How Are Tea Leaves Named by Season? A Detailed Guide to the Rules
How are tea leaves named by season? Please explain that the names of tea production seasons are set according to China's twenty-four solar terms. There are nine in total, and each name is taken from the solar term at the time of picking. Because it affects the price of tea, tea farmers and tea merchants all pay close attention to it. In order from the beginning of the year, they are as follows: 1....
How are tea leaves named by season? Please explain
The names of tea production seasons are set according to China's twenty-four solar terms. There are nine in total, and each name is taken from the solar term at the time of picking. Because it affects the price of tea, tea farmers and tea merchants all pay close attention to it. In order from the beginning of the year, they are as follows:
1. Buzhichun tea (Qiaodongchunzai) - "Lichun" (Beginning of Spring), February 4 or 5 on the Gregorian calendar.
2. Mingqian tea - "Qingming" (Pure Brightness), April 5 or 6 on the Gregorian calendar. This solar term matters most for non-fermented tea. For West Lake's Biluochun tea, the price difference between Mingqian tea and Minghou tea is more than five times.
3. Spring tea - "Guyu" (Grain Rain), April 20 or 21 on the Gregorian calendar.
4. Summer tea - "Lixia" (Beginning of Summer), May 6 or 7 on the Gregorian calendar. This solar term is most important for semi-fermented tea. The price difference between spring tea and summer tea is double. Tea picked on May 5, the day before Lixia, can be legitimately called spring tea by the tea farmer, but one day later it cannot.
5. Second summer tea (Daxiaoshu tea) or (Liuyuebai) - "Xiaoshu" (Minor Heat), July 7 or 8 on the Gregorian calendar, and "Dashu" (Major Heat), July 23 or 24. During this period, temperatures are the highest and sunlight is the strongest. The tea leaves produced are most suitable for making black tea, while semi-fermented tea made from them is of poorer quality.
6. Autumn tea - "Liqiu" (Beginning of Autumn), August 7 or 8 on the Gregorian calendar.
7. Bailu tea - "Bailu" (White Dew), September 8 or 9 on the Gregorian calendar. The weather gradually turns cooler, and at night moisture in the air condenses into dew on objects on the ground. Experts say that if a north wind blows during this period, the tea picked is sure to be fragrant and good, yet it only commands the price of autumn tea.
8. Winter tea - "Lidong" (Beginning of Winter), November 7 or 8 on the Gregorian calendar.
9. Dongpianzai - "Dongzhi" (Winter Solstice), December 22 or 23 on the Gregorian calendar.
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