Bailongtan Misty Tea

Bailongtan Misty Tea

　　    Bailongtan Misty Tea is a high-quality, renowned tea created by Songzi Swan Tea Farm. The farm is located at the “Swan Embracing an Egg” site where Songzi borders Zhicheng: nature carved out the White Dragon Pool, and the earth sprouted eight springs. Rolling hills and layered peaks are shrouded in mist, with lush greenery as far as the eye can see, giving visitors the feeling of “ascending a cloud ladder onto verdant mountains, gently being escorted into the ninth heaven!”

　　　　        As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, Songzi produced tribute tea known as “Bijian Tea.” The Northern Song Dynasty’s Le Shi wrote in *Taiping Guangji* that “Jingzhou produces local tea, and Songzi yields Bijian.” In 1977, tea gardens began to be developed on the hills at the “Swan Embracing an Egg” site, covering an area of 1,270 mu, and the site was named “Swan Tea Farm.” Building upon the historic famous tea “Bijian Tea,” the farm successfully developed “Misty Tea.” In 1987, a refined batch of tea was packaged and launched on the market in boxes (two taels per box) under the brand name “Bailongtan,” and it sold out quickly. In 1989, “Bailongtan Misty Tea” was included in the book *China’s Famous Teas*. In 1990, it was awarded the honorary certificate for “First Place in Stir-Fried Green Tea” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries.

　　　　        The farm’s soil is deep, fertile, and rich in organic matter, with ample sunlight and a suitable climate. Coupled with the frequent morning and evening mist on the hills, it provides ideal conditions for growing high-quality tea. Tea picking is also meticulous, with the optimal time for harvesting tender leaves being just before sunrise and sunset. Especially when only one bud with two or three leaves is picked, it undergoes eight meticulous processes including withering, fixing, rolling, and drying. The tea features tender and uniform leaves, tightly twisted buds, bright green liquor, sweet and mellow taste, rich aroma, and a long-lasting aftertaste. It is a pure natural beverage and local specialty offered to guests from all over, and is also designated as a special tourism product by the Water Scenic Area Management Committee. This tea is popular in Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and is exported as far as Japan and Singapore.