If you are just beginning to explore Chinese green tea, the first name you may hear is often Longjing, or Dragon Well tea. But in the world of traditional Chinese famous teas, there is another classic green tea that deserves attention: Bi Luo Chun.

If Longjing is known for a steady roasted-bean aroma, Bi Luo Chun is known for a more delicate floral and fruity fragrance. Its taste is fresh, sweet, and gentle, with very little bitterness when brewed correctly. Many Western tea drinkers are surprised the first time they try it: green tea can taste this soft and aromatic.

This guide is written from the perspective of NPTEA's tea sourcing experience. It explains what Bi Luo Chun tastes like, how it differs from Longjing, how to brew it properly, and how to choose a good Bi Luo Chun tea without getting lost in confusing labels or inflated prices.

What Is Bi Luo Chun Green Tea?

Bi Luo Chun is a classic Chinese green tea and one of China's best-known traditional teas. Its most representative origin is the Dongting mountain area around Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Tea from this core region is often called Dongting Bi Luo Chun.

Unlike Longjing, which is flat and smooth in shape, Bi Luo Chun dry leaves are usually small, curled, and spiral-like, with fine white fuzz on the surface. After brewing, the leaves slowly unfurl in the water, the liquor becomes clear and bright, and the aroma feels delicate and fresh.

For readers who want a broader overview of this tea category, our Chinese green tea guide explains how green tea differs from other Chinese tea types.

The History of Bi Luo Chun Green Tea

Bi Luo Chun is one of China's most famous green teas. Its exact early history is often described through local records and tea culture stories, so it is better understood as a long-developed regional tea tradition rather than a single fixed historical event.

One widely told story connects Bi Luo Chun with Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty. According to this tradition, when Kangxi visited the tea's producing region, he appreciated the tea's green color, curled snail-like shape, and spring harvest character, and the name "Bi Luo Chun" became associated with the tea.

In modern tea culture, Bi Luo Chun is widely recognized as a representative Chinese green tea. It is also connected with China's broader traditional tea-making heritage. In 2022, UNESCO listed "traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" as intangible cultural heritage, reflecting the cultural importance of Chinese tea craftsmanship as a whole.

Where Is Bi Luo Chun Grown?

Bi Luo Chun is protected as a Chinese geographical indication product. Under official origin rules, tea produced in the Dongshan and Jinting areas of Suzhou's Wuzhong District can be called Dongting Mountain Bi Luo Chun.

Other regions in China also produce teas labeled as Bi Luo Chun or Bi Luo Chun-style green tea. Some can still be enjoyable, but they are not necessarily authentic Dongting Bi Luo Chun from the core origin.

What Does Bi Luo Chun Taste Like?

If your idea of green tea is "bitter," "grassy," or "astringent," Bi Luo Chun may change that impression. A good Bi Luo Chun is known for a fresh, lively taste, a delicate floral-fruity aroma, and a soft sweetness that stays after swallowing.

Aroma: Floral, Fruity, and Fuzzy Bud Fragrance

The most distinctive feature of Bi Luo Chun is its aroma. Many green teas lean toward bean, chestnut, or grassy notes, but Bi Luo Chun often feels more floral and fruity.

The fragrance can remind people of light flowers, young fruit, or fresh spring leaves. The fine white fuzz on tender buds can also bring a soft, fresh aroma often described in Chinese tea tasting as a "fuzzy bud" fragrance.

Taste: Fresh, Smooth, and Low in Bitterness

The taste of Bi Luo Chun is usually fresh first, then soft, then sweet. A good cup should feel lively but not harsh.

Its freshness comes from tender spring buds and young leaves. When brewed correctly, Bi Luo Chun should not taste sharply bitter. Instead, it can feel similar to fresh young peas, light vegetable sweetness, or a clean spring broth.

Aftertaste: Returning Sweetness and Salivation

A good tea is not only about the first sip. Bi Luo Chun is also valued for what happens after you swallow.

• Returning sweetness: After the tea goes down, a gentle sweetness may slowly appear at the back of the throat and on the tongue.
• Salivation: A good Bi Luo Chun can make the mouth feel clean, moist, and refreshed after drinking.

How to Brew Bi Luo Chun Green Tea

Bi Luo Chun is usually made from very tender buds and young leaves, so it needs a gentler brewing method than many darker or more roasted teas. If the water is too hot or the steeping time is too long, even good Bi Luo Chun can become bitter or dull.

The classic way to brew Bi Luo Chun is in a clear glass cup. A glass lets you watch the small curled leaves slowly open and sink in the water. It also keeps the aroma clean because glass does not absorb tea fragrance.

