Biluochun
Biluochun (碧螺春), also known as Pi Lo Chun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting mountain area near Lake Tai, province Jiangsu, China. Biluochun is renowned for its delicate appearance with white hairs, fruity taste and floral aroma.
The name Biluochun literally means "Green Spring Snail". The tea is called so because it is rolled into a tight spiral, resembling snail meat and is cropped early spring. Usually, for Biluochun is picked a bud and a leaf.
Its original name is Xia Sha Ren Xiang (嚇煞人香, "scary fragrance"). Legend tells of its discovery by a tea picker who ran out of space in her basket and put the tea between her breasts instead. The tea, warmed by her body heat, emitted a strong aroma that surprised the girl.
According to the Qing Dynasty chronicle Ye Shi Da Guan, the Kangxi Emperor visited Lake Tai in the 38th year of his rule. At that time, because of its rich aroma, local people called it "Scary Fragrance". The Kangxi Emperor decided to give it a more elegant name - Biluochun.
Today, Biluochun is cultivated in Dongting, Jiangsu. Biluochun from Dong Shan (East Mountain) is considered the best. Biluochun is also grown in Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces. Their leaves are larger and less uniform. They taste more nutty than fruity and smooth.
Biluochun is divided into seven grades in decreasing order of quality: Supreme, Supreme Ⅰ,Grade Ⅰ,Grade Ⅱ,Grade Ⅲ, Chao Qing Ⅰ, and Chao Qing Ⅱ.