Zhuyeqing (竹葉青)

tea imagery: Bamboo rain

Zhuyeqing is a green tea from the Emeishan area of Sichuan. Its flat, pointed leaves resemble young bamboo leaves, giving the tea its name, “Bamboo Leaf Green”. The cup can have fresh vegetal and chestnut notes.

History

The tea is made from tender young growth; selected buds are particularly prized in the Zhuyeqing brand’s products. Heating, flattening and drying give the leaves their finished shape, with machinery used in modern production. Zhuyeqing is both a tea name and a brand, so check the producer, origin and harvest date when buying.

The producer traces the name to Chen Yi’s visit to Wannian Temple in 1964, when the tea’s shape reminded him of bamboo leaves. The bamboo in our illustration follows that association.

Terroir

Emeishan and the surrounding area, Sichuan. Check the elevation of the individual garden. Soils and drainage vary between plots. Humid foothill climate; conditions vary with elevation and aspect. If buying a particular brand, check the producer’s name on the packaging.

Leaf

dry leaf: Small, flat green leaves tapering at both ends.

aroma in a warmed vessel: Fresh vegetal notes, sometimes with a light nutty scent.

aroma after brewing: Greens, young peas and possible chestnut notes.

taste: A fresh vegetal taste with gentle sweetness; strength and astringency vary by batch.

finish: Try a sip once it has cooled: sweetness and a drying mouthfeel are easier to distinguish at a moderate temperature.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: Traditional Chinese classifications describe green tea as “cooling”.

What to know: Heating during processing limits enzymatic oxidation, helping preserve the character of green tea.

Over a cup of tea: A small cup for a daytime break.

Caffeine: Contains caffeine; the amount in a cup depends on the leaves, dose and brewing time.

How to brew

A 200 ml teapot or brewing mug that lets you separate the liquor from the leaves. Start with 3 g per 200 ml at 85 °C; try 90 °C if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

When to drink

Morning or daytime. Year-round; harvest and storage matter for a fresh taste. When you want a green tea with a clear vegetal flavour. Rice or white fish without a spicy sauce; taste the tea on its own first. A short break alone or with someone else

What to notice

Look at the shape of the dry leaves.
Watch them take up water and open.
Compare the first and second infusions.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Zhuyeqing?

A 200 ml teapot or brewing mug that lets you separate the liquor from the leaves. Start with 3 g per 200 ml at 85 °C; try 90 °C if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

What does Zhuyeqing taste like?

A fresh vegetal taste with gentle sweetness; strength and astringency vary by batch.

How much caffeine is in Zhuyeqing?

Contains caffeine; the amount in a cup depends on the leaves, dose and brewing time.

What else should I know about Zhuyeqing?

Heating during processing limits enzymatic oxidation, helping preserve the character of green tea.