Golden Bud Green Tea

Anji Huang Jin Ya, also known as Golden Bud green tea, is a rare and precious tea from Anji County in Zhejiang Province, China. This exceptional tea is distinguished by its striking golden-yellow buds and leaves, a result of a natural genetic mutation that causes the tea plant to produce less chlorophyll. The tea has been celebrated as the "Panda in Tea" by the industry due to its scarcity, difficulty in cultivation, and high cost of management and maintenance.

Despite its golden appearance and name, Anji Huang Jin Ya is processed as a green tea rather than a yellow tea, following traditional green tea production methods. The tea is characterized by what is known as the "three yellows": yellow dry leaves, yellow wet leaves, and yellow tea liquor, giving it a distinctive and captivating appearance throughout the brewing process.

The most prized harvests come from early spring, when the tender golden buds are carefully hand-picked before the temperature rises above 20 degrees Celsius, as the unique golden color only develops when the tea bushes grow slowly in cooler conditions. The buds are immediately pan-fried to halt oxidation, preserving their vibrant golden color and fresh aroma, before being dried at precise temperatures to enhance their naturally sweet and mellow flavor.

Anji Huang Jin Ya is known for its unique milky fragrance with smooth, soothing notes of roasted nuts, fresh hay, orchid, and lavender. The tea is exceptionally high in amino acids—containing up to 9%, which is three to four times that of ordinary tea—contributing to its sweet, umami-rich character and lingering aftertaste.