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ENSHI YU LU

JADE DEW
GREEN TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING

Enshi, Hubei, China

Enshi Yu Lu is a rare Chinese green tea from Enshi, known for its traditional steam-processing method, uncommon in China. Produced from early spring buds and young leaves, it preserves a vivid green color and a distinctly fresh aromatic profile. The infusion is clean and smooth, offering gentle sweetness, pronounced vegetal notes, and a soft, umami-rich finish. MORE

AROMA
Grassy, seaweed
TASTE
Salty, umami, baked

VARIETY: Enshi Qun Ti Zong
HARVEST: Spring (Pre-Qingming), 2025
Close-up of Enshi Yu Lu dry leaves, slender needle-like deep green leaves.
ABOUT
Enshi Yu Lu, translated as "Jade Dew," is a rare gem among Chinese green teas, celebrated for its vibrant color, delicate sweetness, and unique processing technique. It stands alone in the world of Chinese green tea as the only steamed green tea that has survived from antiquity to the present day, a stylistic bridge between Chinese and Japanese tea cultures. The tea’s name captures both its luminous quality and ethereal nature. “Yu Lu” evokes the image of dew-laced jade leaves at dawn - fresh, pure, and fleeting. With a documented history tracing back to the Tang and Song Dynasties, Enshi Yu Lu flourished during the Qing Dynasty and was later selected as a tribute tea. Its modern revitalization began in the 20th century with the adoption of refined steaming technology, further distinguishing it from pan-fired green teas of other regions. Today, Enshi Yu Lu holds China's National Geographical Indication Protection status, a testament to its uniqueness and cultural importance.

TERROIR
Enshi Yu Lu is cultivated in the mist-shrouded highlands of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, located in western Hubei Province. This remote region—nestled within the Wuling Mountains—is blessed with rich, selenium-laden soils, gentle mists, and high humidity, creating the ideal environment for tea cultivation. The area's biodiversity and pristine air quality contribute to the tea’s unmistakable clarity and sweet vegetal purity. Harvested primarily in early spring, Enshi Yu Lu comprises the youngest buds and first leaves. Unlike most Chinese green teas, which are pan-fired to fix oxidation, Enshi Yu Lu is steamed, preserving a brilliant emerald color and producing a distinct flavor profile marked by sweetness, softness, and floral delicacy.

Enshi Qun Ti Zhong is a traditional, seed-grown tea plant population native to the mountainous areas of Enshi. The term Qun Ti Zhong refers to a genetically diverse group of tea plants grown from seeds rather than propagated as uniform clones, resulting in natural variation between individual bushes. Botanically, it belongs to the Camellia sinensis small-leaf group, well adapted to the humid, misty environment of the region. These plants develop deeper root systems and stronger resilience, allowing them to respond more directly to local soil and climate conditions. In tea production, this type of material is valued for its ability to express terroir with greater complexity and subtle variation. Compared to modern cultivars, Enshi Qun Ti Zhong often produces a more layered and less standardized profile, with balanced sweetness, fresh vegetal character, and a stable, clean finish that reflects its traditional origin.

ORGANOLEPTIC
The dry leaf appearance is fine and uniform, with slender, needle-like leaves of a deep green color and a smooth, slightly glossy surface. The aroma of the dry leaves is clean and fresh, expressing pronounced vegetal notes with hints of seaweed and a light sweet undertone characteristic of steamed processing. In a preheated gaiwan, the tea gradually opens, the aroma becoming warmer and more насыщенный, revealing notes of steamed greens, young spinach, and a subtle umami depth. After a brief rinse, the leaves fully awaken, and the aromatic profile becomes more expressive and rounded, combining vivid vegetal freshness with gentle sweetness and a refined marine nuance.

The aroma of the liquor in the empty cup is clear and bright, with a soft, airy sweetness and light warm tones that balance the fresh green character. The taste is smooth, soft, and well-structured, with a насыщенная yet elegant texture. From the first sips, a distinct umami and gentle sweetness emerge, followed by fresh vegetal notes reminiscent of steamed greens and seaweed, supported by a clean mineral undertone. The aftertaste is long, refreshing, and persistent, with a soft returning sweetness and a slight cooling sensation. In the empty cup after drinking, a delicate sweet-vegetal aroma remains, accompanied by light marine and creamy nuances.
Appreciating the aroma of dry Enshi Yu Lu leaves.
Placing tea into a preheated tea pot.
Pouring hot water over Enshi Yu Lu leaves.
First infusion with bright green, clear liquor.
Enjoying the aroma of the fresh infusion of Enshi Yu Lu.
Fully opened Enshi Yu Lu leaves after brewing.

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