Xue Shui Yun Green Origin: The area around Tian Tang Feng and Xue Shui Feng in Xinhe Township, Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province
Quality Characteristics: Dry tea resembles a silver sword drawn from its scabbard, with fine downy hairs and a hint of green, the bud tips clearly visible, and a tender green colour.
Tea liquor: Tender green and bright.
Aroma: Fragrant and lingering like the scent of a forest, extremely elegant.
Taste: Fragrant and sweet, with a fresh and mellow flavour.
Leaf base: Fresh, tender, and uniform.
Detailed Introduction to Xue Shui Yun Lu
A famous tea from Tonglu, grown in the mist-shrouded Paradise Peak and Snow Water Peak areas, hence the name ‘Snow Water Cloud Green.’ Snow Water Cloud Green is a needle-shaped green tea, and due to the uniqueness of its raw materials, it pioneered the history of needle-shaped famous teas in the province and even the country. According to the ‘Tonglu County Place Name Gazetteer’: ‘The areas of Tian Tang and Xue Shui have high mountains, dense mist, and low temperatures, making the mist-shrouded tea produced there a rare treasure among teas.’ Li Rihua’s ‘Liu Yan Zhai Notes’ from the Ming Dynasty records that Xue Shui Yun Lu was already used as tribute tea during the Song Dynasty. Xue Shui Yun Lu tea is renowned for its ‘four beauties’ of colour, aroma, taste, and shape. It resembles a lotus seed, with a jade-like translucent green hue, straight and uniform in shape, and is highly favoured by consumers.
Snow Water Cloud Green Tea Tasting
When brewing Snow Water Cloud Green Tea, it is best to use a transparent glass cup. As you watch closely, you will see the buds and stems floating up and down, initially resembling a sparrow’s beak playing with a pearl, and later resembling a thousand peaks beneath the water. The emerald buds stand tall, the clear broth reflects green shadows, and wisps of white mist rise, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance. As you sip the tea, you will gradually feel refreshed and invigorated, with a mouthful of saliva, captivating the heart.
Shape Description of Snow Water Cloud Green Tea
Snow Water Cloud Green Tea has tender buds and leaves, with a consistent shape and uniform size. It resembles a lotus core, with a jade-like translucent green colour, standing tall and uniform. When brewed, the buds float up and down, with emerald buds dancing like pearls, clear green broth, and a fragrant aroma. It is renowned for its ‘four beauties’ of colour, aroma, taste, and shape. When opened, it resembles a short sword carved from jade and emerald; when brewed, it resembles a fairy scattering flowers, with each strand floating gracefully; when sipped, it fills the abdomen, throat, and lungs with the fragrant aroma of a forest, lingering for three moments, leaving one in awe.
Storage methods for Snow Water Cloud Green Tea
The best containers for storing Snow Water Cloud Green Tea are tin cans, porcelain jars, or coloured glass bottles. Iron cans or bamboo/wooden tea cans are a good second choice, while plastic bags and paper boxes are the least suitable. Regardless of the container used, it must be kept dry, clean, and free of odours. Containers holding Snow Water Cloud Green tea should be placed in a dry, well-ventilated area and must not be stored in damp, high-temperature, unclean, or exposed locations. The surrounding area must also be free of items with strong odours, such as camphor balls, medications, cosmetics, or cigarettes.
The benefits of Snow Water Cloud Green Tea
The fresh leaves of Snow Water Cloud Green Tea contain numerous natural substances, including over 450 organic compounds and more than 15 inorganic minerals. Most of these components possess health-promoting and disease-preventing properties, and they are effective in delaying ageing, preventing and combating cancer, and exhibiting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
The production process of Snow Water Cloud Green Tea
Xue Shui Yun Green is often referred to as the ‘rare flower of the deep mountains,’ and its production process is highly meticulous. To produce 1 kilogram of Xue Shui Yun Green tea, approximately 88,000 fresh buds are required, equivalent to the work of 10 workers picking for an entire day. The picking standards are: tender single buds, uniform appearance, and consistent size. The picked fresh leaves must be withered for 4 hours before processing. The production process includes killing the green, initial drying, second green processing (shaping the leaves), re-drying, pan-frying, fully drying, removing impurities, and packaging.
The Story and Origin of Snow Mountain Cloud Green
‘Snow Water Cloud Green’ was named by tea expert Lu Xinjie, who described this tea as embodying the essence of heaven and earth, relying on natural transformation, and drawing its vitality from water, fully embodying the essence of ‘harmony.’ This name not only aligns with the nature of tea as the essence of plants but also embodies the spirit of Chinese tea culture and the profound origins and essence of the universe. Although this tea was named in modern times, it has a long history. According to the Qing Dynasty text ‘Hai Ji,’ it states, ‘During the early Qing Dynasty, each province contributed tea as tribute, including 12 pounds of Tonglu tribute tea,’ indicating that Tonglu has long been a land of auspicious tea. Lu Yu’s ‘Tea Classic’ records that ‘Mu Zhou tea is produced in the valleys of Tonglu Mountain,’ and Fan Zhongyan once said, “The graceful Tonglu region, where half the spring mountains are tea. What a wonderful thing the light thunder is, awakening the buds before the rain.” The people of Tonglu deeply understand that good mountains and good water produce good tea. They pluck a piece of cloud-green tea leaves and brew a pot of snow-melt water. The fragrant and refreshing tea attracts countless tea enthusiasts to flock to the area.
