Jixi Green Tea

Jixi Green Tea

　　Jixi is located in the southern part of Anhui Province, situated between the ancient regions of Xuancheng and Huizhou, hence it is referred to as the "Ridge of Xuancheng and Huizhou." It lies at the junction of the Huangshan and Tianmu mountain ranges, and serves as the watershed between the Yangtze River and the Qiantang River systems. The province’s second-highest peak in eastern China, Qingliang Peak, and Dahuishan Mountain stand majestically to the east and west of the county. The names Anhui and Huizhou originate from the Huishan and Huiling mountain ranges that traverse the county. The area is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, all of which flow outward with clear water, and enjoys a warm, moist subtropical monsoon climate.

　　The picking period for Jixi Green Tea is annually during the Qingming and Grain Rain seasons. Only the plump, tender young buds at their early stages of unfolding are selected and hand-fried. The tea leaves are slightly curled, shaped like sparrow tongues, green with a hint of yellow, and have visible silver tips, along with golden fish-like leaves (commonly known as "golden flakes"). When brewed, the tea produces a misty vapor that gathers at the top of the cup. The liquor is clear, slightly greenish-yellow, with vibrant yellow-green leaves at the bottom. The taste is mellow and sweet, the aroma orchid-like, and the aftertaste long and profound. Because the freshly made tea is covered in white down, with sharp bud tips, and the fresh leaves are picked from the peaks of Jixi.