Intro:
Green Snail Spring is what the chinese name translates to. It’s a reference, supposedly, to its snail like shape and the fact it is picked in spring. The name wasn’t always this beautiful though. It was once called stop you in your tracks fragrance (or scary fragrance) until an official changed the name to make it seem more beautiful. Never the less Bi Luo Chun can be a little scary.

Bi Luo Chun is made in Dong Ting, an hour outside of Suzhou. It is one of Chinas Top Ten Famous Teas and the name is known by anyone who considers themselves a green tea drinker. Since it is from eastern China it follows the Qing Ming cut off date. Usually blooming very early, sometimes around March 20th depending on the weather,  and having Qing Ming act as a cut off date for buyers; the best teas considered to be picked before this date.

Visual appearance:
The visual appearance is very distinct and therefore a fake can be discerned easily. The Bi Luo Chun picking is one of the smallest pickings in the sense that farmers pick the leaves when they are the youngest. The tea is then rolled into a spiral shape during making which will make it even more small. The end result is a very small dry leaf. If the tea looks big, or even the same size as other green teas, it is either a late pick or not Bi Luo Chun.

Taste:
The taste of Bi Luo Chun is famous amongst green teas for its strength. It can show notes of nuts or vegetal, but a real Bi Luo Chun is not a delicate tea. Bi Luo Chun is the tea that will mix a floral aroma with a grasp of bitterness. Followed by this bitterness though is a sweetness and refreshingness that will truly remind you of spring.