| Chinese Green Tea
History of Green Tea
1. As we already know, Green Tea is an unfermented tea which
derives its distinct flavor from the area in which it is grown
and the techniques used to produce the tea like the picture below.
2. The Principle Chinese provinces producing green tea are Anhwei,
Chekiang and Kiangsi and to a smaller extent, Fukien, Kwangtung
and Hunan.
3. China greens grow from June to December - the early teas are
generally the best BUT many very expensive greens are plucked
in November and December.
4. There are over 12,500 green teas produced in China and they
are named many times for no apparent reason or purpose and then,
for no apparent reason or purpose, they are re-named and re-named
When I referred to 12,500 China green teas, that is merely an
educated guess. No one knows for sure, absolutely no one.
5. Not many visitors have ever set foot in the very best China
tea gardens. These remain shrouded in mystery and are quite secret.
Few Chinese even know that these gardens exist, for they are familiar
with the state cooperative farms only, and these produce "Standard"
blacks and greens identified by number only. They are skillfully
blended to guarantee stable quality whatever the climate conditions.
Certain standard teas are nonetheless high quality products designed
for export only: e.g., Imperial Yunnan or Imperial Keemun, like
we have at the TG.
6. China's secret gardens, however, are kept distinct from these
cooperatives and are called "Sacred Gardens" by the
privileged few. Their exact number is unknown, possibly thirteen
to fifteen. They are said to be patrolled day and night by guards
and dogs. Why such secrecy? These gardens produce TINY quantities
of superlative green tea that is kept off the market and is reserved
exclusively for high government officials and now some has made
its way here to the Tea Garden.
7. Halfway between the state and the secret/Sacred gardens, China
also has gardens producing tea that can be purchased, assuming
one has managed to establish a special relationship with certain
authorities, like Dr. Tea has. These gardens are in remote mountainous
regions; the teas are rare and very expensive. Pi-Lo, "Spiral
of Spring Jade," is one of them.
8. Dragon's Well (Lung-Ching) is probably the most famous of
the China greens, and that is a location in China. It is located
in Chekiang province, near Hangchow's West Lake, and grows on
the peaks of Tieh Mu (T-yeh Mu) mountain range. Lung Ching means:
Dragon Well in Chinese. Legend tells us that the dragon is the
king of the waters in Chinese mythology. History tells us that
in 250 A.D., there was a drought at the Dragon's Well Monastery.
A monk prayed, imploring the Dragon for rain. It rained instantly,
and the tea produced there received that name.
by Dr. Tea, Tea Expert
Much Love and Light
Mark Dr. Tea, Ukra,
Tea Expert & proprietor of the Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium.
|
