Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong – Big Gold Needle Black Tea
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Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong – Big Gold Needle Black Tea
Long golden tea buds, a naturally honeyed fragrance and a rich, velvety flavour of malt, caramel and cocoa. Our Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong, also known as Big Gold Needle Black Tea, is a distinctive Chinese loose-leaf black tea from the mountains of Yunnan Province.
Made from selected tender buds and fine tips of Yunnan large-leaf tea plants, this elegant Dianhong is immediately recognisable by its long, golden needle-like appearance. The fine golden hairs on the young tea material give the leaves their striking colour, while careful black tea processing develops a warm and inviting aroma.
The first impression is honey: fragrant, floral and naturally sweet. As the tea infuses, deeper notes of rich malt, ripe fruit and soft caramel emerge, followed by cocoa and a gentle hint of spice.
The liquor develops a beautiful deep amber colour, with a full, rounded body and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Its natural sweetness makes it particularly enjoyable without milk or sugar.
Despite the name Honey Fragrant Dianhong, this tea contains no added honey. Its honey-like aroma is part of the tea's natural flavour profile, created through the interaction of leaf material and black tea processing.
Whether you enjoy a generous pot of black tea or prefer the shorter, repeated infusions of Gongfu brewing, Big Gold Needle Dianhong offers a rewarding combination of richness, sweetness and aromatic complexity.
For lovers of golden-tipped Chinese black tea, it is a beautiful example of the character that makes Yunnan Dianhong so distinctive.
Tea Name: Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong
Alternative Name: Big Gold Needle Black Tea
Chinese Tea Name: Da Jin Zhen (大金针)
Tea Category: Chinese Black Tea (Hong Cha)
Tea Style: Dianhong (滇红)
Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Tea Plant: Yunnan Large-Leaf Tea Variety
Leaf Selection: Tender Buds and Fine Golden Tips
Leaf Appearance: Long, Golden Needle-Like Leaves
Growing Elevation: Described as 1,500m+
Aroma: Wildflower Honey, Ripe Fruit and Malt
Flavour: Caramel, Cocoa, Honeyed Malt and Gentle Spice
Liquor: Deep Amber
Body: Full and Rounded
Mouthfeel: Smooth and Velvety
Finish: Clean, Naturally Sweet and Lingering
Western Brewing: 2–3g / 200ml / 90–95°C / 3–4 Minutes
Gongfu Brewing: 5–6g / Small Gaiwan / 90–95°C / 10–15 Seconds Initially
Pack Sizes: 50g, 125g and 250g
Caffeine: Naturally Contains Caffeine
What Makes Our Big Gold Needle Dianhong Special?
Big Gold Needle Dianhong combines the rich character of Yunnan black tea with a particularly attractive golden-tipped leaf style.
- Long golden needles: Tender tea buds and fine tips create an elegant, needle-like appearance.
- Yunnan large-leaf tea: Made from the large-leaf tea variety associated with the region's distinctive black teas.
- Naturally honey-fragrant: Floral honey aromas develop without adding honey or flavouring.
- Rich malty depth: A satisfying black tea foundation with natural sweetness.
- Caramel and cocoa: Warm, rounded tasting notes complement the honeyed aroma.
- Gentle fruit and spice: Additional complexity appears as the tea opens in hot water.
- Deep amber liquor: An attractive infusion with a full, velvety body.
- Versatile brewing: Suitable for Western-style teapots and Gongfu preparation.
- Pure loose-leaf tea: No added honey, sugar or flavourings.
The result is a black tea with the depth to satisfy lovers of rich, malty flavours and the aromatic sweetness to appeal to anyone discovering premium Chinese tea.
What Is Dianhong Black Tea?
Dianhong (滇红) is the Chinese name for black tea from Yunnan Province.
In Chinese tea terminology, Dian is a traditional abbreviation for Yunnan, while Hong refers to red tea, the category generally called black tea in Britain.
