What Does "Jipin" Mean?

by Carol
(Kent, WA, USA)

What does "jipin" mean?

Answer:

Carol, thank you for asking. In China, the highest grade tea that you can buy from most reputable shops are known as Jipin, which basically means Ultimate or Supreme grade. The "Ji" here is the same as in the Chinese exercise Taiji.

In my tea shop, it basically means the highest or second highest grade.

King (Wang) grade is the highest grade, but they are very rare. Only a couple of kilograms are made each year and they are not normally available even in the poshest high street shops in China. Basically they are reserved for friends or best customers.

I hope this helps.