Use the Right Water Temperature

Bi Luo Chun buds are very tender and often covered with fine white fuzz. These tender parts contribute to the fresh and sweet taste, but they are also sensitive to boiling water.

For most Bi Luo Chun, use water around 75-85°C / 167-185°F. If your water has just boiled, let it cool for a few minutes before pouring. Boiling water can make the liquor turn yellow, bring out a cooked taste, and increase bitterness.

Avoid Using Too Much Tea

Use only enough dry leaves to lightly cover the bottom of the cup. Bi Luo Chun leaves are small and curled, so they can look like a small amount even when the weight is already enough.

Adding too much tea is one of the easiest ways to make Bi Luo Chun taste too strong or bitter.

Avoid Steeping for Too Long

Watch the leaves as they open. When most leaves have sunk and the liquor has a clear yellow-green color, the tea is usually ready to drink.

Do not leave Bi Luo Chun sitting for too long until the cup becomes cold and overly concentrated. Long steeping pulls out more bitterness and astringency.

Bi Luo Chun vs. Longjing: What Is the Difference?

Bi Luo Chun and Longjing are two of the most representative Chinese green teas, but their styles are not the same.

If you want to understand Longjing in more detail, read our West Lake Longjing tea guide.

Shape: Flat vs. Curled

• Longjing: Flat, smooth, and straight, often looking like small willow leaves.
• Bi Luo Chun: Curled into tight spirals, often covered with fine white fuzz.

This is the easiest visual difference. Flat leaves usually point to Longjing. Curled spiral leaves point to Bi Luo Chun.

Aroma: Bean-Like vs. Floral-Fruity

• Longjing: Classic bean, chestnut, or lightly roasted aroma.
• Bi Luo Chun: More floral and fruity, often lighter and more lifted.

Taste: Mellow vs. Fresh

• Longjing: Smooth, mellow, and fuller in the mouth.
• Bi Luo Chun: Fresh, sweet, lively, and usually lighter in body.

Who Is Bi Luo Chun Suitable For?

Compared with heavier teas such as ripe Pu-erh, roasted oolong, or strong black tea, Bi Luo Chun is lighter, softer, and easier to enjoy. It does not require a Yixing teapot or complex brewing tools. A glass cup or mug is enough.

Suitable For

• People who enjoy light body, fresh aroma, and natural sweetness.
• Beginners who only have a mug or glass cup.

Not Ideal For

• People who prefer thick, roasted, aged, earthy, or very strong tea flavors.

Does Bi Luo Chun Have Caffeine?

Bi Luo Chun's caffeine level is generally closer to other green teas than to coffee. The FDA notes that an 8-ounce cup of green tea can contain about 30-50 mg of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of coffee often contains about 80-100 mg. Exact numbers vary by tea amount, water temperature, steeping time, and brewing method.

It would be too simple to say Bi Luo Chun is always "low caffeine." Because it is made from tender spring buds and young leaves, the dry leaves can still contain meaningful caffeine. What matters most to the drinker is how much caffeine ends up in the cup.

If you are caffeine-sensitive, use slightly cooler water, avoid long steeping, and drink Bi Luo Chun earlier in the day. The NCCIH green tea overview also notes that green tea contains caffeine, so sensitive drinkers should treat it as a caffeinated drink rather than a caffeine-free herbal infusion.

Why Is Bi Luo Chun So Expensive?

Among green tea lovers, Bi Luo Chun has a special place. For Western consumers seeing it for the first time, the price can feel surprising. The cost mainly comes from two things: scarcity and labor.

Extreme Scarcity

Authentic Dongting Bi Luo Chun from the core producing area is limited. Early spring tea picked before Qingming is often considered especially valuable because the buds are tender and the flavor is fresh.

High-grade Bi Luo Chun requires large numbers of tender buds and young leaves. The picking window is short, and the core origin cannot produce unlimited quantities. This is one reason genuine high-quality Bi Luo Chun can be expensive.

High Manual Labor Cost

Unlike many mass-market teas that can rely heavily on machine processing, high-quality Bi Luo Chun depends on careful handwork.

• Picking: The standard is strict, often focusing on tender buds and one young leaf.
• Sorting: Fresh leaves must be sorted to remove unsuitable leaves and stems.
• Pan-firing: Skilled tea makers control heat, rolling, and shaping by hand.
• Timing: The best material comes from a short spring window, so the opportunity to make it is limited.

