Green teas of China-in-depth look at green teas specific to China

The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea

China - the Birthplace of Green Tea

Not only is China number one in overall tea production, but also produces the largest amount
of green tea in the world. (India runs a really close second, in fact, it has edged China out of
first place in overall tea production some years.

Many of China's teas are grown by small village
tea farmers and are still processed by hand, firing
a pound or two at a time, using traditional
processing methods handed down through the
generations. The variations and immense divers-
ity in styles exist today because of these continu-
ing traditions.

Each day the freshly plucked tea is hand delivered
to the local village tea factory or cooperative to be
processed. Compared to large, modern process-
ing plants, China's methods of tea production may
seem old fashioned and antiquated, but it's a
system that has worked for thousands of years,
turning out some of the highest quality green tea
on the planet. So, what's that old saying? "If it's
not broke, why fix it?" So true.

China's Growing Seasons

China has a dormant season from December through February when the tea bushes are given
a rest. Each year Chinese citizens eagerly await the beginning of the early spring tea harvest
or spring flush.

The first dawning days of March brings forth newly formed buds that burst into the first delect-
able new tea leaves. These sweet fresh green teas are known as "before the rains" teas.
Picking for spring flush green teas begins in earnest in late March just before the Qing Ming
Festival celebrated April 5th. Tea picked after April 5th, but before
April 22nd is called gu yu, and tea picked from April 20th through
May 6th is called li xia.

Picking continues through mid to late May when the rains come,
giving the tea bushes a chance to rejuvenate and prepare for the
summer plucking season.

These early spring green teas are fresh, sweet, mild teas with a slight hint of grassiness,
vegetable aromas, and herbs. When brewed their color is a light golden-green.

Where the Green Tea Grows
The Main Tea Growing Regions of China

Located west of Shanghai, where steep mountains lift the tea gardens into a cool area of
clouds and mist, lies China's main green tea growing regions of Anhui Province, Jiangxi,
Zhejiang, and Jiangsu Provinces.

Known as "China's Golden Triangle of Tea," the modern world has yet to invade these
beautiful cloud and mist covered mountains, with their thick forests, spectacular waterfalls,
and abundant groves of bamboo.

Historically close to the seat of the emperor, China's Golden Triangle of Tea was the source of
many of the famous imperial tribute teas, some of which can be found in the marketplace
today, still being proudly produced.

The Anhui Province is home to the Huang Shan Mountain range. With steep, rocky peaks,
natural cold mountain springs, and ancient pines, the moist environment of these mountains
produces a natural phenomenon of swirling mists known simply as "sea of clouds."

The cool, moist climate provides the ideal growing conditions for Huang Shan Mao Feng green
tea, which thrives in the unique microclimate the mountain provides. Also grown here is Lu' an
Guapian or Lu' an Melon Seeds. Guapian translates to "melon seed," which is what the
rehydrated leaf resembles. This is also where you'll find the rare Tai Ping Hou Kui.

Unlike most spring plucked green teas, these are made from a special picking of one large leaf
located in a specific spot on the branch. Also called Taiping Best Monkey King, the dried leaves
of this green tea are remarkably long-about two to three inches, and are incredibly bright
shades of green.

Tai Ping Hou Kui tea pickers pluck from dawn to mid-morning to capture the leaves before the
hot sun changes the delicate balance of moisture. The best Tai Ping Hou Kui green tea comes
from an area outside the village of Tai Ping called Monkey Ditch, located at the end of a river that
runs into the quiet, tranquil Taiping Lake. This tea is plucked in late April, giving the leaves
plenty of time to grow.

From Jiangsu Province comes Bi Lo Chun or Green Snail Spring, a delicately curled green tea. It
also goes by the name Dong Ting. From Jiangxi Province comes their treasured specialty, Ming
Mei, the slender "eyebrow tea," gathered from remote villages located on Da Zhang Mountain.

And from Zhejiang Province comes one of the most famous and popular of green teas, Longjing, or Lung Ching, which
translates to Dragon's Well, referring to an old well, halfway up a hill outside Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. It's also
known as Dragonwell tea of Hangzhou, named after the village where the original tea was grown.

Also look for the next grade of Longjing - Queshe Longjing (or Sparrow's Tongue), made
from a bud and two new leaves which open during brewing to resemble a bird's beak
and tongue.

These three green teas - Bi Lo Chun (Green Snail Spring), Ming Mei (eyebrow tea), and
Longjing (Dragonwell or Lung Ching), all differ from one another in two specific ways;
first is the drying and shaping techniques unique to each style, and secondly, each tea
requires the fresh leaf be of a certain size and configuration, such as two leafs and a
bud, one leaf and a bud, or a pair of leaves and no bud.

Also from Zhejiang Province comes Tianmu Shan Clouds and Mist (also called Yunwu
Clouds and Mist) tea, and Zu Cha (Pearl gunpowder),                               which ranges in
size from very small "Pinhead," to larger, more                                          loosely rolled varieties. Pearl Gunpowder
was originally marketed as Green Pearl in Europe.                                    Also look for Gunpowder Tribute, a tribute tea
during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). The top                                 grade of this green tea is made from very
young, tender leaves that are loosely rolled. Gunpowder is one of the few green teas that's not a "Qing Ming" or
spring tea. It is made from less tender, later season leaves that are nearly twice as long as the early spring plucked
green teas.

Another green tea from Zhejiang Province is the pan-fired Pan Long Ying Hao (also called Curled Dragon Silver Tips or
Dragon Silver Hair). Called the "whitest" of teas, the loosely shaped, lightly rolled leaves bring out the down in the
buds, making them look like soft little pussy willows.

Other early spring flush "before the rains" green teas are Mao Jian or Hair Point teas, produced among the cloud and
mist covered mountains of Anhui, Zhejiang, and Henan Provinces. Mao Jian literally translates to "hairy tip" or "fur
tip," and refers to the unopened leaf bud that's covered with fine, downy hairs, and usually plucked with a single leaf.

Young Hyson (also known as Flourishing Spring or Lucky Dragon is another "before the rains" early spring flush green
tea.

And lastly, there is Jin Shan or Jin Mountain green tea. Jin Shan is named after the ancient tea growing region where
it's grown, in the cool mountains separating Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces. Jin Shan lies just outside of a Buddhist
monastery, the tea developed by the monks for their own use and also to sell to help support the monastery.

This is, of course, just a small representation of China's green teas. Many may be found in the U.S., online, by mail
order, or check your local specialty tea shop. Enjoy. (For quality China green teas check out Silver Leaf Tea Co.)

For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages:

Which teas are grown in China?
Learn which types of tea come from China and take a close-up look at individual teas, their styles,
qualities, the climate, and where in China they are grown.

Learn about China's black teas - a labor of love.
China's black tea production is smaller than their green tea, but their black teas are a labor of love.
Learn which black teas are made in China, the styles, growing season, and climate.

Which oolong teas are grown in China and why are they considered to be so healthy?
Learn about China's oolong and wulong teas and why their Wuyi Shan rock and cliff oolongs are among
their most prized and are considered to be some of the healthiest teas in the world.

Which yellow teas are grown in China?
China's yellow teas are a close cousin to green, but with an added special step. Learn about China's
yellow teas, the styles, growing season, and which ones can be found for sale in and outside the U.S.

China's white teas - traditional Fujian budset white tea and new style white tea.
Learn all about China's white teas, the styles, growing season, climate, and availability in the U.S. Also
the difference between China's traditional Fujian budset white tea and new style white tea.

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