Biluochun is amazing. The best Chinese green tea on this site right now is an ‘authentic’ Biluochun called Scary Fragrance, and its price reflects its prestige. Speaking of authenticity, there are many tea producing areas in China that never acquired the level of fame that China’s ‘Top Tens’ are blessed with; so what might a tea farmer do if they’re stuck in an area that no one will recognize? The short answer is copy something more famous. This bi luo chun tea is made in the Wuling Mountains of Hunan, a scenic area that inspired the floating islands in the movie Avatar, and while locally well known for tea, lacks international awareness.

Biluochun is a famous green tea that originates from the Dongting mountain region near Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The tea is renowned for its delicate, twisted leaves and its sweet, fruity aroma. The name “Bi Luo Chun” translates to “Green Snail Spring,” reflecting its appearance and the time of year it is typically harvested.

While Biluochun is closely associated with the Suzhou region, its popularity has led to the production of similar styles of tea in other parts of China and even in other countries. These imitations or adaptations maintain the general processing techniques that characterize Biluochun, such as the pan-firing method and the delicate twisting of the leaves, but the flavor profile can vary significantly due to differences in terroir, local tea cultivars, and specific processing methods.

In regions like Zhejiang, Sichuan, and even parts of Taiwan, tea producers have created their own versions of Biluochun. While these teas may carry the same name they often lack the qualities that make the Suzhou original so prized. For example, the climate, soil, and cultivar of the tea bush all contribute to the tea’s distinctive sweet, floral, and slightly fruity flavor, which is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

The spread of the Biluochun style beyond Suzhou highlights both the tea’s appeal and worthiness. While these versions may not be identical to the original, they offer a famous name at a lower price, and the young leaf material used in their production can almost guarantee that the tea will be decent.

In the old days, before becoming known as Biluochun, this tea was casually known as ‘The Tea with the Scary Fragrance’

“Once upon a time, a woman was out in the forest for a stroll. She came across a particularly fragrant tea bush and loaded up her basket with as much as it could contain. As she was about to leave, she lamented the fact that her basket was so small and the trek to return inconvenient. She stuffed tea between her breasts and walked home in the sun. Her body heat and perspiration caused the tea to give off an incredibly potent smell, which she became used to and thought nothing of it. When she entered her house and put her basket on the table, her husband was staring at her like a monster about to devour her. The fragrance, like an aphrodisiac, put him into a lustful frenzy. Startled by the look in his eyes, the tea became known locally in her circle of friends as ‘the tea with the scary fragrance.'” The story of this spread from her friends to their friends, from their friends to the city, and from the city throughout the county.

In the Qing dynasty, the 3rd emperor heard about ‘scary fragrance tea’ and visited the area.  — He loved the tea, but wanted to change the name to something more poetic and fitting for the aristocracy — ‘green snail spring’. These days there are a number of green teas that frequently appear on China’s top 10 lists; Biluochun and Long Jing are locked in battle for the top spot year after year. Almost all the Biluochun I have tried were not made in the classic production area that ‘Scary Fragrance’ is, my mentors have taught me that Biluochun from the classic area is over-priced and over-hyped — and that other areas/provinces can produce an equal or better tea for far less money. Looking back on my mentors words all these years later, I disagree with them. While its certainly true that these ‘imitations’ offer better value for money, they are not better tea. I also… don’t think these teas are very expensive… especially not when comparing them to pu’erh or oolong, but I realize that is a very personal opinion.

Whether you’ll agree with my mentors or myself about what’s better, this tea is certainly good enough to be something you drink everyday.