– Sifu, where can I find a green tea that is gentle like silk, but at the same time bold and mighty, full of vigor like a dragon conquering snowy mountain peaks?
Tea Master Lao Cha replied:
– High up in the mountains of Yunnan, the craftsmen pick the young leaves. High elevation makes their taste sweet and creamy, and the plant's strong roots, which help it survive, give the leaves a strong Qi.
"Snow Dragon" Xue Long Green Tea is a rare tea that isn't well-known outside China yet. "Xue" in the name means "Snow" in Chinese, referring to the abundant white fuzz on the tea leaves. And "Long" means "Dragon".
The sweet taste is ideal for those who like green teas without sharp grassy notes. The brewed tea is a delicate champagne color with a thick, full-bodied mouthfeel and a bright, fruity aroma. The lingering taste is sweet and creamy.
"Snow Dragon" is a high-mountain tea grown at 1,300 meters above sea level in the Yunnan mountains surrounding Pu'er City. The high elevations allow Xue Long to grow organically, since at such elevations there is no need for pesticides.
To make this delicious tea, farmers hand-pick one bud with one leaf of the Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica tea tree variety. They then wither the tea leaves, pan-fire, roll, and dry them. The nature and craftsmanship give this green tea richness and complexity, unlike other green teas. Many even compare its taste and mouthfeel to a high mountain oolong.
In Chinese, we refer to Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica as Da Ye Zhong, meaning "Big Leaf". Indeed, this tea tree variety is known for its larger tea leaves. Furthermore, the trees grow large and tall, with solid, robust trunks. This tea variety is known to have a somewhat higher caffeine content than Camellia Sinensis var. Sinensis (the tea bush most often used for Chinese tea production outside of Yunnan). Thus, Snow Dragon Green Tea is an excellent tea that helps you focus and provides soothing, calm energy.
This Yunnan tea is more resilient than most other Chinese green teas, so you can have fun experimenting with it when brewing. Don't be shy to try out various brewing vessels and steep times. You'll also find it's excellent as a refreshing cold-brew tea.
- Place of Origin: Zhengwan Village, Pu'er, Simao, Yunnan, China
- Altitude: 1300m
- Harvest Date: May 2026
- Picking Standard: One bud & one leaf
- Dry Leaf: pointy tea leaves covered in abundant white fuzz
- Aroma: fruity
- Taste: full-bodied, sweet, and creamy Tea Bush: Da Ye Zhong (大叶种)
- Cultivar: Xue Ya #100 (雪芽100号)
Brewing guidelines:
-
175℉ / 80℃
-
1 g per 70-100 ml
3-5 min -
1 g per 25 ml5 sec + 5 sec for each subsequent infusion