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 pro- cessed by hand, firing a pound or two at a time, using traditional processing methods handed down through the generations. The variations and immense diversity in styles exist today because of these continuing 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 processing 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 |
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 delectable 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 22 is called gu yu, and tea picked from April 20th to May 6 is called li xia. Picking continues through mid to late May when the rains come, herbs. When brewed their color is a light gold-green. |
Where the Green Tea GrowsThe 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 in- vade these beautiful cloud and mist cov- ered mountains, with their thick forests, spectacular waterfalls, and abundant groves of bamboo. Historically close to the seat of the em- The Anhui Province is home to the Huang Shan Mountain range. The cool, moist climate provides the ideal growing conditions for Unlike most spring plucked green teas, these are made From Jiangsu Province comes Bi Lo Chun or Green Snail Spring, a del-
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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 These three green teas – Bi Lo Chun (Green Snail Spring), Ming Mei (eyebrow tea), and Long- Also from Zhejiang Province comes Tianmu Shan Clouds and Mist (also called Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). The Other early spring flush “before the rains” green teas are Mao Jian or Hair Point teas, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Henan This is, of course, just a small representation of China’s green teas. Many may be found in the U.S., online, by mail specialty tea shop. Enjoy. |