Enshi Yulu | green tea
Tasting notes: balsamic vinegar, unripe pineapple, cotton candy
Enshi Yulu is a rare and exquisite green tea composed of unripe buds and the youngest tea leaves, handpicked from the high-altitude gardens of Wuling Mountain in Hubei, China. The slender, needle-shaped leaves, covered in silvery fur, evoke pine needles and are processed with a traditional steaming method (Zhēng qīng) that dates back to the Tang dynasty. This method preserves the tea’s vibrant green hue, its delicate texture, and a refreshing umami flavor.
Tea Region
Tea tree
Cultivar
Harvest
Picking & processing
Dong Ting, Jiangsu, China
Camellia sinensis sinensis
Dong Ting Qunti
Spring, 2024
One bud, one leaf
In the misty heights of Dong Ting Mountain, where the air is crisp and the soil rich, a legendary tea comes to life—Bi Luo Chun, also known as Blue Spring or Jade Green Snail Spring. This revered Chinese green tea is often mentioned in the same breath as Long Jing, celebrated for its unique character and unmatched elegance. But Bi Luo Chun is a tea with exacting standards, demanding perfection at every step, from the terroir to the picking and processing. Anything less, and its renowned flavors can easily slip into mediocrity, leaving behind a tea that’s all too often overpriced and underwhelming.
Each delicate bud and leaf is a testament to careful hand-rolling and precise firing, resulting in a tea that whispers of hot wok and reveals layers of flavor with every sip. The liquor is a delicate broth, wrapping creamy sweetness around mineral undertones, with hints of elderflower and the soft chew of sweet mochi.
Steamed dim sum
The lightness and subtle sweetness of dim sum complement the tea’s bright and creamy profile without overpowering it.
Grilled white fish
A simply seasoned grilled white fish like sea bass or cod pairs beautifully with Bi Luo Chun. The tea’s mineral notes enhance the natural sweetness of the fish, while its brightness cuts through the fish’s richness.
Fruit salad
A fruit salad featuring peaches, apricots, and a drizzle of honey complements the tea’s subtle fruitiness and enhances its sweet, floral notes.
Tea character
Leaf
raw pastry dough, lotus flowers, courgette
Cup
chestnuts, cured ham, asparagus
Flavor
pear, mochi, elderflower
How to brew
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
80 °C
3.5 gram
100ml
25 sec (add 5 sec per steep for 6 steeps)
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
80 °C
3 gram
500ml
2 min (you can resteep 2 times)