| ADD TO CART | ||
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $37.80 / per cup $0.75 | |
| 250 g | $73.50 / per cup $0.58 | |
| 500 g | $111.30 / per cup $0.44 | |
| 1 kg | $210.00 / per cup $0.42 | |
While much of the tea world classifies its teas according to leaf grade - OP, FBOP, TGFOP, etc. - in China, it has never been that simple. Due to the many thousands of different production methods used by Chinese growers, Chinese teas have a long history of interesting and very creative names. The naming of Pearl Drop Morning Dew, a variety of Pi Lo Chun is a good example of this.
Long before the development of Sichuan province's Pearl Drop Morning Dew, Pi Lo Chun teas were grown only on Dong Ting Mountain in Tai Hu, a division of Jiangsu Province. But even before Pi Lo Chun teas were given the name Pi Lo Chun, the grade was known as Xia Sha Ren Xiang, which translated means "Scary Fragrance." Not very appealing is it? According to legend, this name came from the fact that pluckers, in an effort to protect the very delicate leaves needed to produce the tea, would carry their small plucking baskets inside their cloaks. After a day on the mountain, the tea, having been next to their bodies all day, would develop a very pungent and, judging by the name, alarming aroma. Although it was not very marketable, the name Scary Fragrance stuck for many years.
The name was not changed to the more pleasant sounding Pi Lo Chun, meaning, "Green Snail Spring" until one fateful day during the reign of the Qing dynasty Emperor Kangxi, (1654-1722). Kangxi, on a visit through Tai Hu was presented with the Scary Fragrance tea, which had become the regional specialty. He found it delicious. But when told of the name, he scoffed and decided he would bestow it with a new name. Because the tea was green, hand rolled (making it look like little snails) and produced only in spring, he decided very reasonably on Pi Lo Chun, Green Snail Spring.
Over the years, as the unique method for producing Pi Lo Chun spread to other tea regions of China, growers began giving their own versions different names to set them apart from the Tai Hu original. Our producer in Sichuan comes from a line of tea growers who devised the name Pearl Drop Morning Dew. In the minds of his descendents, the rolled leaf resembled the pearl shaped dewdrops left on the tea leaves in the early spring mornings of plucking season. (A very romantic image and certainly much more marketable than Scary Fragrance.)
Name aside, like the great Pi Lo Chuns of history, Pearl Drop Morning Dew is a spectacular tea. Produced exclusively from premium spring leaf, the cup is intensely delicate, exhibiting notes of honey, spring flowers, light grassiness and clover. Without exaggeration, one of the World's finest green teas.
Tea Type: Green
Country: China
Region: Sichuan
Grade: Pi Lo Chun
Altitude: 2000' ft. above sea level
Manufacturer Type: Orthodox
Ingredients: Orthodox
Cup Characteristics: Delicate, flowery and almost honey-like with strength. Taste the fresh tea bud infusion and enjoy one of the world's top teas.
Infusion: Bright green lively appearance.
Brewing Hot
Traditional method (see note below): When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180'F/82'C. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon in your cup let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Adding milk and sugar is not recommended. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves in the brew, not only do they foretell your fortune but you can see the bud and shoots presenting themselves, looking like they are about to be plucked.
Modern Method: Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 single serve packet for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Adding milk or sugar is not recommended.
Note: Traditionally, the recommendation has been that green tea be brewed at 180'F/82'C. Regretfully, modern society makes it necessary to consider that water may not be free of harmful bacteria and other impurities. Therefore you need to boil water to kill bacteria. If you wish to use traditional brewing temperatures bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool to the desired brewing temperature - it's the food safe thing to do!
Brewing Cold
Iced tea brewing method (Pitcher): (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea, 6 tea bags or 6 Q3 single serve packets into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 11/2 cups/315ml over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the tea bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)
Iced tea brewing method (Individual Serving): Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 single serve packet into a teapot for each serving required. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional 1/2 serving. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)
Subscribe to our newsletter and always be the first to hear about what is happening.
© 2026 Coast To Coast Tea
