Bubbling Spring Green

This Chinese Spring Tea is Delightful

Bubbling Spring Green Tea is a beautiful Chinese green tea that has been hand-rolled into loose little balls reminiscent of pellets. These may look similar to gunpowder tea, but the taste is definitely unique. Once brewed, these pellets open up and result in delicate yellow-green leaves. While this tea has a dominant grassy flavor, there is a fresh sweetness that is delightful. The brewed cup is a beautiful pale green liquid. Some have even compared this tea to a smoother version of a Dragonwell, China’s most famous green tea.

Bubbling Spring is considered a Chinese Spring Green tea. At this time of the tea season, the leaves are tender and harvesting begins before the rainy season. That is why the teas harvested at this time are also known as “before the rain teas”. The season is so short, running from late March to the second week of May, that it results in small amounts of these lovely teas each year.

If you like Bubbling Spring and want to try other “Before the Rain” teas, look for these other Spring Green Teas:

• Jade in the Clouds – Huang Hua Yun Jian – this tea is a slender needle tea that has been pan-fried and leaves a very crisp sweet, yet mild taste.
• Curled Dragon Silver Hair/Tip – Pan Long Yin Hao – this tea is a thick, almost white, spiral leaf that has been basket-fired that gives off a nutty aroma.
• Spring Snail Shell or Snail Spring – Pi (or Bi) Lo Chun – this roasted vegetal tea is a very tiny green leaf that has been pan-fired into spirals resembling snail shells. It also feels very think in your mouth when drinking a cup.
• Lu’An Melon Seed – Lu Shan Gua Pian – this is an earthy open leaf tea resembling seeds, that is basket-fired and hand-rolled.

Bubbling Spring is best when brewed at 195° for 2-3 minutes.