Longjing 43 vs Zhongcha 108
A widely planted Longjing cultivar and the radiation-bred derivative that now sits beside it in the same gardens. The differences are real for a grower and close to invisible for a drinker, which is worth saying plainly.
cultivar
What is being compared
Point by point
| Aspect | Longjing 43 | Zhongcha 108 |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Selected from the local Longjing population in the twentieth century. | A radiation-bred Longjing 43 derivative. |
| Selected for | Early budding, uniformity and yield. | Earlier budding again, and better disease resistance. |
| Shape behaviour | Well suited to the flat pressed shape. | Keeps the flat-leaf character. |
| In the cup | Clean and immediate. | Close enough that most drinkers will not separate them. |
| Who the difference matters to | Growers and buyers of standing crops. | Growers, principally. |
| Planted extent | The most widely planted material for Longjing. | Now among the most planted in the producing area. |
The short answer
Not every cultivar distinction is worth a reader’s attention, and this is one where the honest answer is that the difference matters to the person growing it. Recording it avoids the impression that every named cultivar changes the cup.
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