ClayZenith Journal · Spring Tea
Longjing vs Bi Luo Chun vs Anji Bai Cha: How China’s Famous Spring Green Teas Really Differ
Three celebrated spring teas can all look delicate in the cup, yet their leaf shape, aroma, processing style and drinking experience are distinctly different.
Chinese Tea & Brewing Editor
Longjing, Bi Luo Chun and Anji Bai Cha are often placed together in premium spring-tea collections because all three reward freshness and careful brewing. But they are not interchangeable. Longjing is defined by its flat pan-fired leaf and savory-sweet chestnut or bean-like character. Bi Luo Chun is rolled into fine curls and leans toward fragrant, floral and fruity expression. Anji Bai Cha is technically a green tea despite its name, famous for pale tender leaves and a softer, sweet, clean profile.
The easiest way to understand Chinese spring green tea is to compare leaf shape before comparing price.
01
Longjing: Flat Leaf, Pan-Fired Sweetness
Longjing, also known as Dragon Well, is recognizable by its flattened leaf. Pan-firing fixes the green leaf and develops a gentle roasted-nut, bean-like and chestnut-like aromatic direction while preserving spring freshness.
For a classic example, see our 2026 Mingqian Premium Longjing and Traditional Paper-Wrapped Hangzhou Longjing.
02
Bi Luo Chun: Fine Curls and High Fragrance
Bi Luo Chun has a completely different visual identity. Tender leaves are rolled into tight spirals, often with visible down on fine spring material. The resulting cup can feel highly aromatic, fresh and floral, with a softer, more perfumed character than the savory warmth associated with Longjing.
Explore the 2026 Premium Suzhou Bi Luo Chun or the Mingqian Bi Luo Chun & Gaiwan Gift Set.
03
Anji Bai Cha: Pale Leaf, Gentle Sweetness
Anji Bai Cha is a green tea from Zhejiang made from a cultivar that produces unusually pale spring growth under cool conditions. The name can confuse newcomers because “Bai Cha” literally means white tea, yet the tea is processed as green tea.
Its appeal lies in tender texture, clean sweetness and a delicate vegetal-floral profile. See our 2026 Anji Bai Cha High-Mountain Green Tea.
04
Leaf Shape at a Glance
Flat · broad · pan-fired
Fine · curled · downy
Slender · pale · tender
05
Aroma and Mouthfeel
Longjing tends toward chestnut, bean, soft toast and green sweetness. Bi Luo Chun is often more fragrant and floral, with lively spring freshness. Anji Bai Cha usually feels gentler and cleaner, with soft sweetness and a lighter savory edge.
06
Brewing Temperature
For all three teas, start below boiling. Around 75–85°C is a useful working range depending on leaf tenderness and desired intensity. Lower temperatures emphasize sweetness and softness; slightly hotter water increases body and extraction.
Use roughly 2–3g per 150ml for a light Western-style cup, or increase leaf quantity and shorten infusions for a more concentrated Chinese brewing approach.
07
Why Glass Brewing Works So Well
Clear glass is especially satisfying with spring green tea because leaf movement is part of the experience. Longjing leaves open into flat blades, Bi Luo Chun curls loosen and expand, and Anji Bai Cha reveals its pale tender structure. A tall glass or glass fairness pitcher turns brewing into visual observation.
08
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Longjing if you enjoy nutty, savory-sweet green tea. Choose Bi Luo Chun if fragrance and floral lift matter most. Choose Anji Bai Cha if you prefer a softer, clean, gentle spring cup.
09
FAQ
Is Anji Bai Cha a white tea? No. It is processed as green tea despite the name.
Which is the most aromatic? Bi Luo Chun is especially famous for fragrance, though quality and freshness matter enormously.
Which is easiest for beginners? Longjing is often the most immediately recognizable, while Anji Bai Cha is especially gentle.
Can I brew them in a gaiwan? Yes. Use cooler water and short infusions to avoid pushing bitterness.