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Zhejiang
Province Green Teas
Zhejiang is home to the most
famous of all teas, Xi Hu Longjing, as well
as many other high quality green teas.
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Longjing
- The most famous of all of
the Chinese teas, Longjing is grown in Hangzhou. It is
processed using the pan fry method and
has a distinctive matte appearance.
Falsification of Longjing is very common
and most of the tea on the market is
more than likely produced in Sichuan and
is fact not
authentic Longjing.
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Hui Ming
- A tea named after a temple
in Zhejiang.
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Long Ding
- A tea from Kaihua
County known as Dragon Mountain.
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Hua Ding
- A tea from Tiantai
County and named after a peak in the
Tiantai mountain range.
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Qing Ding
- A tea from Tian Mu,
also known as Green Top.
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Zhu cha or "Gunpowder"
or Pearl Tea
Gunpowder tea, which is more appropriately
called "Zhu cha" in Pinyin is also commonly known as "pearl"
tea in China. Gunpowder tea is so-called because of
it's method of manufacture. It is rolled into tiny
balls resembling gunpowder pellets hence the moniker "pearl"
or "bead" tea. Is all gunpowder hand-rolled?
It depends on the gunpowder. The higher quality grades are
hand rolled. Other, lower end gunpowders are machine rolled.
However, where labor is cheaper than machinery, it is
hand-rolled. How does the discerning tea drinker tell
the difference? The difference is in the flavor which
is quite remarkable. Since hand-rolled generally
represents a higher quality the flavor is much more subtle
and not at all harsh; very smooth with a long and delightful
aftertaste. Hand-rolled tea has a more grayish appearance
and is of a smaller (pinhead) size, since it is usually
composed of only the first three leaves. The higher the
quality (and price), the smaller the pinhead size.
Imperial Gunpowder is the largest, often 1/4 to 3/8 inch in
diameter. Pinhead, contrary to conventional
wisdom, is actually a grading and is 3/16 to as small as 1/6
inch in diameter. The larger the size, the looser the roll.
The looser the roll, the larger the leaf. The larger the
leaf, the lower the leaf position on the branches. The
lower the leaf position, the older the leaf. The older the
leaf, the harsher the flavor. The harsher the flavor,
the less expensive the tea. The less expensive the
tea, the more common the tea is. Gunpowder tea is one of the main
Chinese green teas for export and is often the first kind of
loose-leaf green tea urged on the curious newcomer.
Zhu cha was one of the first loose-leaf green teas widely
sold in the United States and one of the first green teas
available from mail-order houses most likely because of it's
long shelf life which makes it easily transported and kept.
Gunpowder tea is produced in Pinshui town of Shaoxing City
in Zhejiang province. As historical records state, Pinshui
town has historically been the largest marketplace and trade
area for gunpowder tea.
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