The Bi Luo Chun Hong Cha experience.

[tenuki]

I experienced Fujian Bi Luo Chun Hong Cha for the first time today at New Century Tea Gallery. Fujian Bi Luo Chun is an amazing green tea from China that I really love. Unfortunately it is only made once a year during the spring, and I was bemoaning the fact to Grace (one of the owners of NCTG) that I would have to wait a few months until the spring harvest before they were back in stock. She graciously shared some of her last tin with me, then pulled out the Hong Cha version and told me that the tea plants can be picked several times a year so that they make this red tea form the same plants and why don't I try it.

the leaves look exactly like the green version we had just drunk (except black of course), but the tea tastes very similar to a Bai Hao (oriental beauty) only better IMO. I exclaimed "this is what I've always wanted Bai Hao to taste like!". And it's cheaper than the green version. Good thing, the real Bi Luo Chun is $300-500 / lb!!

It looks like TeaSpring has something similar, but it's made from a different varietal, not the Bi Luo Chun variatal.

Anyway, just thought I would share. I've got a stash of it now, but I bet it won't last long.

[ABx]

Sounds a bit like the Long Jing Huang Pao, which I have and love Have you tried it? Can you compare?

[tenuki]

Sounds a bit like the Long Jing Huang Pao, which I have and love Have you tried it? Can you compare?

You missed my TeaSpring order by 24 hours. You fail.

[Victoria]

Thanks! Sounds good. And now we all are scouring the web.

[bi lew chun]

Thanks for the info. I noticed the Bi Luo Chun Hong Cha at Tea Spring when I placed an order on Saturday, but skipped it since the description said it was made with the Yunnan varietal. I'd love to try an actual red Bi Luo.

[greenisgood]

how is the new century tea gallery in general by the way?

[tenuki]

how is the new century tea gallery in general by the way?

Not much of an online experience sadly. I've heard of online orders not making it to the office (no charges to CC either fortunately), calling will get you much better luck.

I know the owners socially through my tea teacher(s) as well and I've always felt they were very nice, fair and honest.

Some of their teas are a bit expensive (see the 'pepper leaf' thread in the puerh section for an example), but others are good values just like any other vendor. I sent a few with the oolong box pass, maybe check out that thread for other people's thoughts on those. If I recall the Iron Goddess King was a big hit, as was the Wu Yi Shui Xian. I keep both of those in supply at my home as well as the Gong Ting Puerh.

It's a good place to visit if you are in Seattle, IMO and I've found some really great teas and pots there. But my experience is different since I'm sitting with them for 2-3 hours drinking the tea before buying so I can't really recommend buying online.