Top Ten Most Famous Teas in Zhejiang

Tea, coffee and cocoa are the most popular beverages in the world. With regard to China, Chinese people have a preference for tea and tea-drinking is an integral part of their history and culture. Zhejiang lies in East China with mountains and hills accounting for 70% of the total area which, in turn, provides suitable conditions for tea plantations. Zhejiang has a long history of planting tea trees and is also the main green tea producing area in China. Tea can be classified into six categories (green, black, yellow, oolong, pu-erh and white) which is dependent on the methods of planting and producing. Here are the top ten most famous teas in Zhejiang:

Xihu Longjing (Dragon Well tea)

Xihu Longjing, also called Dragon Well tea or Longjing in short, is known as the National Tea and is also reputed as being the "Empress of Green Tea". It was chosen as a tribute to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by Emperor Qianlong. Longjing is planted near the West Lake area and is famed by its four characteristics: green color, elegant fragrance, mellow taste and flat shape. In view of its high quality and long history this variety of tea can be quite expensive. 

Jingshan Maofeng Green Tea

Jingshan Maofeng Tea, also called Jingshan Tea, is produced in Mount Jingshan, Yuhang town in Hangzhou. It has delicate green leaves and has spread as far as Japan by Buddhist culture exchange. It gained popularity during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) because of its refreshing and soothing taste which is known for its floral notes and fruity aroma. 

Anji White Tea (Anji Baicha) 

Although this type of tea is of the green variety its leaves are, in fact, white. Located in northern Zhejiang, Anji County is embraced by mountains and streams which is a cradle for high-quality tea. White tea is known for its strong fragrant aroma and has a short harvest time that lasts for about one month which is usually during the Qingming Festival and also accounts for its rarity. If you have a thirst for knowledge then you will love this – White tea was chosen as the tea to entertain participants for the 2010 World Culture Exposition in Shanghai. 

Huiming Tea

Huiming Tea, also called Jingning Huiming, is produced in Mount Chimu in Jingning She Autonomous County in Lishui City. It won a first-class certificate and a gold medal in the Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915, thus is famed as the “gold medal Huiming”. Named after a Buddhist monk called Huiming who in 861 initiated to cultivate tea plants in Jingning, the tea features white tea leaves and is of a superb quality, boasting a sweet and mellow taste with the aroma of orchid and fruits. 

Songyang Yinhou

Songyang Yinghou Tea, also known as Silver Monkey Paw Tea, is a famous green tea produced in Songyang, which is surrounded by hills and winding ridges. The shape of the tea leaves is curly with its tips stretching out just like the arms of active monkeys, hence its named Songyang Yinghou. The tea won a first-class certificate in the first West Lake International Expo in 1929 and has ever since been famed for its refreshingly delicate and soothing taste.

Kaihua Long Ding

Kaihua Long Ding Tea is a green tea that is produced in Kaihua County at the juncture of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. It is planted in the Longding Lake area which has superior conditions for tea growing and is named as the “Golden Triangle of Green Tea”. It has beautiful green and thick bodied tea leaves and when brewed they float and gradually stand straight up in hot water. The finest grade tea is always picked before Qingming Festival and was regarded as a tribute tea in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) for is pleasant appearance and high quality.

Wuyang Chunyu

Wuyang Chunyu is a typical green tea that is produced in the hometown of Chinese organic tea - Wuyi in Jinhua and has also been praised as Zhejiang’s top ten most famous teas for two times now. The best time for picking Wuyang Chunyu leaves is in February which is around two months earlier than the other green teas. Grown in high mountainous areas where cloud and mist dominate all year round, the tea leaves are light green in color and pure and mellow to taste.

Wanghai Tea

Wanghai tea is a famous green tea in Zhejiang, first produced at the summit of Mount Tiantai in Ningbo in the 1980s. The name comes from Wanghai Gang where it is cultivated. It is made from the tender raw shoots and thus its leaves are both light green and bright. The appearance of Wanghai tea is beautiful, glossy and green and it has a sweet and long-lasting aroma. The tea is rich in anti-oxidants and tastes delicious.

Dafo Longjing Tea

Longjing tea is the pride of Zhejiang where it has been cultivated for many centuries and Dafo Longjing is produced in Xin Chang County about 50 miles away from the West Lake. Teas are always mentioned in conjunction with Buddhism and monks which also applies for the Dafo Longjing variety. There was a Dafo Buddhist Temple in Xin Chang which was constructed in the 4th century BC and as Buddhism spread widely in Hangzhou so did tea culture. With suitable geographical conditions, Dafo Longjing is famed for its high quality, flat like leaves, jade green color, aromatic flavor and mellow taste. Dafo Longjing has a clean and refreshing taste and at a lower price makes it popular among all families.

Zhuji Lvjian Tea

Zhuji Lvjian, also called Green Sword Tea, is a green tea grown in the Mount Longmen and Mount Dongbai area in Zhuji where dense forest provides a suitable breeding ground for tea growing. It is a kind of organic tea which is extremely healthy and has also been granted as one of the Zhejiang famous brands. It is also revered for its peculiar appearance because of its strict picking standards - one bud and two leaves. When making the tea in hot water the buds stand upright just like that of a sword. The tea’s unique flavor and appearance form an intriguing charm of the green sword tea.