Everyone knows Biluochun, but what category of tea does it belong to? Here's a breakdown:
I. Specialty Overview
Biluochun tea is a renowned specialty of Suzhou and ranks among China's top ten teas. This world-famous green tea has been prized since ancient times, designated as a tribute tea during the Tang Dynasty.Suzhou Dongting Biluochun tea is made entirely from tender buds. Approximately 60,000 "one bud with one tip" buds are needed to produce 0.5 kilograms (500g) of Biluochun, hence its alternative names "Kung Fu Tea" and "New Blood Tea." Premium Biluochun requires 60,000 to 70,000 tea buds for 0.5 kilograms of dried tea, demonstrating the exceptional tenderness of its buds.After stir-frying, the dried tea leaves form tightly coiled strands with visible white downy hairs, displaying a silvery-green hue that is both emerald and alluring. Curled into spirals, it is produced in spring, hence the name "Green Snail Spring." When brewed, clouds of white foam swirl in the cup, releasing a refreshing fragrance. As one of China's renowned teas, it has long been regarded as a premium variety, often used as a high-end gift, and enjoys an excellent reputation in both domestic and international tea markets.II. Origin
Biluochun belongs to the green tea category. Produced in the Dongting Mountain region of Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province, it is also known as "Dongting Biluochun." Dongting Mountain comprises eastern and western sections: Dongting East Mountain is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, while Dongting West Mountain consists of islands within Lake Taihu.Both Dongting East and West Mountains feature intercropped tea and fruit trees. Here, the azure waters of Lake Tai stretch endlessly, shrouded in mist. Tea bushes intertwine with loquat, orange, and bayberry trees, their branches and roots connecting. Sparse sunlight filtering through the fruit tree foliage carries the fragrance of blossoms and fruit. Truly: "Everywhere in the mountains, emerald green soars; the fragrance of Biluochun intoxicates for miles.">III. Identification Methods
Biluochun tea is crafted from tender spring buds plucked from tea plants. Authentic Suzhou Biluochun features prominent silver buds—one bud paired with one leaf—measuring 1.5 cm in total length. The buds exhibit curled white downy hairs, while the leaves are curled and light green. The leaf base is tender, uniform, and bright. Counterfeit Suzhou Biluochun consists of one bud with two leaves, irregular in length and yellowish in color.Its color is emerald green, spiraled in shape, and harvested in early spring. The appearance features slender strands covered in downy hairs, with white fuzz hinting at green. When brewed, the tea yields a bright, tender green liquor with a fragrant, rich aroma and a lingering sweetness aftertaste. People praise this tea as: "Copper-wire strands, spiraled form, covered in downy hairs, floral and fruity aroma, fresh and refreshing, stimulating saliva production."
What category does Biluochun belong to? Having covered the basics, let's examine its characteristics:
IV. Product Characteristics
Biluochun tea is distinguished by: uniform strands, elegant shape, spiral curls, full body of downy hairs, color like solidified fat, rich fragrance, and a sweet, crisp aftertaste.
Dongting Mountain Biluochun Tea
Color
Authentic Dongting Biluochun boasts a lustrous, emerald-green hue with yellow undertones. Other Biluochun varieties appear dull, greenish-yellow, and generally lack luster. Aroma
Dongting Biluochun possesses an intense, fresh fragrance with floral and fruity notes. This is primarily due to its cultivation amidst orchards and Dongting's unique soil and water conditions.Other Biluochun varieties lack sufficient fragrance. While new tea may have some aroma, it lacks the fresh, floral, and fruity notes. Biluochun from other regions often carries an earthy or grassy scent. Taste
Dongting Biluochun glides smoothly across the palate, delivering a sensation of sweetness, coolness, and mellow richness with a lingering aftertaste, characterized by its overall smoothness.Other Biluochun varieties exhibit astringency, coolness, bitterness, and blandness in the mouth, lacking aftertaste and retaining a green leaf flavor. Appearance
The tea leaves are slender like bee legs, curled into spirals, covered in fine downy hairs (though not excessively dense), and display a silver-green (or silver-white with hidden green) hue. Brewing
There are three brewing methods: top-pouring, middle-pouring, and bottom-pouring. Biluochun is typically brewed using top-pouring—pouring water first, then adding tea. Authentic Biluochun sinks to the bottom of the cup upon contact with water, its delicate buds slowly unfurling to reveal a pale yellow infusion. By now, you likely have a basic understanding of what kind of tea Biluochun is. I hope this information proves helpful.