Yangxian Snow Sprout

Yangxian Snow Sprout

Yangxian Snow Sprout is an agricultural product with geographical indication status.

　　Yangxian Snow Sprout tea is a renowned specialty from the Yangxian Scenic Area in the southern part of Yixing, Jiangsu Province. Yixing City is located at the southernmost

　　tip of Jiangsu, bordering Taihu Lake to the east, neighboring Changxing in Zhejiang and Guangde in Anhui to the south, connecting to Liyang to the west, and adjacent to Wujin to the north. With convenient transportation and a well-developed economy, it is the main production site of China’s purple clay teapots. The Ding Shan ceramics are world-renowned, and historically known as the "Pottery Capital of China." The southern part of Yixing features undulating hilly and mountainous terrain with overlapping peaks and higher elevation. The region is filled with continuous mountain valleys and is abundant in karst limestone caves, earning the reputation of a "world of cave wonders." Notably, the Shanjuan Cave, Zhanggong Cave, and the magnificent and colorful Linggu Cave are acclaimed as the "No. 1 Ancient Site in the South of the Yangtze," "Marvel of the Nation," and a grand scenic wonder. Yixing is also known as the "Sea of Bamboo," with dense bamboo forests covering hills and slopes, creating a majestic and spectacular layered green landscape. Yangxian Snow Sprout is produced within this national-level Taihu Scenic Tourism Area. The name of the tea originates from Su Shi’s poetic line, “For the Snow Sprout, I sought Yangxian.”

　　History

　　Records of tea production in Yixing date back to the late Eastern Han Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, Yixing gained fame for producing "Yangxian Tea" as a tribute. In the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Qiyun, the Prefect of Changzhou (Yixing was then part of Changzhou), visited Yixing where a monk offered him "Yangxian Tea." Li Qiyun gathered guests to taste the tea. Lu Yu, the authoritative tea scholar, praised Yangxian Tea as “fragrant beyond compare” and suitable for imperial tribute, thus it was listed as a tribute tea. Lu Yu’s *Classic of Tea* also recorded: “Grown under the northern peak of Xuanjiao Ridge at Junshan in Yixing County, Changzhou,” showcasing the prestige of Yangxian Tea in the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty, Yixing tea was favored by literati and scholars. The great literary master Su Dongpo left the poetic line, “For the Snow Sprout, I sought Yangxian; for the creamy water, you should send me that of Huishan.” Yangxian Tea earned nationwide acclaim for its characteristics of clear infusion, fragrant aroma, and mellow taste. Yangxian Snow Sprout is carefully harvested and meticulously processed, featuring slender, straight, and elegant appearance, vibrant green color with visible silver tips, fresh and refined fragrance, rich and mellow flavor, crystal-clear infusion, and tender, even, and intact leaves.

　　Tea Garden Location

　　The Yangxian tea gardens are nestled among the mountains surrounding Taihu Lake, enveloped in mist, with fresh air and fertile soil. In 1998, some tea fields began cultivation without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or growth promoters, adopting entirely organic methods for planting and processing. These efforts were certified by the Organic Food Development Center under the State Environmental Protection Administration. There are plans to expand the area of organic tea plantations to 300 hectares within five years.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　Yangxian Snow Sprout is processed through four steps: high-temperature fixation, light rolling, shaping and drying, and cutting and storage. The finished tea is characterized by a tight, straight, and uniform appearance with emerald green color and visible tips. It offers a delicate and elegant aroma, a fresh and mellow taste, a clear infusion, and tender, even, and intact leaves.

　　Honors

　　Yangxian tea production has a long history and enjoys enduring fame. Tribute tea production began in the Tang Dynasty. In 1915, it won a gold medal at the Panama Exposition. Currently, there are 3,000 hectares of tea gardens, with an annual dry tea output of 4,000 tons. Yangxian Snow Sprout, Jingxi Yunpian, roasted green tea, Gongfu black tea, and broken black tea have received multiple national awards.

　　Yangxian Snow Sprout is produced in nine towns (streets, parks) in the hilly mountainous regions of Yixing City—Zhangpu, Xizhu, Taihua, Xinjie, Dingshu, Hufu, Xushe, Yicheng, and Huankexue Park—located on the western shore of Taihu Lake, which is the foremost city in the region. The suitable tea-growing area spans 8,000 hectares, with 4,000 hectares currently dedicated to Yangxian Snow Sprout cultivation, yielding an annual output of 250 tons and generating over 100 million yuan in value. Yixing City is situated at the southernmost tip of Jiangsu Province, at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, and is at the geometric center of the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou triangle. Its geographical coordinates are 31°07'–31°37' N latitude and 119°31'–120°03' E longitude. It borders Taihu Lake to the east, Changxing in Zhejiang to the southeast, Guangde in Anhui to the southwest, Liyang to the west, Jintan to the northwest, and Wujin to the north, with Ge Lake lying within its territory. The city covers a total area of 2,038.7 square kilometers, with 991,400 mu of arable land. The terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north: the south consists of hilly mountainous areas, the north is plain, the east is the Taihu Lake water network region, and the west is low-lying and poldered. The Xinchang Railway, Nanjing-Hangzhou Expressway, Xinyi Expressway, Nanjing-Hangzhou and Yiguang highways run through the area, offering extremely convenient transportation. The city boasts a well-developed economy and ranks among the top ten counties nationally.