Product Overview
Type: Green
Packaging: Bag
Origin: China
Description: Rizhao is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Shandong province, China. It is situated on the coastline along the Yellow Sea, and features a major seaport. It borders Qingdao to the northeast, Weifang to the north, Linyi to the west and southwest, and faces Korea and Japan across the Yellow Sea to the east. The name of the city literally means "sunshine". The city is known for its sustainability, and it mandates solar-water heaters in all new buildings. Rizhao city was recognized by the United Nations as one of the most habitable cities in the world in 2009.
In a country that began to develop tea and tea culture over a thousand years ago, this tea, which was first created in the late 1960's and early 1970's by the China Tea Research Institute in Shandong Province, is a modern newcomer. While it has no august pedigree that connects it back to the Tang dynasty or that emperor, it has the distinction of being…..mighty delicious and distinctive.
Starting with a rudimentary geography lesson, Shandong Province lies south of Beijing and north of Shanghai. Rizhao Xue Qing is made in the Mt. Laoshan range, which is the largest coastal mountain range in China. This range consists of several mountains – Mt Fu, Mt Zao'er, Mt Shuangfeng, Mt Dading, and Mt Taizi, but is known collectively as the Laoshan. Mt Laoshan is a sacred Taoist mountain but meditation and solitude is optional when drinking this tea.
The highest peak lies at just under 4,000 feet above sea level and much of the footprint of the mountain mass juts out into the Yellow sea creating a coastline of bays and coves, somewhat similar to the topography of Maine in North America or Brittany in Europe. Mt Laoshan is comprised of a high percentage of granite rock, which gives the soil unique growing characteristics.
Our Ri Zhao Xue Qing is supreme pre-Ming grade. Pre-Ming teas are the first teas plucked each new spring season. Depending on the location and altitude in each tea producing region, leaf plucking can begin as early as the middle week of March and continue until April 5th ( Qing Ming). Pre-Ming teas command the highest prices because the demand for these teas outpaces the supply each year. It has well-shaped, neat, compact, tightly-curled leaves that are deep green in color. The flavor is big and sweet in the cup – buttery and full – and the fragrance is stunningly fresh. The laborious hand processing of this particular Rizhao material yields a well-balanced umami-sweet, easy-drinking liquor. Soft ocean spray and spring garden aromas give way to a lingering, fresh aftertaste.
Brewing Guide: Prepare 3 g of tea leaves for 150ml of water. Place the tea leaves into a warmed glass. Let the boiled water to cool down to 75-80 degree C. Brew for 2 minutes and serve.
