Continuing to expand my concept of Bi Luo Chun, I decided to take up a completely different version this one from Taiwan, courtesy of Green Terrace Teas.
What a surprise. First off, the dried leaves look exactly like a number of Mao Fengs: dark matte green, crispy, spindly, and relatively long. This is Bi Luo Chun? Who knew?
The brew, too, reminds me of Mao Feng! Maybe I should not be that surprised, since all tea is, at bottom, camellia sinensis. I have already experienced two completely opposite forms of Bi Luo Chun: one is a compact, tightly rolled up little snail shell which unfurls upon infusion; the second is fluffy, almost weightless, very voluminous and has light colored, almost ashen tips.
This is a third version altogether. I noticed that the infused leaves are quite a bit darker than typical infused Mao Feng leaves, so this is definitely identical with that tea, but the similarities are patent. The flavor is definitely more robust and vegetal than the other Bi Luo Chuns I’ve tried, but I happen to like Mao Feng, so I am happy with this tea!
I love this green tea.