Tea Details
Harvest: Spring 2025 (After-Qingming)
Region: Chenxi Township, Shangyu District, Zhejiang
Elevation: ~500 m above sea level
Cultivar: Heirloom Qun Ti Zhong
Crafting Highlight: Pearl shaped
Storage: Store in an airtight container away from heat and light; refrigeration is recommended
Shelf Life: 12 months at room temperature; 2–3 years refrigerated
Net Weight: 30g / 1.06oz
Where is it from?
This tea garden is located in Chenxi Township, Shangyu District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang.
At around 500 meters above sea level, it may seem modest — but in this hilly landscape, it’s already considered high terrain. Frequent mist, abundant rainfall, and wide day–night temperature swings nurture tea leaves rich in aroma and internal compounds.
We work with heirloom seed-grown tea bushes (quntizhong), many of which are over 60 years old. Their roots grow over 3 feet deep into mineral-rich soil, allowing the plants to draw natural nutrients and stay resilient through seasonal changes.
This garden has long been my father’s most trusted base — he knows its rhythm and temperament, and can craft entirely different teas from the same fresh leaves simply by adjusting the process.
Why pearl shape?
You may have seen pearl-shaped green teas before — in fact, “gunpowder tea” (珠茶) from Zhejiang was once one of China’s most exported teas. But for decades, it was mostly mass-produced, with coarse materials and overly strong flavor, made for quantity over quality.
Our Emerald Dew (Shangyu Cuiming) rewrites that story. This tea is inspired by the traditional Zhuicha shape, but refined over the past decade through craftsmanship rooted in local tea traditions like Quangang Huibai (泉岗辉白). Made with tender early-spring buds and leaves, it brings a bright, emerald-green hue and a refreshingly smooth taste.
Same shape, completely different tea.
Leaf Timing Matters
For our Emerald Dew (Shangyu Cuiming), we don’t use the earliest spring leaves before Qingming Festival. Those ultra-early buds are reserved for teas like Dragon Well, which focus on lightness and tenderness.
Instead, we harvest just after Qingming — when the tea leaves start to develop more aromatic compounds and tea polyphenols. This makes Emerald Dew brighter in aroma and fuller in flavor, compared to the more delicate and subtle Dragon Well.
It’s not about which leaf is better — it’s about the right leaf for the right tea.