Yunnan is particularly well known for its large-leaf tea plants and its long tea-growing history. While the province is famous for Puer, it also produces a wide range of rich and aromatic black teas.
Dianhong black tea became established as a commercial tea style in the late 1930s and is now appreciated for its distinctive balance of malt, honey-like sweetness, fruit and cocoa.
Different Dianhong teas can look and taste remarkably different.
Some feature tightly rolled golden spirals. Others are made with darker twisted leaves, or combine young buds with larger leaf material.
Big Gold Needle Dianhong stands out for its long, golden needle-like shape and naturally sweet aroma.
Our Honey Fragrant selection offers a full-bodied infusion with wildflower honey, ripe fruit, caramel, cocoa and a subtle touch of spice.
What Does Big Gold Needle Mean?
Big Gold Needle is an English name for Da Jin Zhen (大金针), a style of golden-tipped Yunnan black tea.
The name describes the long, slender appearance of the finished buds and fine tips.
Young tea buds are covered with delicate hairs, known as trichomes. During processing, these can become especially visible and give the finished tea its golden appearance.
In a Big Gold Needle tea, the leaf material is shaped into long, relatively straight pieces rather than tight spirals or conventional twisted leaves.
Our selection is described as being made predominantly from tender golden buds and fine tips.
Its golden appearance is one of its most attractive characteristics, but colour alone is not a universal guarantee of grade or quality.
The finished tea should also be judged by its aroma, flavour, texture and brewing performance.
Here, the long golden leaves produce a rich, honey-fragrant infusion with malt, caramel, cocoa and a smooth finish.
Why Is This Dianhong Naturally Honey-Fragrant?
The name Honey Fragrant Dianhong refers to the tea's natural aroma and flavour, not to an added ingredient.
During black tea processing, the leaves are withered, shaped, oxidised and dried. These stages help develop the complex aromas associated with Dianhong.
Depending on the leaf material and processing, the finished tea can reveal notes reminiscent of honey, flowers, malt, fruit and cocoa.
Our Big Gold Needle Dianhong has a particularly inviting honey-like fragrance, accompanied by ripe-fruit and malty notes.
The flavour is naturally sweet and rounded, with caramel warmth and a gentle cocoa finish.
There is no added honey, sugar or sweetener.
Wildflower honey is a tasting description used to communicate the tea's aroma, just as cocoa and caramel describe impressions in the finished cup.
For the clearest expression of these notes, try the tea plain before adding anything else.
From the Tea Mountains of Yunnan
Yunnan Province lies in south-west China and is home to diverse mountain environments and long-established tea-growing traditions.
The region is particularly associated with large-leaf tea plants, including varieties commonly classified within Camellia sinensis var. assamica.
These tea plants are used to produce a wide range of teas, from raw and ripe Puer to rich Dianhong black tea.
Our Big Gold Needle Dianhong is described as coming from high-elevation tea-growing areas above 1,500 metres.
The precise county, mountain, tea garden and harvest year are not specified for this selection.
For that reason, its geographic origin is best described as Yunnan Province, China, without assigning it to an unconfirmed village or estate.
What makes this tea distinctive is the combination of its golden-tipped leaf selection and rich aromatic profile.
Its deep amber liquor offers honeyed malt, soft caramel, cocoa and gentle fruity notes, creating a satisfying expression of Yunnan black tea.
How Is Big Gold Needle Black Tea Made?
Big Gold Needle belongs to the Dianhong black tea family.
Black tea processing generally involves several important stages: withering, rolling or shaping, oxidation and drying.
Withering reduces moisture in the fresh leaves and prepares them for further processing.
Shaping gives the tea its finished appearance. In this style, the buds and tips retain an elongated, needle-like form.
Oxidation develops the characteristic darker colour and many of the rich aromas associated with Chinese black tea.
Drying stabilises the finished leaves for storage and brewing.
The exact finishing temperatures and drying method used for this particular batch have not been separately documented.
