Dragon of Yunnan 2026 Spring Yiliang Baohong Organic Green Tea

What can now be called the “Yunnan Longjing” has its roots as far back as the Tang Dynasty, when a Buddhist monk from Fujian scattered some tea seeds near a temple on Baohong Mountain in Yiliang, just 70km away from our home in Kunming. By the Ming Dynasty, Baohong tea was already established as a tribute tea to be sent back to Beijing. Fast forward several centuries later, and this tea was the lone representative from Yunnan at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1932, receiving international acclaim. By the 1940s, local farmers who travelled to Zhejiang returned with the processing techniques of Xihu Longjing. This method of pan roasting the tea into a long and flat elegant shape transformed Baohong tea’s appearance to represent traditional Dragonwell/Longjing, but with the soul of Yunnan inside. While Yunnan is known for big leaf varietal tea trees (as used for puer), the trees in this region are all small leaf varietal. This contributes to the delicate freshness of this tea compared to many other Yunnan greens. Meanwhile the high altitude, soil, and unique climate provide depth and aroma, making this a tea that looks refined but tastes bold, with a notable orchid scent that persists, strong umami quality, and sweet character. Picked almost a month earlier than Xihu Longjing, this is often considered “a flavour booster” by some tea merchants further east, as it can sometimes be blended in with true Xihu Longjing to enhance fragrance. This tea comes from first flush (Jingpin/精品) certified organic heirloom / Tuzhong (土种) / Quntizhong (群体种) bushes, and maintains a picking standard of one bud and two leaves. Picking commences in early March, with the new growth from these small‑leaf varietal bushes remaining quite small and tender. This is also a great opportunity for comparison against our more affordable Simao‑based greens, as well as authentic Longjing. It performs well brewed in any style, but we recommend at least one gongfu session (with 80-90°C water) to get acquainted and to make the most of this tea’s unique floral quality. $0.60-0.64/gram Picking Period: March 1-6, 2026 Region: Yiliang, Yunnan