I know this is my third Bi Luo Chun and I think it has a decent quality as I can see, smell and taste it. Bi Luo Chun literally means 'Green Snail Spring,' called thus because it is rolled into a tight spiral. So the first hint about the quality of Bi Luo Chun is its spiral shape and visibility of fuzzy-green leaves. As the photo shows, it looks good!
It is composed of one bud and leaf, which is known as 'tongue' in Chinese. However, these tongues are very soft as they were collected in March (the very beginning of the harvest season).
Secondly, Bi Luo Chun is about the taste. In Chinese, it was known as 'fearful fragrance'. Have you ever tasted a green tea with a fruit aroma? I have to tell you that it is not very common, but Bi Luo Chun got it. I read on my sourcebook that in Bio Lu Chun producing areas (esp. Dong Ting lake) tea bushes and fruit trees are intercropped. I knew that tea plants were intercropped with flowers (like orchid) but did not know about the fruit trees. I found this amazing.
This tea is also excellent with a very mellow sweet taste and green tea characteristics (so you also get a bit of grassiness but at a delightful level). I have no doubt why Bi Luo Chun is such a popular tea.
Tea Profile:
Type: Green Origin: Jiangsu
Harvest time: 2020
Leaf colour: Snail shaped light green with visible fuzz
Liquor colour: Bright yellow Tea Aroma: Fruity Tea taste: Mellow and sweet with vegetal and fruity notes Steeping: Place 4 g of tea leaves in a teapot. Add 200 ml water at about 85°C. Steep for 5 second and rinse the liquid out. Steep for 20 seconds. To each consecutive steeping add 10 seconds. You can steep up to 3-4 times.
Shelf life: 2 years