The result is an aromatic Yunnan black tea with a distinctive golden appearance, rich honey-like fragrance and smooth, rounded flavour.
Big Gold Needle should not be confused with Shai Hong, a specific sun-dried black tea style, unless that finishing method is confirmed for the batch.
Tasting Notes – Wildflower Honey, Malt, Caramel and Cocoa
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Dry Leaf Appearance | Long, golden needle-like buds and tips |
| Dry Leaf Aroma | Wildflower honey, ripe fruit and warm malt |
| Infused Aroma | Honeyed sweetness with soft floral notes |
| Flavour | Rich malt, caramel and cocoa |
| Fruit Notes | Gentle ripe-fruit impressions |
| Additional Notes | Subtle warming spice |
| Liquor | Deep amber |
| Body | Full and rounded |
| Mouthfeel | Smooth and velvety |
| Finish | Clean, sweet and lingering |
The dry leaves release an inviting aroma of honey, ripe fruit and malt.
When hot water is added, the golden needles gradually open and produce a deep amber infusion.
The first sip reveals a full, satisfying black tea body, with rich malt providing the foundation.
Caramel-like sweetness follows, accompanied by soft cocoa and dark chocolate impressions.
Gentle floral notes lift the aroma, while a touch of spice adds warmth towards the finish.
The texture is smooth and velvety, with natural sweetness lingering after each sip.
For a softer, sweeter cup, begin with a shorter infusion. Longer steeping can bring out a stronger malty character and more astringency.
Honey, caramel, cocoa and fruit are natural tasting notes, not ingredients added to the tea.
How to Brew Big Gold Needle Dianhong
Our Honey Fragrant Dianhong can be brewed in a conventional teapot, mug infuser or traditional Gongfu gaiwan.
For a balanced cup, use fresh water at approximately 90–95°C.
Western-Style Brewing
- Warm your teapot or mug infuser with a little hot water, then empty it.
- Add approximately 2–3g of Big Gold Needle Dianhong per 200ml of water.
- Heat fresh water to 90–95°C.
- Steep for approximately 3–4 minutes.
- Strain the leaves completely and enjoy.
- Reinfuse with fresh hot water if the flavour remains enjoyable.
For a lighter cup that highlights floral honey notes, begin with 2g and a three-minute infusion.
For a fuller, more malty cup, use 3g and steep closer to four minutes.
Gongfu Brewing
- Warm a small gaiwan or teapot, ideally around 100–120ml.
- Add approximately 5–6g of tea.
- Heat fresh water to 90–95°C.
- If desired, give the leaves a very brief rinse and discard the water.
- Steep the first drinking infusion for approximately 10–15 seconds.
- Pour off completely and enjoy.
- Continue with fresh hot water, increasing the steeping time gradually.
Gongfu brewing is particularly useful for exploring how the tea's honey, malt, cocoa and fruity notes develop across successive infusions.
| Brewing Method | Tea and Water | Suggested Time |
|---|---|---|
| Western – Lighter Cup | 2g / 200ml / 90–95°C | 3 minutes |
| Western – Fuller Cup | 3g / 200ml / 90–95°C | 4 minutes |
| Gongfu – First Infusion | 5–6g / 100–120ml / 90–95°C | 10–15 seconds |
| Gongfu – Later Infusions | Same leaves, fresh hot water | Increase gradually |
The tea may provide several enjoyable infusions. The current brewing guidance suggests two to three Western-style re-steeps or approximately five to eight Gongfu infusions, depending on brewing strength.
Brewing tip: Try the first infusion without milk or sugar. This makes it easier to appreciate the tea's natural honey fragrance, rich malt and cocoa-like sweetness.
Big Gold Needle vs Golden Spiral and Other Yunnan Black Teas
Yunnan produces many styles of Dianhong black tea, with differences in leaf shape, bud selection, processing and flavour.
