黄金桂黃金桂
Huangjin Gui
Light, very fragrant Anxi oolong from the early Huangdan cultivar, named "golden osmanthus" for its aroma; defined by GB/T 30357.3-2015.
- Category
- Oolong teaOolong tea 乌龙茶
- Style
- Minnan oolong
- Part of
- Minnan oolong
- Forms
- Loose leaf
- Region
- Cultivars
- Huangdan
- Harvest
- Early: the Anxi government stresses that Huangdan sprouts, is picked and reaches the market before other Anxi teas. Spring and autumn crops.
- Definitions
- 1
Character#
Tight, yellow-green rolled leaf. High, lasting floral aroma that the Anxi government likens to gardenia with a pear note; light, clean, fresh taste and a golden cup. GB/T 30357.3 asks for 花香清高持久 and a clear cultivar character.
Processing#
Also sold or written as 7#
Chinese variants
- 黄旦(Huangdan)The cultivar name; the Anxi government says 黄旦 is the cultivar and 黄金桂 the commercial tea name.
- 黄棪HuangdanVariant writing of the cultivar name in the 2024 cultivar record.
- 透天香("sky-piercing aroma")Popular name for its aroma, per the cultivar record.
Romanisations
- Huang Jin Gui
Translations and trade names
- Golden Osmanthus
- Anxi Huangjin Gui
- Golden TurtleA mistranslation seen on vendor pages: 桂 is osmanthus; the turtle (龟) belongs to Wuyi Shui Jin Gui.
Names and ambiguities#
Two origin legends, and a corrupted official page
Not Shui Jin Gui
黄金桂 (golden osmanthus, Anxi) and 水金龟 (golden water turtle, Wuyi) sound alike in English romanisation and are mixed up on shop pages. They are different cultivars from different regions.
Notes#
Cultivar and product standard#
GB/T 30357.3-2015 (issued 3 July 2015, in force 2 November 2015) defines 黄金桂 as tea from the leaf, stalled bud and young stem of the Huangdan cultivar. Per the reproduction read, it has only two grades (特级, 一级). It sets moisture at ≤7.5%, although it refers back to part 1, which sets 7.0%.
Local origin accounts and cultivation#
Origin, per the Anxi government: around 1860 林梓琴 of 罗岩灶坑 (now Meizhuang village, Huqiu) received seedlings from his bride 王淡 of 珠洋, Xiping; a second legend credits 魏珍. The Huqiu town profile adds that the merchant Lin Hongde renamed "Huangdan tea" 黄金桂 in 1871.
In 2003 it covered 45,000 mu and gave about 4,600 t, the best from Luoyan in Huqiu. In 1985 Anxi Huangjin Gui was rated a national famous tea in Nanjing. zh-Wikipedia says it is also grown in Zhao'an County, Zhangzhou.
Why Huangdan is useful in aroma research#
Its 2021 genome study found expansion and variation in aroma-related gene families, including terpene synthases, that may help explain its aromatic potential. This is a plant-level explanation, not a guarantee that every finished Huangjin Gui will smell the same.
The flower name is descriptive#
A 2024 comparison used both chemical detection and human sniffing to study Huangdan, Tieguanyin and Jinguanyin oolongs. Huangdan’s sampled aroma included floral and milk-like impressions arising from several compounds. “Golden osmanthus” therefore need not mean osmanthus flowers were added, and milk-like aroma need not mean milk was added. Ingredients and scenting claims should be checked separately.
A delicate leaf changes the handling#
Zhongguo mingchazhi (2000, pp. 387–389) links Huangdan’s relatively thin leaves and small stems with rapid moisture loss and rapid change during processing. Its account calls for gentle handling and sun-wilting, agitation adjusted to weather and leaf condition, and a light, slow final bake. It also warns that picking too young or too old changes aroma and flavour. The value of this historical account is the connection between plant material and craft decisions, rather than a universal sequence of timed operations.
Where to buy#
Price ranks compare recorded retail offers for the same tea, including offers outside the current delivery filter. Shipping and import charges are excluded.
Prices compared in the selected currency; unknown values appear last.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
Xiazhangpai Huang Dan Oolong
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
King Tea MallWorldwide |
$6.99 / 125 g | $5.59 ≈ $0.45 a session |
| China Oolong Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus | TeaworldSelected destinations |
€8.90 / 100 g | $9.98 €8.90 / 100 g ≈ $0.80 a session |
Anxi Huang Jin Gui Oolong Tea of Fujian
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Yunnan SourcingSelected destinations |
$6.50 / 50 g | $13.00 ≈ $1.04 a session |
Long Juan Huang Jin Gui
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Jing Tea ShopSelected destinations |
$7.80 / 50 g | $15.60 ≈ $1.25 a session |
Premium Anxi Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus Oolong Tea (25 g)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
25 g (0.88 oz) pouch (attribute 113713=36279) at $4.99 USD; larger weights up to 1000 g ($79.99) also available. |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$4.99 / 25 g | $19.96 ≈ $1.60 a session |
Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus Oolong (2024)
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
Shop base currency GBP. Public sale price GBP 1.65 for 10 g (regular price GBP 2.20; 50 g variation 76630 is out of stock). Excludes shipping. |
Curious TeaWorldwide |
£1.65 / 10 g | $22.02 £16.50 / 100 g ≈ $1.76 a session |
Prices recorded on the dates checked. Conversions use ECB rates dated 2026-10-20; original prices appear alongside. Origin, age and cultivar are stated by the vendor.
Prices by sales channel#
International retail
Show as table
| Product | Vendor | Channel | per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiazhangpai Huang Dan Oolong | King Tea Mall | International retail | $5.59 |
| China Oolong Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus | Teaworld | International retail | $9.98 |
| Anxi Huang Jin Gui Oolong Tea of Fujian | Yunnan Sourcing | International retail | $13.00 |
| Long Juan Huang Jin Gui | Jing Tea Shop | International retail | $15.60 |
| Premium Anxi Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus Oolong Tea (25 g) | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $19.96 |
| Huang Jin Gui Golden Osmanthus Oolong (2024) | Curious Tea | International retail | $22.02 |
Sources#
Show all sources 10Show fewer sources
- 王镇恒、王广智主编. 中国名茶志. 中国农业出版社, 2000年12月第1版. ISBN 7-109-06510-3 / 9787109065109.