This approachable category of tea comprises intact leaf buds and small leaves, which are typically harvested by hand and pan-fired to control oxidation. The most skilled green tea artisans pan-fire their leaves by hand to produce just the right flavor, which can vary from sweet and mellow to bright with a hint of smoke. Chinese green tea reflects the nuanced essences of the country’s terrain and its people. Perhaps more so than any of our teas, these teas reflect not just their terroir- it is said that drinking green tea is equivalent to drinking the weather! The Ching Ming Festival in early April signals the best time of the year to harvest the top tier green teas. Leaves and buds harvested up to the rainy season (Pre-Rain) command the highest prices, and are measured by the day. Enjoy these teas from two to four steepings.