Longjing harvest time?

Question

Will this weekend be too early for the harvest of tea in Longjing near Hangzhou? I will be in Shanghai and could make a day trip to Hangzhou.

I’m just wondering if I’m too early. Seems most years the harvest starts around March 20.

I cannot find any up to date info online (at least not in English).

Many thanks! 🍵

Answer

The timing of the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea harvest is highly dependent on the weather, especially the temperatures in early spring. Traditionally, the first flush of Longjing tea begins in late March, with the premium “pre-Qingming” (before April 5) harvest considered the best in quality.

If your visit is this weekend, which is around mid-to-late March, you are likely just at the beginning of the harvest season. In some years, especially if the winter was mild, picking may have already started in certain plantations, particularly in lower elevation areas near Hangzhou. However, higher elevation farms may not have started yet.

Here’s what you can expect and tips for planning your day trip:

Some tea farms may allow visitors to watch the initial picking of the young shoots, but the main harvest may still be limited.
Even if the harvest hasn’t fully started, the tea fields are still beautiful in early spring, with new buds emerging and scenic green terraces.
Guided tea farm tours or visitor centers often give demonstrations and let you taste teas from last season or early-picked shoots.

In short, it is slightly early for the peak Longjing harvest, but you may still see some early-picking activity depending on the weather this year. If your goal is to experience the full harvest, late March to early April is generally the safest window.

Longjing harvest time?

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