Tea Knowledge for Better Sourcing
Practical insight into tea quality, production, certification and export readiness.
How can you use 5 types of Chun Mee to build high, mid, and basic tier product lines?
Select 5 mainstream exported tea types: 41022 (Special Treasure Premium), 9371 (Special Treasure Grade 1), 9370 (Special Treasure Grade 2), 9369 (Zhenmei Grade 1), 9368 (Zhenmei Grade 2).
The grades from highest to lowest are: 41022 > 9371 > 9370 > 9369 > 9368, fully following the GB/T14456.5-2016 national standard for Meicha trade samples for import and export food standards.
Goal: Serve tea importers and own-brand businesses, and split the 5 teas into high-end, mid-range, and entry-level series based on retail price tiers, target customer groups, and sales channels. Allocate the teas across tiers, while covering pure tea retail, blending, catering, gifts, and bulk distribution, and avoid internal product line homogenization.
Core benchmark characteristics of the 5 teas:
Tea number | Official ranking | Core sensory features | Trade attribute |
41022 | Special Extra Premium | The strips are tight and thin with many sharp buds, green and fresh with a frosty sheen; the chestnut aroma rises high, rich and mellow with a lingering sweetness, and it holds up well to multiple brews; the leaf base is tender and even. | Top-grade Zhenmei for export, highest cost, suitable for boutique retail and gift boxes |
9371 | Special Grade 1 | Tight, heavy, and solid, with sharp tips; aroma is pure, rich, and balanced; soup color is bright yellow-green; few coarse stems | Mid-to-high-end mainstream, can be sold directly in retail, or used as a base for high-end blends |
9370 | Special Rare Level 2 | The shoots are still thin and tight, with fewer tips; the aroma is still strong, the taste is mellow, and the astringency is moderate; a few plain leaves. | The special series' 'best value for money' option, a mid-range mainstay |
9369 | Zhenmei Grade 1 | Tightly rolled and slightly coarse, with few tips; mellow and smooth, the freshness fades down, soup color yellow-green and still bright; a few stems and coarse leaves | Mid-range to entry-level transition, high-volume sales, large packages for catering and supermarkets |
9368 | Zhenmei Level 2 | The strands are a bit thick, with almost no tips; the taste is mild, with a relatively low intensity; there are relatively more stems. | Basic bulk tea, large loose bags, tea bag ingredients, catering blends |
1. Three-tier product line architecture (5 tea allocation plans)
Premium Series (Premium Line) - 2 items: 41022, 9371
Positioning: Brand image benchmark, gifts, premium loose leaf tea; establish brand value, not aiming for maximum volume, but deciding brand tier.
1) SKU 1: 41022 (Special Premium Grade) — Flagship product
Target customers: Green tea enthusiasts, gift buyers, high-spending groups, premium tea shop customers; high requirements for aroma, appearance, and leaf quality; willing to pay a premium for quality.
Suitable channels: Premium tea retail stores, online premium e-commerce, gift channels, airport duty-free, high-end supermarkets; not suitable for large-volume catering or tea bags.
Packaging form: Metal tea tins, small gift boxes (100g–250g preferred); sample tasting packs; no large, cheap bags.
Pricing strategy: Highest retail price, serving as a price anchor; no frequent big discounts; can have an organic version to further increase premium.
Usage principle: Sell as much pure tea as possible, minimal blends, maximize the display of the highest quality premium buds; factory AA/AAA grade can be used for internal quality upgrade, all labeled as 41022 externally.
2) SKU 2: 9371 (Special First Grade) — High-end volume mainstay
Target customers: Looking for good quality but budget slightly below 41022; main repurchase group of old tea drinkers; traditional tea consumers in the Middle East and North Africa.
Suitable channels: Premium supermarkets, online retail, offline tea stores; can have family packs, secondary gift versions; can also be used in small amounts for high-end blends.
Packaging form: Tin, exquisite paper box family packs; medium and small sizes available (200–500g).
Pricing strategy: Lower than 41022, creating a clear price gap, serving as the sales driver for the premium series.
Logic: 41022 builds the brand, 9371 takes on the actual high-end sales, forming a flagship and sub-flagship combination.
2.Mid-Range Line - 2 models: 9370 and 9369
Positioning: Core of brand sales and profit; covers daily tea consumption for average households; also suitable for small retail packaging and small-to-medium catering orders.
1) SKU 3: 9370 (Special Select Grade 2) — Mid-Range Premium
Target Customers: Regular family consumers, daily drinkers who want good aroma and appearance but don’t need top-grade buds; typical supermarket green tea buyers.
Compatible Channels: Mainstream supermarkets, major online e-commerce platforms, community tea shops; suitable for home consumption packs.
Packaging: Paper boxes, simple tin cans; mainly 250–500g.
Flavor Profile: Belongs to special select floral grade, higher than standard Zhengmei level, with finer leaves and better aroma than 9369; clearly differentiates from entry-level teas.
2) SKU 4: 9369 (Zhenmei Grade 1) — Mid-Range Best Seller
Target Customers: General daily consumption, small cafés/tea houses; price-sensitive but avoid lowest-grade coarse tea.
Compatible Channels: Large retail packs in supermarkets, cost-effective online options, medium-small catering supply; can also be used partly as blending base.
Packaging: Bags, simple paper boxes; 500g–1kg family-size packs.
