Yushan Green Tea

Yushan Green Tea

　　　　The Yushan Mountain in Changshu, described as “ten miles of green hills half merging into the city,” is not only picturesque and poetic, but also renowned for producing Yushan Green Tea — a refreshing, fragrant brew known to invigorate the spirit and nourish the qi. Atop Yushan lies the Jianmen Peak, a jagged mountain peak resembling it was cleaved by sword and axe, surrounded by gentle slopes covered with rows of tea plants. Facing a clear blue lake and blessed with pure air, the tea bushes sprout tender buds around Guyu (Grain Rain) each year. These buds are carefully hand-picked and skillfully roasted to produce a premium green tea famed both at home and abroad — also known as Jianmen Green Tea. After the liberation, the Yushan Forest Farm was established specifically to manage cultivation uniformly. Especially since the reform and opening-up, under the attention and support of the local government, scientific cultivation methods have been implemented, making the Yushan tea trees even lusher and greener. Coupled with continuous improvements in processing techniques, the quality of the tea has soared. Today, the authentic Yushan Green Tea produced by the tea factory operated by the Yushan Forest Farm enjoys worldwide renown.

　　(Changshu)

　　　　The earliest tea planting on Yushan began during the Qing Dynasty, and by the Republican era, tea was being cultivated at the foot of the mountains behind the Ancestral Temple on Yushan and on both sides of Xingfu Temple. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, tea plantations began to expand in larger plots. [2]

　　Awards and Honors

　　　　Yushan tea is best known for its pan-fired green tea. In 1965, Yushan First Grade Pan-fired Green Tea won second place in a national green tea competition, and subsequently ranked among the top in provincial and Suzhou municipal quality evaluations.

　　　　Today, the Jianmen Green Tea introduced by the Yushan Forest Farm is the first brand of pollution-free tea, available in premium grades such as Jianhao, Biluochun, Minghao, and Xuelv. Particularly notable is the Jianhao, developed in 1978, which features a flat, straight, and smooth appearance with emerald green leaves covered in fine hairs. When brewed, the leaves stand upright like swords, exuding a rich aroma, with a clear infusion that can be steeped many times. Minghao has a needle-like shape, tightly rolled strips with visible white pekoe, a delicate fragrance, a bright emerald-green infusion, and a sweet taste. All other grades are also exquisitely made and favored by various consumer groups.

　　　　A writer from Yushan once wrote: “Yushan stays evergreen through sun and rain, while travelers’ homesickness deepens at night. Hearing that its green tea now surpasses the past, stirs even more pride from afar.” This is a unique honor reserved solely for Yushan Green Tea. The fertile soil of Yushan also nurtures a rare white-leaf tea tree, whose young leaves are milky white. Through the meticulous craftsmanship of tea masters, it is made into teas named “Jianmen Taibai” and “Yushan White Tea.” These teas can be steeped up to ten times without losing their original osmanthus-like fragrance, and produce a bright yellow-green infusion with leaves dancing like jade, leaving all who taste them amazed — truly a marvel in the history of Chinese tea. Jianmen-brand green tea is an AA-grade green food and a Jiangsu Provincial Famous Product. Yushan-brand green tea has consistently ranked high in provincial quality evaluations and is certified as a Jiangsu pollution-free food.