Every spring tea season, tea connoisseurs ask us: “When is Biluxi spring tea harvested?” or “Others are selling it in April, why do you say it isn’t harvested yet?” As tea merchants, we can only chuckle and explain that it really hasn’t been picked yet—it is completely normal for Biluxi spring tea to be harvested in May. We’ve compiled the most common questions about Biluxi spring tea harvest times to help you understand, from a tea merchant’s perspective, when you’re buying the real deal.
Q1: Around when is Biluxi spring tea harvested?
Customer Service: The Biluxi tea region has two main characteristics in Taiwanese tea: its relatively northern location and its extremely high altitude. The harvest period usually falls in May, sometimes extending into early June.
Compared to Alishan or ShanLinXi, it is harvested later because Biluxi is located at the intersection of Nantou, Taichung, and Hualien, with a very high altitude (1,900–2,100 meters). Following the general rule for spring tea—”the further north and the higher the altitude, the later the harvest”—by the time lowland tea farms are already starting their second harvest, Biluxi spring tea harvest is just beginning.
- Early May: If spring comes early, tea gardens around 1,900 meters will begin harvesting in early May.
- Mid-May: This is the peak harvest period and prime window for Biluxi tea.
- Early June: If the weather warms up slowly, the highest-altitude tea gardens may not finish harvesting until early June.
Q2: What factors affect the Biluxi spring tea harvest period?
Customer Service: Biluxi is one of the highest tea-growing regions in Taiwan. Its harvest schedule is influenced by three main factors:
- Temperature: Sprouting depends on temperature. If temperatures rise slowly in spring, sprouting is delayed. High-altitude Biluxi spring tea sometimes doesn’t even sprout until early April.
- Altitude: Temperatures at high altitudes of 1,900–2,100 meters are extremely low, sometimes dropping below 10°C in April and May, which slows down growth.
- Sunlight and Fog: High mountains have shorter hours of sunlight and denser fog than lowland areas, causing slower growth. This is another key reason why Biluxi spring tea is harvested later.
Q3: When is the best time to order if I want to buy authentic Biluxi spring tea?
Customer Service: Buying Biluxi tea requires patience—don’t rush. Be especially wary of “early spring Biluxi” sold in March or April, as it is very likely counterfeit. If you want to enjoy authentic tea, refer to the following timeline:
- Early May: When the weather warms up consistently during tea season, Biluxi tea harvesting begins in early May.
- Mid-May (Peak Harvest): May 10th to 20th is generally when Biluxi spring tea yields and quality are most stable. This is also when Liao Chang Xing prefers to visit the mountains to select tea, as both quality and volume are at their best.
- Late May: The highest altitudes are harvested last, and occasionally you can find truly phenomenal, top-tier teas during this time.
Liao Chang Xing’s Experience: Many people ask why others are selling Biluxi spring tea as early as April. We can tell you with complete confidence that genuine Biluxi spring tea is almost never harvested before May. If you see spring tea claiming to be Biluxi appearing on the market too early, as a savvy consumer, you should be cautious.