Laoshan vs Rizhao
Shandong’s two tea districts, both planted from the 1950s under the state programme that moved tea north, and both close to the climatic limit for the plant. They are the clearest illustration of what a short season and a wide day-to-night temperature swing do to leaf.
growing region
What is being compared
Point by point
| Aspect | Laoshan | Rizhao |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | A granite coastal massif east of Qingdao. | The coast south of Qingdao, on more open ground. |
| Size | The smaller of the two, and the more famous. | The larger of Shandong’s districts. |
| Winter protection | Bushes are often covered; the site is at the limit of viability. | Also protected, with the same constraint. |
| Leaf | Thick-leaved and slow-grown. | Thick-leaved, from the wide day-to-night swing and the short season. |
| Cup | Notably thick and sweet with a bean-like character that Shandong tea is known for. | The same family of character, generally at a lower price. |
| Price | Higher, on reputation. | Lower, and often the better value. |
The short answer
Northern Chinese green tea is a small category that behaves quite unlike the Zhejiang and Anhui teas most drinkers meet first, and the two Shandong districts are close enough that the choice is mostly about what the name costs. The thickness in the cup is a consequence of the climate, and it is the reason to buy either.
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