “Huang Dan” because its color is light, yellow, and golden. Huang means “yellow” and Dan means “light”. This name has been handed down to this day.
In 1940, Huang Jin Gui began to be exported to Hong Kong and Singapore.
In March 1982, the special-grade Huang Jin Gui produced by Anxi Tea Factory was regarded as “High-Quality Products ” by China’s Ministry of Commerce.
In 1984, Huang Jin Gui’s tea tree was recognized as a “National Good Breed” in the National Tea Tree Variety Review Meeting.
In 1985, Huang Jin Gui was awarded the “Famous Chinese Tea” by the China Tea Society.
In 1986, Huang Jin Gui was awarded the title of “National Famous Tea” by China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Characteristics of Huang Jin Gui
The unique characteristics of Huang Jin Gui are formed due to the variety of its tea tree and processing technology.
The fresh tea leaves of Huang Jin Gui are usually picked in mid-April, more than 10 days earlier than other teas and nearly 20 days than Tieguanyin tea. The fresh leaves are very thin and the color is yellow or golden.
After processing, the shape of Huang Jin Gui tea leaves is granular but not tight. Its color is black-green and black-yellow. After brewing, the tea liquid is yellow or golden.
Huang Jin Gui has a much strong fragrance that is similar to that of osmanthus, which is the most unique characteristic of it. So it is famous for “knowing Huang Jin Gui by smelling its fragrance”.
The fragrance of Huang Jin Gui is praised as “Tou Tian Xiang”, which means “fragrance through the sky”.
Benefits of Huang Jin Gui
The selenium content of Huang Jin Gui tea is very high. Selenium can stimulate immune protein and antibodies to resist disease and inhibit the development of cancer cells.
The content ratio of manganese, iron, fluorine, potassium, and sodium in golden osmanthus is higher than that in other teas, especially the high content of fluorine in Huang Jin Gui ranks top in all kinds of teas, which has a significant effect on prevention and treatment of caries and senile osteoporosis.
Benefits of Huang Jin Gui tea:
- Anti-aging
- Anti-cancer
- Weight loss
- Help digestion
- Nourish stomach
- Improve hearing
- Lower cholesterol
- Lower blood lipids
- Treat caries and senile osteoporosis