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Green tea · Green snail spring

Bi Luo Chun

碧螺春, Biluochun, Pi Lo Chun

7.9/10 editor's score

A famous early-spring green tea from the Dongting hills by Lake Tai, rolled into tiny downy spirals. The name means "green snail spring".

SpringDownyFruity
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Bi Luo Chun, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafBi Luo Chun
250 ml water70 to 80°C
Steep 1:303 steeps
LiquorPale, clear yellow-green
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)

At a glance

A famous early-spring green tea from the Dongting hills by Lake Tai, rolled into tiny downy spirals.

CaffeineLow to medium~20 to 40 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestMarch to early AprilThe prized picks come in March and early April.
Pairs withSteamed fish, Prawns, Fresh fruit, Light pastriesLess good with heavy spice
Grown atLow hills by Lake TaiDongting Mountains, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)Porcelain bowl, lid and saucer

About Bi Luo Chun

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe Bi Luo Chun as delicate, with a fruity taste and a floral aroma 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Dongting Mountains, SuzhouJiangsuCHINA
Region
Dongting Mountains near Lake Tai, Suzhou, Jiangsu 1
Name
"Green snail spring", for its spiral shape 1
Best areas
Dong Shan and Xi Shan 1
Leaf count
About 14,000 to 15,000 shoots per kilogram 1

More from Dongting Mountains, Suzhou and China.

History and culture

A Qing dynasty chronicle says the Kangxi Emperor visited Lake Tai and renamed the local "Scary Fragrance" tea as Bi Luo Chun, "Green Snail Spring" 1.

Editor's score

7.9/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.5Origin & heritage: 9.0Availability: 7.0Value: 7.0Beginner-friendliness: 8.0Versatility: 6.5Flavour 8.5Heritage 9.0Availability 7.0Value 7.0Beginners 8.0Versatility 6.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Bi Luo Chun~20 to 40 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate for a Western cup at moderate temperature. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Bi Luo Chun is known for its early spring cropping 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, small-leaf bushes, often grown among fruit trees in the Dongting hills 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

One bud and one leaf, very small.

02Kill-green

Heated in a wok.

03Rolling

Rolled into tight spirals.

04Drying

Low heat brings up the down.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafTiny, tight spirals with white down.
LiquorPale, clear yellow-green.
After steeping
Wet leafSmall, tender buds and leaves.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Steamed fish
  • Prawns
  • Fresh fruit
  • Light pastries

Best avoided

  • Heavy spice

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and smells.
  • Green tea fades fastest: aim to finish it within 3 to 6 months of opening.
  • Unopened sealed packs can go in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before opening.
Grades and fakes

Graded by tenderness: the smallest, downiest spring shoots are the top grades.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Real Dongting Bi Luo Chun is small-batch. Much is grown elsewhere.
  2. Look for the harvest year and spring date.
FAQ
Why so fuzzy?

The tiny spring buds are covered in fine white hairs.

Hot water first or leaves first?

Many drinkers put water in the glass first and drop the leaves on top so they sink slowly.

Find it inGreen teasTeas from ChinaDongting Mountains, SuzhouSpringDownyFruity

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Biluochun". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biluochun
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.