Bi Luo Chun

Bi Luo Chun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dong Ting mountain of Tai Hu, Jiangsu Province, China. Also known as Pi Lo Chun, it is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping.

The name Bi Luo Chun literally means “Green Snail Spring”. It is called so because it is a green tea that is rolled into a tight spiral, resembling snail meat, and is cropped early spring.

Its original name is Xia Sha Ren Xiang (“scary fragrance”). Legend tells of its discovery by a tea picker who ran out of space in her basket, and put the tea between her breasts instead. The tea, warmed by her body heat, emitted a strong aroma that surprised the girl.

According to the Qing Dynasty chronicle Ye Shi Da Guan, Emperor Kangxi visited Tai Hu in the 38th year of his rule. At that time, because of its rich aroma, local people called it “Scary Fragrance”.[1] Kangxi decided to give it a more elegant name – “Green Snail Spring”.

Chinese tea experts regard it very highly. Zhen Jun (1857 to 1918 A.D.), author of tea encyclopedia Cha Shuo, ranked it first among Chinese green tea. Longjing tea came second, Liu An Gua Pian came third. It is so delicate and tender that one kilogram of Dong Ting Bi Luo Chun has 14,000 to 15,000 tea shoots.

Today, Bi Luo Chun is cultivated in Dong Ting, Jiangsu Province. Bi Luo Chun from Dong Shan (East Mountain) is considered the best. Bi Luo Chun tea is also grown in Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces. These are fake teas that are produced from other tea plant species[2]. Their leaves are larger and less uniform (may contain yellow leaves). They taste more nutty than fruity and smooth.

Bi Luo Chun is divided into seven grades: Supreme, SupremeⅠ,GradeⅠ,Grade Ⅱ,Grade Ⅲ, Chao QingⅠ & Chao QingⅡ, and the quality vary from Supreme down to Chao Qing.

Dong Ting Bi Luo Chun is one of China’s Ten Famous tea and regarded by many as second only to Xihu Long Jing. This tea was created in Ling Yuan Temple of Bi Luo Peak, Dong Shan and was orginally called Xia Si Ren Xiang, which generally means “astounding fragrance”. It was the Qing Emperor that gives it its name, Bi Luo Chun (named after Bi Luo Peak) and declared it as an Imperial tea.

Dong Ting Shan is now a protected area. Only the leaves picked within Dong Ting West and East areas can be considered as Dong Ting Bi Luo Chun. To ensure its authenticity, we will provide a coded anti-fake label issued by China’s Quality Control Department (for 100 grams and above only).

This tea is certified organic by COFCC China.

Other names:
Dong Ting Pi Lo Chun, Mount Dong Ting Spring Snail Shell

Taste:
Pour in the hot water first before putting in the tea leaves. The first infusion is strong and has a lasting aftertaste. Second infusion features a more complex shifting fruity, flowery and nutty notes in the taste.

Appearance:
Beautiful tiny, slightly curled tea leaves covered with white down. The liquor is bright yellow in color.

Origin:
Dong Ting, Jiang Su Province

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