Rizhu

It is by no coincidence that one may recognise the tight curls of the prolific gunpowder green in this tea. This one comes from Shaoxing Prefecture in Northern Zhejiang, the regional hub for gunpowder (zhu cha) production. While most of the tea production here are in large industrial quantities for export, this premium grade demonstrates the finer qualities of this tea-making region. A local tea with a history, Rizhu is not a commonly known tea in China but locally it has been enjoyed for centuries for it brews a soft and savory infusion of pearlescent texture, that contains minerals of dark leafy greens, notes of peanuts, and a slight piquancy of green apples.