Objective To meet the demand of rapidly expanding tea market, the early mature, highly aromatic 'Jin'an 1' tea cultivar suitable for making high-quality oolong tea was bred.

Method From F₁ naturally hybridized 'Jinmudan', an early maturing, aromatic variety with desirable agronomical properties was selected for test-cultivation separately at Fu'an, Shaowu, and Wuyishan districts in Fujian from 2018 to 2024. Using 'Huangdan' tea cultivar as reference, survival rate, phenological phases, plant height and width, bud and leaf density, weight per hundred buds, fresh leaf yield, adequacy for tea-making, tea quality, and stress resistance of the crop were evaluated. Meanwhile, genetic relationship of the new breed with 43 major cultivars in the province was determined.

Result 'Jin'an 1' had phenological periods like the early-maturing 'Huangdan', but superior in 3-years average fresh leaf yield and appropriation for processing oolong tea. The brewed tea was brightly yellowish green in color with lingering gardenia fragrance and a pleasant but not bitter taste. The new variety was resistant to stresses just like 'Huangdan' and genetically clustered closely with the maternal parent 'Jinmudan'.

Conclusion The newly bred early maturing and highly aromatic 'Jin'an 1' displayed the desirable agronomical traits and adequacy for making oolong tea. It grew satisfactorily in Fu'an, Shaowu, and Wuyishan districts and was expected to be suitable for cultivation in regions of similar geographic and climatic conditions.