Great Tea offers several distinctive selections for exploring these variations.
| Tea | Leaf Style | Flavour Character |
|---|---|---|
| Big Gold Needle Dianhong | Long golden buds and fine tips | Wildflower honey, malt, caramel, cocoa and gentle spice |
| Whole Bud Golden Spiral Dianhong | Golden buds rolled into tight spirals | Baked sugar, dark honey, malt and cocoa |
| Jin Zhi Yu Ye Dianhong | Selected dark leaves with golden-tipped buds | Honey, malt, dark chocolate and soft caramel |
| Mao Feng Sun-Baked Dianhong | Slender twisted leaves with a sun-dried finish | Brown sugar, dried stone fruit, honey and cocoa |
| Yunnan Wild Dianhong | Loose-leaf tea with an old-tree sourcing designation | Dried fruit, brown sugar, honey, orchid and wood |
Choose Big Gold Needle if you enjoy long golden-tipped leaves, a pronounced honey-like aroma and a rich, velvety black tea body.
For tightly curled golden buds, discover our Whole Bud Golden Spiral Dianhong.
For another golden-tipped Yunnan black tea, explore our Jin Zhi Yu Ye Dianhong.
For a traditional sun-dried black tea, try our Mao Feng Sun-Baked Dianhong.
For a different Yunnan leaf style, discover our Yunnan Wild Dianhong.
Is Big Gold Needle the Same as Golden Spiral Dianhong?
No. Both are styles of Yunnan black tea, but their finished leaf shapes are different.
Big Gold Needle is associated with long, slender golden buds and tips.
Golden Spiral, also known as Jin Luo, features buds rolled into small, curled shapes.
Both can offer rich malt, honeyed sweetness and cocoa-like notes, but their exact flavour depends on the leaf material and processing.
Our Big Gold Needle has a pronounced wildflower-honey aroma, caramel warmth and a smooth, full-bodied texture.
Our Whole Bud Golden Spiral offers a curled golden-bud presentation with baked sugar, dark honey and a silky medium body.
Neither style is automatically better. They offer different ways to experience the variety of Yunnan Dianhong.
Is Honey Fragrant Dianhong Flavoured with Honey?
No. Honey Fragrant Dianhong is not a honey-flavoured blend.
Its sweet, floral aroma develops naturally from the tea leaves during processing.
The finished tea contains no added honey, sugar or flavouring.
This is an important difference from flavoured black teas that contain added honey essence or sweeteners.
Our Big Gold Needle Dianhong is made from tea leaves alone, with the natural flavour suggesting wildflower honey, malt, caramel and cocoa.
For a different style of black tea with an additional ingredient, explore our Golden Spiral Dianhong with Tangerine Peel, which combines Yunnan black tea with real dried citrus peel.
Is Big Gold Needle a Black Tea or a Puer?
Big Gold Needle Dianhong is a Chinese black tea, known as Hong Cha in China.
It is not a raw Sheng Puer or a ripe Shu Puer.
Although all these teas can come from Yunnan Province, they follow different processing traditions.
Dianhong undergoes substantial oxidation as part of black tea production.
Raw Sheng Puer follows a different process and can have a brighter, more herbal or fruity profile, particularly when young.
Ripe Shu Puer undergoes controlled microbial wet-pile fermentation, creating a darker, more earthy character.
Our Big Gold Needle offers the rich malt, honey, caramel and cocoa notes associated with Yunnan black tea rather than the distinctive earthy depth of ripe Puer.
Who Will Enjoy Big Gold Needle Dianhong?
This tea is particularly appealing to black tea lovers who enjoy rich flavour without needing added sweetness.
Its honeyed aroma and smooth body make it an excellent introduction to premium Yunnan black tea.
It also suits anyone interested in the visual differences between Chinese black tea styles, especially the long golden buds of Big Gold Needle and the curled buds of Golden Spiral.
Gongfu enthusiasts can explore the tea through repeated short infusions, while everyday tea drinkers can prepare a satisfying cup in a conventional teapot.
