Zisun (Purple Bamboo Shoot) Tea from Mt. Guzhu - COLORFULTEA

Quality Guarantee Period: 24 Months.

Mt. Guzhu stands in the northwest of Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The area belongs to Guzhu Village of Shuikou Township. Tea has long been produced here. Of local teas, the Zisun Tea is the most famous. Mt. Guzhu is 355 meters above sea level. It adjoins on some low hills of Mt. Tianmu in northwest, including Mt. Huanglongtou, Mt. Zhuomuling, Mt. Xuanjiu, and Mt. Wutou, forming a natural barrier to stop winter cold waves. It is ten kilometers from the Taihu Lake to the east. In spring and summer, the area is subject to southeast wind, which brings humid air from the Taihu Lake into the mountain valleys. Wild tea trees are growing in these valleys with good micro climate conditions, mainly including Fangwu (Fangsangwu), Gaowu, Zhuwu, Shiwu, and Mt. Zhuoshe (known as Mingyue Valley in the ancient times) of Guzhu Village. The area has lush vegetation and offers favorable shady cover for the tea trees. In addition, the mountains are covered with a thick layer of dark sand soil that contains rich organic substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These natural conditions lay a solid foundation for the formation of the good quality of the Zisun Tea.
The Zisun Tea from Mt. Guzhu derives its name from its purple buds and leaves and bamboo-shoot-like backward rolling tender leaves. As far back as the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), the Zisun Tea had been the favorite tribute tea of the royal family. It remained a tribute tea for 876 years through the following dynasties. In addition, the administrations of Huzhou and Changzhou prefectures in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) set up a Jinghui Pavilion in Mt. Guzhu, which served as a venue for officials from both prefectures to taste the new tea of each year. The tea-tasting party has become an event frequently talked about among tea drinkers. Not far from the Tribute Tea Station in Mt. Guzhu is the Jinsha Spring. Water from the spring was also presented to the royal family in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) together with the Zisun Tea as two tributes from the area. The Zisun Tea was a caky tea in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), a dragon lump tea in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), and a bud tea since the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Current Zisun Tea has a totally different appearance. According to the size of the buds, there are several varieties such as Zisun, Qiya (Flag Bud), and Queshe (Sparrow Tongue). Of them, Zisun is the best.
The Zisun Tea from Mt. Guzhu is a semi-baked and semi-stir-fixation green tea. It is picked and made during the period between Pure Brightness and Grain Rain when the first bud and the first two leaves begin to open. The mature tea has long buds and leaves, which are shaped like orchid in bright green and with obvious silver tips. The tea soup is bright and clear, with a sweet and fresh taste. The brewed tea leaves are tender and cluster into lumps.