Many people may only know Longjing and Bi Luo Chun regarding Green tea. Still, China produces a wide range of green tea, including Henan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shaanxi (Southern Shaanxi), Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Fujian. They are all major green tea-producing provinces in China, which produce famous green teas, such as Lu’an Gua Pian, Tai Ping Hou Kui, and Xin Yang Mao Jian.
Here’s an introduction to the top 10 Chinese green teas!
- West Lake Dragon Well Tea: 西湖龙井
- Huang Shan Mao Feng: 黄山毛峰
- Anji Bai Cha: 安吉白茶
- Xin Yang Mao Jian: 信阳毛尖
- Bi Luo Chun: 碧螺春
- Lu Shan Yun Wu (Clouds & Mist): 庐山云雾
- Lu An Gua Pian: 六安瓜片
- Zhu Ye Qing (Bamboo Leaf Green Tea): 竹叶青
- Tai Ping Hou Kui: 太平猴魁
- Du Yun Mao Jian: 都匀毛尖
West Lake Dragon Well Tea
It is produced in the mountains of Shifeng(狮峰), Wengjiashan(翁家山), Hupao(虎跑), Meijiawu(梅家坞), Yunqi(云栖), and Lingyin(灵隐) in the West Lake of Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
The dry tea is flat, tender, and emerald green, and when brewed in a glass with spring water, it will offer a delicate aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape.
Huang Shan Mao Feng
Dried tea leaves are thin and flat, slightly yellowish in emerald green, and the outer leaves wrap the tea buds in the middle with a beautiful appearance and orchid or chestnut-like fragrance.
After brewing, the high-quality Huangshan Maofeng stands upright in the water and slowly sinks. It produces a pale yellow and clear liquid,
and tastes grassy and vegetal, with a slight floral overtone and leaves a sweet aftertaste.
Anji Bai Cha
Produced in Zhejiang, Anji Bai Cha is made in Zhejiang, with beautiful threadlike leaves, and is rich in amino acids.
Because of its tenderness, it must be brewed at a water temperature of 80-85°C. The taste of Anji Bai Cha is sweet, nutty, and vegetal, and you’ll also get a noticeable umami note that is very different from other green teas.
Xin Yang Mao Jian
They are produced in Shihe District(浉河区), Xin County(新县), Mall County(), and Shang Chen County (商城县) within the Dabie Mountain area. The most famous production areas among them are Wuyun (五云), Liangtan (两潭), Yishan (一山), Yizhai (一寨), and Yisi (一寺).
The Xin Yang Mao Jian tea is covered in abundant white hairs, thin, tender, and evenly shaped. It is known for its unique and delicious flavor. When brewing, it offers a grassy vegetal flavor, rich taste, and sweetness that linger afterward.
Bi Luo Chun
It is produced in the east and west Dongting Mountains in Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is China’s most famous area where tea and fruit trees are inter-planted.
The tea leaves of Taihu Bi Luo Chun are curled into snail-like shapes and covered with lots of white fuzz. It is bright green, with a unique and strong natural floral and fruity aroma.
Lu Shan Yun Wu (Clouds & Mist)
Produced in Lushan Mountain in Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, where clouds and mists surround the tea all year round, with abundant rainfall and small temperature differences, making Yunwu tea forms its unique aroma and taste.
It has curled leaves with fat tea buds, producing a brisk, smooth taste with nutty notes and a refreshing aftertaste.
Lu An Gua Pian
The main production area is in the Dabie Mountains of Lu’an City, Anhui Province, and the most authentic is produced in the Bian Fu Dong (Bat Cave) tea-producing area.
This tea, also known as Lu An Melon Seed, consists of only leaves, no buds or stems, which allows it to develop a rich and thicker taste. It produces a yellowish-green liquor with a refreshing vegetal taste, mellow with a sweet aftertaste.
Zhu Ye Qing (Bamboo Leaf Green Tea)
Mount Emei has always been a place where Buddhists and Taoism gathered, and the famous Zhu Ye Qing Green Tea is also from Mount E Mei in Sichuan, China.
The Bamboo leaf tea has flat, straight leaves that are shiny and look like bamboo leaves. They give a clear and yellow-green liquor with a high fragrance, delicate taste, and a sweet flavor & refreshing taste.
Tai Ping Hou Kui
The main production area locates in Huangshan District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, including Houkeng, Hougang, and Yanjia in Sanmen Village and Xinming Township. Among them, the top-quality tea made from Houkeng Tea Garden is the best.
It has a unique shape, with two leaves wrapped around a bud. It is flat and beautiful, with long, lush green leaves. After brewing, it yields
a clear green tea with a vegetal, mellow, sweet aftertaste without astringency.
Du Yun Mao Jian
The main production area is in the mountains around Tuanshan (团山), Shaojiao (哨脚), and Dacao (大槽).
Du Yun Mao Jian, also known as White Hair Tip, Fuzz Tip, and Fishhook Tea. It has small, lean leaves that are slightly curly and uniform. It has a vibrant and full-bodied taste and a unique nutty and sweet aftertaste when brewing.
