Charming Anhui

Types of teas in Anhui province

Updated: 2010-04-29 12:35

Jingting Green Snow Tea

Jingting Mountain is located o-n the bank of the Shuiyang River to the north of Xuancheng city, Anhui province. It abounds with green teas, of which the Green Snow Tea is the most popular.

A small snowstorm among the swirling green leaves in the cup is created by the prominent white hairs on the leaves of this tea, hence the name.

Old books describe it as one of the famous tribute teas presented to the emperors as early as the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 317--420) and on up through Ming and Qing dynasties. If this information is reliable, it dates the beginning of tribute tea much earlier than the usually accepted time during the reign of Emperor Tang Tai Zong (626-649). However, the word generally translated as "tribute," a euphemism for a form of taxation, is often used rather loosely to mean "gift."

This rather rare tea is not available abroad or indeed in many parts of China. It is sold only near the place where it is grown--Jingting Mountain in eastern Anhui province. But if you ever find yourself near the cities of Suzhou or Zhenjiang in nearby Jiangsu province, you must smaple its fresh, aromatic taste, and might want to take some home.