Spring 2024 Nine Lotus green tea transports the drinker to Jiu Hua Shan (Nine Lotus Mountain in Anhui Province, China) where there is spectacular natural beauty with few roads and no air pollution. The area is visited by some tourists, but most of the residents are Buddhist monks who cultivate this very special tea amidst numerous temples at an altitude of nearly 3,500 feet.

This tea brings us back to our visit to Jiu Hua Shan, tasting the sweet, moist air in our cups, hearing the mantras whispered by the tea-picking monks in our hearts. Heady, leafy aroma and a sweet taste, the tea leaves glisten with white downy hair. Gentle, full-bodied flavor with a very delicate sweet aftertaste. So very refreshing.

These needle-like leaves may be enjoyed gongfu style, with a tea tumbler or a simple water glass. We find the brew exceptionally sweet and uplifting.