Yang'ai Bilv Chun

Yang'ai Bilv Chun

　　Yang'ai Bilv Chun is produced at the Yang'ai Tea Plantation, located in the western suburbs of Huaxi District, Guiyang — the Pearl of the Guizhou Plateau. This tea is a specialty high-quality green tea independently developed by technical personnel engaged in tea production at the plantation over many years of exploration. It combines the plantation’s unique natural environment with current market demands for tea consumption. The outstanding characteristics of Yang'ai Bilv Chun are its "three greens": emerald-green color with visible fuzz on the dry leaves, bright green and clear liquor, and tender green and intact leaves. First created in 1999, the tea was officially registered with the provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce in 2002. After more than four years of practical refinement and process improvements, the processing techniques of Yang'ai Bilv Chun have become increasingly mature. The product has gradually gained market recognition and has become a unique highlight among Guizhou’s specialty teas.

　　 The tea plant varieties at the Yang'ai Tea Plantation include the Dianbei “Shili Xiang” group variety, the domesticated Fuding Dabai variety, the domesticated Fuyun No. 6 variety, as well as the Qianmei series. The variety best suited for making Yang'ai Bilv Chun is the unique local Qianyang small-leaf variety cultivated at the plantation. It is an improved small-leaf variety formed through years of breeding, domestication, and variation of all the plantation’s varieties by its technical staff. This variety is characterized by early budding, excellent quality, and high aroma.

　　 The production of Yang'ai Bilv Chun requires the picking of tender leaves and meticulous processing. Fresh leaves are harvested from the start of the season (generally late February) until just before Grain Rain, with leaf lengths of about 1.8–2.5 cm. The buds and leaves must be uniform in length and size. The picked buds and leaves are spread thinly in a shaded, cool place for about 4–8 hours. The fresh leaves are sieved to remove fish leaves and other impurities. The processing of Bilv Chun includes: high-temperature fixation, rolling into strips, rolling into balls to enhance fuzz, and slow drying. The fixation machinery used is either a 40-type or 70-type drum fixation machine, while the shaping equipment is a 941-type Biluochun drying and shaping machine.

　　 Yang'ai Bilv Chun is divided into three grades: Premium, Special Grade, and Grade One. The total annual production of all grades reaches around 10 tons. Among them, the quantity of Premium Bilv Chun is extremely limited, with current annual production only around 5–10 kg (and generally not sold on the open market). The production of Premium Bilv Chun is extremely particular. Firstly, the ecological environment of the tea gardens where the raw materials are sourced must have year-round tree shade and ample diffused light. Secondly, the tea gardens must ensure the application of at least 4,000 kg of organic fertilizer (mainly farmyard manure) per mu, and the use of chemical fertilizers is strictly prohibited. Pest and disease control in the tea gardens primarily relies on physical and biological methods, with the complete avoidance of chemical pesticides. Thirdly, the timing of picking and the processing techniques are also very exacting: picking is carried out 3–5 days before Qingming Festival (only on sunny days), between 7–10 a.m. daily, selecting tender, uniform tea buds about 1.8 cm long. The tea is processed between 4–7 p.m., requiring meticulous craftsmanship, with the final dry tea containing 70,000–80,000 buds per jin. The Special Grade and Grade One Yang'ai Bilv Chun represent a breakthrough in the introduction of mechanization and standardized management at the plantation. Throughout the entire processing procedure, apart from the ball-rolling and fuzz-enhancing steps that require some manual assistance, all other processes are mechanized. Mature technology and advanced equipment ensure both the quality and quantity of the product.

　　 Since its development, Yang'ai Bilv Chun has received high recognition from both the market and society. In addition to quickly dominating the local market, it has also achieved strong sales performance in markets such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. In 2002, the production and sales volume of Yang'ai Bilv Chun reached nearly 8,000 kg; in 2003, it hit 10,000 kg; and in 2004, the production and sales volume is expected to reach 12,000 kg. First-class products ultimately receive first-class returns — in April 2004, during the auction of award-winning tea samples at the Guizhou Nanming Tea Industry Competition, Yang'ai Bilv Chun set a record for the highest price ever achieved in a Chinese green tea auction at 488,000 RMB per jin. In the same year, at the Guizhou Provincial Famous Tea Evaluation Conference, Yang'ai Bilv Chun once again outshone all competitors, earning the title of Guizhou Famous Tea with the highest score.