Laoshan Green崂山绿茶

Laoshan Green is a green tea from Laoshan, Shandong, China. Brew it at 80°C with 4g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 5 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. No rinse needed.

Tasting notes

Laoshan shouldn't exist. Tea grown this far north — on a mountain staring at the Yellow Sea, through winters that genuinely freeze — has no business producing anything this thick and sweet. But it does, and the cold is actually the reason. Slow-growing leaves concentrate sugars, and what shows up in the cup is a genuinely creamy mouthfeel, a roasted-chestnut sweetness that hangs around, and a faint salt-mineral note on the finish that you won't find in teas grown inland. It's one of the most distinctive Chinese greens on flavor alone. Brew it at 80°C and you're rewarded with that thick texture; go hotter and it gets sharp and vegetal fast. The leaves are sturdier than most greens, so a slightly higher ratio is fine — it doesn't get bitter easily. Four or five honest infusions, each one slightly different, and then it's finished. A good tea to drink while it's cold outside.

Flavor profile

One of China's northernmost green teas, grown where harsh winters and mineral-rich spring water produce a uniquely thick, sweet cup. The cold climate slows leaf growth, concentrating flavor. The result is fuller-bodied than most Chinese greens with a pronounced chestnut sweetness, vegetal depth, and a smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel. The maritime influence adds a subtle mineral-saline quality.

Terroir

Coastal mountain (~1100m) on the Yellow Sea, mineral spring water, maritime climate with cold winters and ocean fog

Cultivar: Southern cultivars adapted to northern conditions (originally transplanted from Zhejiang in the 1950s)

Brewing

1. Steep 1: 20 seconds
2. Steep 2: 25 seconds
3. Steep 3: 35 seconds
4. Steep 4: 45 seconds
5. Steep 5: 60 seconds

The thick, concentrated leaves handle slightly higher ratios well. Start around 80°C — the maritime character comes through best with controlled temperature.

Aroma & taste

Processing

• pan-fired
• hand-rolled

Sources

• https://meileaf.com/tea/laoshan-green/
• https://yunnansourcing.com/products/classic-laoshan-green-tea-from-shandong
• https://verdanttea.com/he-family-laoshan-tea
• https://www.curioustea.com/tea/green-tea/shandong-laoshan-green/