Where is Biluochun produced, and how is it grown?
Biluochun is beautiful in shape, bright in color, rich in aroma, and mellow in taste. It is a type of green tea and is hailed as the “Fairy among teas.” So where is Biluochun produced? How is it grown?
1. Where is Biluochun produced?
Biluochun tea originated in the Dongting East and West Hills of Wuzhong District, Suzhou City. Dongting East Hill is a sandstone hill, and wild tea once grew on its cliffs. Dongting West Hill is located in Xucun, Henan East, and has been called Biluo Peak since the Yuan Dynasty.
In April 2009, with the approval of the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, “Dongtingshan Biluochun” was awarded the title of China Well-Known Trademark. Dongting (Mountain) Biluochun tea is stir-fried entirely by hand, following the principle of “hands never leave the tea, tea never leaves the wok, kneading within stir-frying, stir-frying within kneading, continuous operation, ready as soon as it leaves the wok.” Its unique processing technique has been included in the candidate list of intangible cultural heritage.
According to the report of the Jiangsu Provincial Tea Tree Local Variety Resource Survey Team, the physicochemical indicators of green tea quality in Dongting (Mountain) Biluochun tea, such as amino acids, catechins, and tea polyphenols, are all relatively high. Therefore, the finished Dongting (Mountain) Biluochun tea has a fresh, mellow taste and excellent mouthfeel.
2. How is Biluochun grown?
1. Intercropping with flowers and fruit trees
Biluochun tea trees are planted among loquat, bayberry, peach, and chestnut trees, with a flower and fruit tree coverage rate of about 30%. It can be said that without intercropping, Dongting Biluochun would lose its distinctive character.
2. Selection of tea varieties
Generally speaking, the small-leaf varieties of Biluochun tea must have resistance or tolerance to pests and diseases. Only in this way can the pure quality of Biluochun tea be guaranteed.
3. Fertilization should be appropriate
When fertilizing Biluochun, the slope of the tea garden, rainfall, and other factors should be comprehensively considered. Use an ecological balanced fertilization method and apply fertilizer scientifically according to soil fertility and the nutritional needs of the tea trees. It is recommended not to apply organic fertilizer directly. Using raw organic fertilizer directly cannot be effectively absorbed by plants; instead, it easily causes rot and the generation of harmful and toxic substances derived from pests and diseases, resulting in a loss of fertilizer efficiency. You can first separate organic matter from the soil, obtain a highly efficient, multifunctional beneficial microbial community, and mix it for fermentation, thereby turning the organic matter into a decomposed fertilizer that is easy to absorb and quickly converted.
4. Control of pests, diseases, and weeds
Tea gardens are relatively prone to pests, diseases, and weeds, so strengthening control in this regard is very necessary. Adhere to prevention as the main approach and integrated control, proceed from the entire tea garden ecosystem, and coordinate multiple sustainable prevention and control technical measures. In addition, the use of chemical pesticides and pesticide varieties prohibited by tea garden production regulations is forbidden. Pay attention to the conditions, methods, and safety intervals for the use of botanical pesticides and mineral-derived pesticides.
Warm tip: When tasting Biluochun tea, first pour boiling water into the cup, wait a moment, and then add the tea leaves. This way, Biluochun will sink to the bottom of the cup instead of floating, and its taste will be mellow and sweet with an endless aftertaste!