Wu Niu Zao
A Zhejiang green from an exceptionally early-budding cultivar, harvested two to three weeks before Longjing 43 and shaped the same flat way. Much of the 'pre-Qingming Longjing' sold at the very start of the season is this tea.
Character
Flatter and less nutty than true Longjing. Recognising it is the practical defence against paying a first-harvest premium for the wrong cultivar.
- Flavour
- Grassy, Nutty
- Aroma
- Fresh
- Mouthfeel
- Light, Smooth
- Complexity
- Straightforward
- Notes
- fresh grass, light chestnut
- Aftertaste
- Short and clean.
Moderate intensity: noticeable weight or grip, but neither dominates the cup.
Provenance and production
- Origin
- China
- Cultivar
- Wu Niu Zao
- Oxidation
- Unoxidised
- Harvest
- Spring
- Processing
- Kill-green (fixation) → Flat shaping → Drying
Authenticity: Sold as Longjing far more often than under its own name, because it reaches market first. The shape is convincing; the chestnut aroma is not.
Brewing
Western brewing (teapot or mug)
1.5–2.5 g/100 ml · 75–85 °C · 1 authored infusion
Gongfu brewing (gaiwan)
3–4 g/100 ml · 75–85 °C · 4 authored infusions
No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.
If you like this
Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.
Editorially linked
Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.
- Longjing
The imitation, then the tea. Both are flat-shaped Zhejiang greens; only one has the chestnut aroma, and knowing that is worth money each spring.
Similar sensory profile
Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.
- Bancha
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: grassy, nutty, light, smooth and fresh.
- Huoshan Huangya
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: nutty, grassy, light, smooth and fresh.
- Jin Shan Cui Ya
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: nutty, grassy, light, smooth and fresh.
- Korean green tea
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: nutty, grassy, light, smooth and fresh.
- Song Yang Yin Hou
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: nutty, grassy, light, smooth and fresh.
- Wuyuan Ming Mei
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: grassy, nutty, light, smooth and fresh.
- Yu Hua Cha
Shares 5 descriptors with Wu Niu Zao: grassy, nutty, light, smooth and fresh.