Dongting Bi Luo Chun

🍵 Dongting Bi Luo Chun (Green Snail Spring)

📍 Terroir & Origin

• Precise Origin: Dongting Mountain (East and West peninsulas) in Lake Tai, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
• Altitude & Environment: Altitudes of 100-300 meters, nourished by the moisture of Lake Tai. The core terroir feature is "Tea and Fruit Intercropping"; tea bushes share root systems and canopy with fruit trees like loquat and waxberry, naturally absorbing floral and fruity notes.
• Tea Varietal: Dongting Qunti Zhong (Heirloom small-leaf varietal), rich in natural compounds and the soul of its authentic flavor.

🌱 Plucking Standards

• Plucking Time: From the Spring Equinox to before Grain Rain. "Mingqian" tea (plucked before Qingming) is the most precious.
• Plucking Requirements: Exceptionally rigorous. Only newly unfurled single buds or one bud with one leaf are plucked. 500 grams of premium dry tea requires 60,000 to 80,000 hand-plucked buds.

🔥 Processing Techniques

• [Step 1]: High-Temperature Fixation: Wok temperature at 190-200°C. Rapid tossing for 3-5 minutes halts enzyme activity and locks in the green color.
• [Step 2]: Rolling & Shaping: Temperature drops to 70-75°C. Shaking and rolling coax the leaves into strips and release tea juices.
• [Step 3]: Rubbing into Snails & Inducing Fuzz: Temperature at 50-60°C. Leaves are rolled between palms while frying. They curl into snails and the white fuzz emerges—the make-or-break step of Bi Luo Chun.
• [Step 4]: Gentle Drying: Light rolling at 30-40°C to enhance fuzz, followed by gentle baking until moisture is below 6%, locking in the aroma.

👅 Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Slender, curled like snails, covered in white fuzz. The color is "silver-green hiding jade."
• Liquor: Bright, pale yellowish-green, often with white fuzz floating on the surface.
• Aroma & Taste: An elegant, complex floral and fruity aroma. The taste is exceptionally fresh and brisk, with high umami-sweetness from amino acids, an elegant fuzz aroma, and a smooth, sweet aftertaste without bitterness.

🫖 Brewing & Storage

• Recommended Brewing Method: [Transparent glass cup] / [80°C-85°C purified water] / [Ratio 1:50] / [Top-drop method: Fill with warm water first, then drop the tea. Enjoy the visual of "snowflakes sinking," steep for 1-2 minutes].
• Storage Standards & Shelf Life: Highly delicate. Must be protected from light, moisture, and odors. Store sealed in a refrigerator (0°C-5°C) or freezer. Optimal drinking window is 12-18 months.