The attractive golden leaf appearance also makes it a thoughtful choice for gifting to someone who enjoys loose-leaf tea.
Ingredients
100% Yunnan black tea leaves (Camellia sinensis, Yunnan large-leaf variety).
No added honey, sugar or flavourings.
Honey, caramel, cocoa, ripe fruit and spice are natural tasting descriptions, not added ingredients.
As a tea made from Camellia sinensis, it naturally contains caffeine.
How to Store Big Gold Needle Black Tea
Store your Dianhong in a clean, dry, airtight container away from direct sunlight, moisture and excessive heat.
Keep the tea away from strongly scented foods, spices and household products, as tea can absorb surrounding aromas.
Handle the golden needles gently to minimise unnecessary breakage.
Reseal the packaging carefully after each use to help preserve the honeyed fragrance and delicate floral notes.
Enjoy the tea within its recommended shelf life for the best expression of its current aroma and flavour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Gold Needle Dianhong?
Big Gold Needle Dianhong is a style of Yunnan Chinese black tea featuring long, golden needle-like buds and fine tips. It is known for rich malt, natural sweetness and a smooth body.
What does Da Jin Zhen mean?
Da Jin Zhen (大金针) translates as Big Gold Needle, referring to the long golden appearance of the finished tea material.
Where does this tea come from?
Our Big Gold Needle Dianhong comes from Yunnan Province, China. The selection is described as high-elevation tea, grown above 1,500 metres.
Does Honey Fragrant Dianhong contain honey?
No. The honey-like aroma is a natural characteristic of the tea. There is no added honey or flavouring.
Is Big Gold Needle made entirely from buds?
The tea is described as being made predominantly from tender golden buds and fine tips. The exact picking standard and bud-to-leaf proportion have not been separately established.
Is this tea the same as Golden Spiral Dianhong?
No. Big Gold Needle has long, needle-like leaves, while Golden Spiral features tightly curled golden buds. Both belong to the Yunnan Dianhong black tea family.
Does Big Gold Needle contain caffeine?
Yes. It is made from tea leaves and naturally contains caffeine. The amount per cup varies with the quantity of tea and brewing method.
How should I brew it?
For Western brewing, use 2–3g per 200ml of water at 90–95°C for approximately 3–4 minutes. For Gongfu brewing, use 5–6g in a small gaiwan and begin with 10–15-second infusions.
Can I brew the leaves more than once?
Yes. The tea is suitable for repeated infusions. Increase the brewing time gradually as the leaves release their flavour.
Is Big Gold Needle a type of Puer tea?
No. It is a Yunnan black tea, not raw Sheng or ripe Shu Puer.
Does this tea contain added flavours?
No. The tea is presented as 100% Yunnan black tea with no added flavourings.
Discover the Natural Honey Sweetness of Big Gold Needle Dianhong
Our Yunnan Big Leaf Honey Fragrant Dianhong brings together elegant golden-tipped leaves, a rich honey-like fragrance and a beautifully smooth black tea character.
Its deep amber infusion offers layers of wildflower honey, malt, caramel, cocoa and gentle spice, with a rounded body and lingering sweetness.
Enjoy it in a conventional teapot for a comforting everyday cup or brew it Gongfu style to explore its changing aromas over multiple infusions.
For another golden-bud style, discover our Whole Bud Golden Spiral Dianhong.
For a richer golden-tipped comparison, explore our Jin Zhi Yu Ye Dianhong.
For a traditional sun-dried Yunnan black tea, try our Mao Feng Sun-Baked Dianhong.
For a citrus variation, discover our Golden Spiral Dianhong with Tangerine Peel.
Browse more Chinese black teas in our Black and Puer Teas Collection.
Choose your 50g, 125g or 250g pack and enjoy the rich, naturally honey-fragrant character of Yunnan Big Gold Needle Dianhong.
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