Mid-Range Logic: 9370 maintains a quality baseline (special select floral grade), 9369 maximizes volume with cost-effectiveness; customers can upgrade to 9371 or move down to the entry-level series.
3.Basic / Entry-Level Series (Entry Level / Commodity Line)｜1 Item: 9368 (Zhenmei Grade 2)
Positioning: High volume, traffic-driving, B2B catering, bagged tea raw material; not targeting high profits, aimed at covering price-sensitive markets.
SKU: 9368 (Zhenmei Grade 2)
Target Customers: Price-sensitive consumers; restaurants, tea houses, bagged tea processing factories; bulk trade buyers.
Suitable Channels: Discount supermarkets, wholesale markets, B2B bulk orders; e-commerce traffic-driving item; high-end gift boxes not recommended.
Packaging: Large-weight plastic bags, industrial bulk packaging; suitable for blending raw materials; focus is on consistent color and basic taste rather than appearance.
Note: 9368 should generally be kept out of premium retail for C-end customers, mainly used as raw material for B-end; if sold to C-end, clearly label as 'Everyday Drinking,' to avoid high-end tea expectations.
Complete Product Line Matrix (Channel - Customer - Price - Packaging Comparison Table)
Product line | Tea number | Target Customer Profile | Core sales channels | Recommended retail specifications | Market positioning |
High-end flagship | 41022 | Gift shoppers, green tea enthusiasts, high spenders | Boutique tea shops, gifts, airports, high-end e-commerce | 100–250g Can / Gift Box | Brand benchmark, creating value |
High-end mainstay | 9371 | Quality family, long-time users of Traditional Zhenmei | High-end supermarkets, online retail, physical stores | 200–500g can/box | Main sales source for high-end |
Mid-range boutique | 9370 | Everyday drinking for ordinary families | Mainstream supermarkets and local tea shops | 250–500g paper box | Mid-range quality benchmark |
mid-range circulation | 9369 | General households, small eateries | Big supermarket packs, cost-effective e-commerce options | 500g 1kg Bagged | Main player in mid-range mass sales |
Basic Introduction | 9368 | B2B catering, teabag factories, price-sensitive purchasing | Wholesale markets, B2B bulk, discount supermarkets | 1kg big bag, industrial raw material pack | Customer acquisition and large-scale B2B operations |
Importer & Brand Practical Implementation Strategy
1. Price Range Design (Logic: Gradually create price gaps to avoid internal competition)
- 41022: Highest retail price, serving as the ceiling for the whole series;
- 9371: 20–30% lower than 41022;
- 9370: 15–25% lower than 9371;
- 9369: 15–20% lower than 9370;
- 9368: 20–30% lower than 9369, positioned for bulk B-end sales.
Important Reminder: Do not make 9368 a high-priced C-end gift box, it will ruin the value system of the whole product line.
2. Blending Recommendations (Common practices for importers)
2.1 High-end series: Prefer selling pure tea, avoid heavy blending for 41022 and 9371, otherwise the grade value is lost;
2.2 Mid-range: 9370 can be slightly blended with 9371 to enhance aroma; 9369 can be slightly blended with 9370 to improve appearance;
2.3 Base: 9368 is suitable as a blending base, paired with higher-grade teas to improve performance, used for catering and tea bags.
3. Channel Pitfall Points
3.1 41022 should not be supplied to catering channels: high cost, brewing can easily waste advantages;
3.2 9371 covers both B and C: can be sold to C-end retail and also supplied to tea houses that demand quality;
3.3 9369 is the all-purpose mid-range product: fits large-family packaging for C-end and small to medium catering for B-end;
3.4 9368 prioritizes B-end, C-end only as large-package traffic driver, not positioned as premium.
4. Product Story and Labels (for overseas consumers)
Don't just write number codes. Suggestions for external translation/packaging copy:
- 41022: Premium Special Chun Mee (Top Grade)
- 9371: Special Chun Mee Grade 1
- 9370: Special Chun Mee Grade 2
- 9369: Chun Mee Grade 1
- 9368: Chun Mee Grade 2
Communications externally should distinguish: Special Chun Mee (premium series, 41022/9371/9370) and regular Chun Mee (Chun Mee 9369/9368), to help customers understand the grade differences and avoid confusion.
Purchasing and Risk Control (Key for Importers):
1. All grades are based on physical trade standard samples; sensory characteristics can vary with different factories or quarters, so samples must be compared before ordering.
2. Organic versions are possible: all 5 teas can be upgraded to organic; organic versions are generally positioned one level higher (e.g., organic 9370 can enter the premium series).
3. Inventory strategy: keep maximum stock for 9371 and 9369 (highest sales), small batch frequent replenishment for 41022, large batch B-end stock for 9368.
Two alternative adjustment plans (switch based on market demand):
Plan A (more for C-end retail brands):
- High-end: 41022, 9371
- Mid-end: 9370
- Entry-level: 9369, 9368
Suitable for private retail brands, high C-end proportion.
Plan B (more for B-end bulk importers):
- High-end: 41022 (gift small orders), 9371 (B-end high-quality orders)
- Mid-end: 9370, 9369 (main for restaurant, supermarket orders)
- Entry-level: 9368 (bagged tea, bulk)
Suitable for importers focusing on wholesale and B-end supply.