Buying Tips for Bi Luo Chun

When buying Bi Luo Chun, do not judge only by whether the label says "Bi Luo Chun." There are many grades, origins, and price levels. For beginners, the goal is not to chase the rarest tea immediately. It is better to find a clean, naturally fragrant tea with low bitterness.

Do Not Judge Only by Packaging

Some teas from outside the core region may still be sold as Bi Luo Chun or Bi Luo Chun-style tea. That does not always mean they are bad, but it does mean you should look carefully at origin, harvest season, and seller reliability.

Buy a Small Sample First

Bi Luo Chun can be expensive, and taste preference is personal. Instead of buying a large bag immediately, start with a small sample. If you enjoy the floral aroma and fresh sweetness, then buy a larger pack.

For new tea drinkers, a broader loose leaf tea beginner guide can also help you compare brewing styles before committing to larger quantities.

Choose Spring Tea, Not Summer Tea

Green tea is valued for freshness. Spring Bi Luo Chun usually has better tenderness, aroma, and sweetness. Summer tea is more likely to taste bitter or coarse.

If you are buying internationally, also consider shipping season. Green tea is sensitive to heat, so hot summer shipping can reduce freshness if storage and packaging are poor.

You Do Not Have to Chase the Core Origin Immediately

Authentic Dongting Bi Luo Chun is rare and expensive. For most daily tea drinkers, a well-made Bi Luo Chun-style green tea from a reliable seller can be more practical and cost-effective.

This is especially true if your goal is to understand the flavor style before paying premium prices for the most famous origin.

How to Store Bi Luo Chun

Bi Luo Chun is delicate. Poor storage can quickly make it lose its floral-fruity aroma, turn dull, or taste stale. Unlike Pu-erh tea, green tea is not meant for long aging.

Seal and protect from light: Keep Bi Luo Chun in an airtight, opaque bag or tin. Press out excess air before sealing when possible.

Keep it cool: Store it in the refrigerator at about 0-5°C / 32-41°F if you plan to keep it for longer. Do not place it in the freezer unless the packaging is fully sealed and you understand the moisture risk.

Avoid odors: Tea absorbs smells easily. Keep Bi Luo Chun away from leftovers, fruit, spices, and anything with a strong smell.

Conclusion: Bi Luo Chun

Bi Luo Chun and Longjing are both famous Chinese green teas, but they offer very different experiences. Longjing is steadier, smoother, and more bean-like. Bi Luo Chun is fresher, more aromatic, and more floral-fruity.

If you have already tried Longjing and want to explore another classic Chinese green tea, Bi Luo Chun is worth tasting. But if you prefer heavier body, roasted flavor, aged aroma, or deep earthy notes, oolong tea, black tea, or Pu-erh tea may suit you better.

Authentic Dongting Bi Luo Chun is limited and expensive. For most Western tea drinkers, the practical choice is to start with a small sample from a reliable seller, understand the flavor first, and then decide whether to buy a larger pack.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bi Luo Chun Green Tea

Q1: Does Bi Luo Chun taste bitter?

Good Bi Luo Chun should not taste sharply bitter when brewed correctly. It is usually fresh, sweet, and floral-fruity. Too much tea, boiling water, or long steeping can make it bitter.

Q2: Can I brew Bi Luo Chun with boiling water?

It is not recommended. Bi Luo Chun uses tender buds and young leaves, so water around 75-85°C / 167-185°F is usually better. Boiling water can make the tea yellow, cooked-tasting, and more bitter.

Q3: What is the difference between Bi Luo Chun and Longjing?

Both are famous Chinese green teas. Longjing is flat, smooth, and often bean-like or chestnut-like. Bi Luo Chun is curled, fuzzy, fresher, and more floral-fruity.

Q4: How long can Bi Luo Chun be stored?

Bi Luo Chun is best enjoyed fresh. If sealed and refrigerated, it can usually keep good quality for several months. At room temperature, its aroma and freshness can decline much faster.

Q5: Does Bi Luo Chun have caffeine?

Yes. Bi Luo Chun is made from the tea plant, so it naturally contains caffeine. Cooler water and shorter steeping can reduce how much caffeine is extracted into the cup.

SEE MORE ABOUT CHINESE LOOSE LEAF TEA

If you are a beginner about Chinese tea:
Basic-Guide-to-Chinese-Tea

If you have questions about selecting tea:
Learn-more-about-chinese-tea

If you have questions about the benefits of tea:
Health-benefits-of-chinese-tea

If you have questions about brewing tea:
How-to-brew-loose-leaf-tea