Batch 89 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is made from leaves that sprouted with the first signs of spring 2023. Bi Luo Chun Green Tea produced in the Sanxia District of the greater Taipei area is by far the earliest spring harvest of all on the island of Taiwan. Check the sourcing blog post for details.

Being a strip leaf green tea, it brews more delicately than a rolled leaf Oolong. These leaves are picked only 7-10 days after they sprout, and are still quite immature and tender. So we recommend a leaf to water ratio between 1:18 and 1:20. In the photo above, we used 10g of tea leaves in a 180mL gaiwan teapot. We brewed with about 85°C water for about 30 seconds on the first and second brews, 40 seconds on the third and fourth brews, and a bit longer on the fifth. Keep in mind that this is just a reference, and we encourage you to experiment and adjust as you see fit!

Bi Luo Chun brews a delicate yet full flavored and smooth character. It has a flavor profile that is both soothing and refreshing. It's soft on the palate and quite fragrant in the nose — with notes of mung bean, delicate fresh herbs and baby greens. There's a hint of umami underlying this integrated profile as well. The early spring bouquet of these newly sprouted leaves is the most definitive quality of this tea overall.

Watch the tasting video for the full story and brew by brew commentary!

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