As we offer 2 different grades of Biluochun (regular and premium), you may wonder what's the difference between them. Through an elaborate tasting session, we've compared both teas while applying both Western & traditional steeping methods. By means of this article, we would like to share our thoughts and tasting notes with you. Hopefully this one will help you decide which Biluochun green tea is right for you and if so, what's the best grade to buy.

Biluochun (also known as Pi Lo Chun) is a traditional Chinese green tea from the Dongting tea region near Taihu Lake. The correct pronunciation of this tea's name is 'Pi Lwo Tsun'. Emperor Kangxi (1654–1722) officially bestowed the name “Biluochun” during the Qing Dynasty. Still, folklore attributes its origin to a touching love story filled with sacrifice and healing. Being one of China’s ten famous teas, it's appreciated for its exquisite qualities: curly leaves with silver hair, bright jade liquor, mellow umami flavor, and lingering floral-fruity aroma.

Biluochun Brewing: Western or Traditional Brewing?

Before diving into our tasting considerations, here are the brewing parameters for the two different brewing methods.

Steeping Biluochun: Brewing Parameters

For the Western style, we used the following parameters:

• Tea leaves amount: 3g
• Water: 500 ml
• Water temperature: 80°C
• Steeping time: 45s 65s 85s: to check the endurance of the leaves' taste and aroma, we steeped them three times, increasing the steeping time by 20 seconds each time.

For the Traditional style, we used the following parameters:

• Tea leaves amount: 5g
• Water: 100 ml
• Water temperature: 80°C
• Steeping time: 10s 15s 20s 25s 30s

These parameters are the ones we usually use for delicate green tea, and in our experience, they are a good benchmark overall. But feel free to experiment according to your taste. For example, our colleague Viola enjoys stronger green tea, and when brewing Western style, she uses a 5g/200ml tea-to-water ratio. 

Western vs Traditional: What's The Best For You?

When we compared the Biluochun prepared according to the two different methods, we realized that although the taste was similar, the experience was different. With the traditional method, you can appreciate the evolution of the tea aroma more, as the leaves unfurl each steep, and the aroma changes gradually. On the other hand, the change in taste for the Biluochun prepared with the Western method is pretty dramatic.

Rather than affecting the real aroma of tea, these two methods can change the perception of the tea tasting experience and mood. To help you decide which one is the best for you, here are some considerations:

• Whether you want to brew the traditional way or western way, that's totally personal. It depends on the amount of time you have, your mood, the setting etc.
• We prefer brewing tea the traditional way because it allows us to fully engage with the process. Using a gaiwan, we can closely observe the tea leaves, rinse them, and adjust steeping parameters based on the feedback we get with each infusion. This hands-on approach lets us refine each steep to perfection or experiment to discover new dimensions of flavor. It also allows us to savor the tea’s layered complexities. While green tea may not offer as many aromatic layers as pu-erh or dark oolong teas, which are particularly rewarding to brew traditionally, the process is still more enjoyable.
• You do want to go for western brewing, when you prefer convenience, less hassle or don't have the time to sit down and slowly enjoy the traditional brewing process. Don’t worry, the teas will still taste amazing as long as you apply the right temperature and adjust the steeping time as according to your taste.

Biluochun Taste: Regular vs Premium

Our Regular Biluochun brewed with an 'easy gaiwan'.

As promised, below we've summed up all the thoughts after tasting both our regular and premium Biluochun.

Notes by Teasenz founder Sam Lin:

• Both teas have sufficient caffeine and are quite uplifting even though it's steeped at just 80ºC. When pouring hot water into the gaiwan, the tea instantly releases a rich umami.
• Both teas offer a sweet, seaweed and floral aroma, but are yet very different from one another. The luxury version tastes more delicate, citrusy and fresh, while the regular grade is more savoury and nutty. The regular version also offers a thicker tea soup.
• Overall, I find that the regular Biluochun tea is best enjoyed during the Spring season, when the weather is still mild and occasionally brisk. Spring brings moments of gentle sunlight, which I really enjoy. Yet, stepping into the shade often invites a sudden chill, leaving me wishing I had brought a jacket. Sipping the regular grade Biluochun, feels like being wrapped in the warm embrace of sunlight, which is exactly what I crave during Spring.
• On the other hand, the premium Biluochun is a great tea for the Summer due to its more fresh and less savoury. Not only is tasting the delicate and complex nuance of the premium Biluochun a lot of fun, but also very calming. During the hot months, this combination of refreshment and relaxation is exactly what I need. I've always believed it's not polyphenols or catechins that benefits one's health, but the simple pleasure of preparing, drinking and comparing teas.

Notes by Viola:

• Our regular Biluochun is an explosion of aroma and sweetness. It has a very pleasant and mellow body, with hints of melon and a creamy finish. When brewed using the Western method, the aroma development is quite significant between the first and second steep. And its endurance is very satisfying for a green tea.
• The premium Biluochun is fresher and floral at first, with a delicate umami taste. It seems even sweeter than the regular one, with an intense aftertaste that reminds me of sweet bread. The change in flavor and aroma is interesting, as the final steeps seem more fruity.
• I would choose the premium Biluochun for a treat on a sunny day, to enjoy while relaxing on the balcony or in the garden. The regular one, instead, I feel, is the best when I need to focus and be more present. Both types are quite invigorating, thus not suited for a late evening session.

Biluochun Price: Regular vs Premium

From the left: Premium and Regular Biluochun

Even though this tea is only produced in a single region, Biluochun is available in many quality grades depending on the timing of the harvest, the tenderness of the tea leaves, craftsmanship, and how well the freshness is preserved. The latter is particularly important for green tea as the freshness can degrade faster than other tea types when exposed to high temperatures and humidity.

At Teasenz, we ensure that every tea we sell is super fresh, even when off-season. In fact, our green teas are stored frozen in large bags all year round. And only when we need to pack a new large bag in smaller retail bags, it will be unfrozen, and stored at room temperature.

Our Premium Biluochun brewed with glass teapot.

Dry tea comparison

If you observe the dry tea leaves' colour you can see the premium Biluochun is more vibrant green. It's important to note that this doesn't mean the tea is fresher than the regular Biluochun. The premium tea is simply processed more lightly, because the more tender the leaves and buds, the less intensity of processing they can handle. On the other hand, the regular tea is processed more intensely. This is all done with a conscious intention to achieve the best possible end-result given the tea leaf characteristics.

When comparing the price of the regular Biluochun compared to the premium version, you can see the price difference is very high. There are several reasons for this:

• The leaves of the premium version are even smaller and more tender than our regular Biluochun, which in fact is already superior compared to most other Biluochun green teas available on the market.
• The premium version harvested super early during the Spring season, so there's simply less supply available.
• The premium Biluochun has slightly better endurance and lasts for more steeps when prepared the traditional way.

This said, you shouldn't let the price of a tea decide which one is better. They're simply different teas, and therefore, let your taste buds decide!