Meijiawu Longjing vs Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)

A detailed comparison of two Chinese teas

Quick Verdict

Meijiawu Longjing is best for those who prefer chestnut flavors with a light medium body. Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) suits those who enjoy plum notes and a medium mouthfeel.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Meijiawu Longjing Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)
Category Green Tea Black Tea
Region Hangzhou Hangzhou
Oxidation 2% 95%
Caffeine Moderate Moderate
Body Light Medium Medium
Primary Flavors Chestnut, Vegetal Plum, Honey, Floral
Best Brewing 80°C, 30s first steep 90°C, 20s first steep
Re-steep Potential 5 steeps 5 steeps
Price Range $18-$45/50g $20-$45/50g

Flavor Comparison

Meijiawu Longjing

Longjing from the Meijiawu village, one of the five core Longjing production areas. Slightly more affordable than Xi Hu proper but excellent quality.

Flavor Notes

Chestnut Vegetal Sweet Grass

Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum)

Rare black tea from the Longjing region of Hangzhou. Delicate and nuanced with plum-like sweetness and floral notes.

Flavor Notes

Plum Honey Floral Dried Fruit

What This Comparison Really Shows

Category & Origin Context

This is a cross-category comparison: Meijiawu Longjing is green tea, while Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) is black tea. They also share Hangzhou as an origin, which makes differences in processing and leaf grade easier to isolate. This matters because category tells you the processing logic, while region tells you the growing conditions behind aroma, body, and finish.

Tasting Difference

Flavor is the clearest split. Meijiawu Longjing emphasizes chestnut and vegetal with a light medium body; Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) leans toward plum, honey, and floral with a medium body. If you are choosing for aroma, compare the dry leaf and the first rinse; if you are choosing for texture, judge the second and third infusions, where body and aftertaste usually become easier to read.

Brewing Implications

Brewing should not be identical by default. Meijiawu Longjing starts best around 80C, while Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) starts around 90C. Keep the leaf ratio steady, then adjust water temperature and steep time; that makes the comparison fair without forcing one tea into another tea's brewing style.

Buying Decision

Choose Meijiawu Longjing when you want chestnut and vegetal, moderate caffeine, and a light medium body. Choose Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) when plum, honey, and floral, moderate caffeine, and a medium body sound more useful. For buying, favor the tea whose origin and processing style match how you actually drink: daily cups reward reliability, while slower gongfu sessions reward aromatic complexity and re-steep performance.

Side-by-Side Tasting Method

In a side-by-side tasting, brew both teas with the same vessel size and similar leaf weight, then adjust only after the first two infusions. Track three things: which tea opens faster, which tea keeps its structure after several steeps, and which finish you still notice after the cup is empty. That tasting method usually reveals more than comparing dry descriptions or price alone.

Common Comparison Mistake

The common mistake is judging both teas by the same standard. Meijiawu Longjing should be evaluated as green tea from Hangzhou; Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) should be evaluated as black tea from Hangzhou. A tea can be objectively well made yet still be the wrong choice for your preferred water temperature, session length, flavor intensity, or caffeine tolerance.

Which Tea Should You Choose?

Choose Meijiawu Longjing if you:

Choose Jiuqu Hongmei (Nine Bend Red Plum) if you:

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