The store manager visited the Cuifeng area to inspect the tea crops from April 24 to April 30. Some tea farmers had already started harvesting on April 24, and the harvest peaked around April 26. The weather remained clear and sunny throughout the entire period from April 24 to 30.
Based on a week of observation, this year’s tea plants in Cuifeng look exceptionally healthy. The thickness of the tea leaves is simply unmatched, and their dark, glossy appearance is breathtaking. The manager has already targeted several tea gardens and confirmed their harvest dates, ready to handpick the finest batches when the time comes.
However, much like in ShanLinXi, the harvest period was overly concentrated, and the massive influx of harvested leaves led to a drop in processing quality. Additionally, several plantation owners mentioned that the pandemic has impacted the willingness of local workers and foreign spouses to take on farm work, alongside a decrease in overseas family-sponsored laborers. The resulting shortage of tea pickers forced them to harvest earlier than usual, leading to a higher proportion of prematurely picked tender leaves this year compared to past seasons. ▼ The photo below shows tea leaves that have already been harvested. The second photo shows leaves that are about to be harvested—they are simply too tender.
The manager feels it’s a real pity for these prematurely picked leaves; just give them another week, and they would have had the potential to become truly exceptional tea.
After testing the teas over the past few days, the store manager felt that the batches tasted from the 24th to the 27th were harvested young. While there were some tempting gems, they didn’t quite reach the “irresistible” quality the manager looks for. It wasn’t until May 1st that we finally found a batch so exceptional that the manager knew we’d regret it forever if we missed out.
Unfortunately, it started raining on May 1st, and we haven’t acquired enough tea leaves yet this season, leaving us praying for the rain to stop soon. Based on the harvest conditions at the tea gardens, the Cuifeng Spring tea will need another 10 days of harvesting. The manager plans to head back up to Cuifeng on May 7th, hoping to secure a bit more of this amazing harvest!
Note 1
It rained in Cuifeng from May 1st through May 4th. May 5th went from overcast to clear, May 6th and 7th were brilliantly sunny, May 8th had morning rain followed by blazing afternoon sun, May 9th was clear, and May 10th was sunny in the morning with rain starting after 4:00 PM. The manager is currently waiting for the tea samples from the 9th and 10th.