This original Hubei green tea known as Yu Lu (Jade Dew) is produced using a traditional method of steaming, kneading and gently roasting, resulting in an attractive pine needle shape and a deeply satisfying taste. Yu Lu was a Tribute Tea during the 1700s in Qing Dynasty China and is considered one of the historical precursors to Japanese sencha and gyokuro.

Yu Lu Jade Dew has a vibrant energy and smooth taste with rich layers of umami. Its aroma and aftertaste showcase a special, harmonious presence of sugar snap pea, toasted almond and umami.

This early spring micro-lot highlights the richness and fresh taste of the Long Jing #43 cultivar growing organically in the remote alpine terroir of Xuan’en, a mountainous region in Southwestern Hubei famous for its forests and Taoist temples.

During the 1600s and 1700s, monks and explorers from Japan traveled to this region to study Taoism and Buddhism. Inspired by the Yu Lu style of steaming, kneading and roasting tea leaves, these Japanese travelers adapted the methods in Japan, leading to the development of sencha and, later, gyokuro.

Steamed-tea lovers will delight in the unique history and one-of-a-kind character of this limited-edition harvest.