At a glance
Wuniuzao names very early-sprouting tea-plant material, also discussed as Jiaming No. 1. This entry retains the earlier flat green-tea preparation. The cultivar name alone does not prove West Lake origin or identify every finished tea as the same product.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 乌牛早 |
| Tea family | Green tea |
| Associated origin | Earlier Yongjia, Wenzhou, Zhejiang origin context; cultivar also grown elsewhere |
| Leaf form | Early-sprouting plant material; inherited flat, sparrow-tongue-like green tea |
Taste and appearance
The inherited two-tier comparison describes flat straight leaves, substantial buds and young leaves resembling a sparrow tongue, green lustre and bright tender-green liquor. Rich lasting fragrance accompanies sweet mellow freshness. The upper tier shows more pale hairs and fuller even shoot sets; these are not stand-alone cultivar identification tests.
The original liquor photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.
The cover is the original dry-leaf illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Extra grade | Grade 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-leaf shape | Flat and straight; substantial buds/leaves, sparrow-tongue-like, visible hairs | Flat and straight; fairly substantial buds/leaves, sparrow-tongue-like |
| Dry-leaf colour | Jade green and lustrous | Green and lustrous |
| Liquor | Tender green, bright and clear | Tender green and bright |
| Aroma | Rich and lasting | Strong lasting fragrance |
| Taste | Sweet, mellow, fresh and brisk | Sweet and mellow, fairly fresh and brisk |
| Infused leaves | Jade green, substantial, even shoot sets | Jade green and even |
The inherited sensory comparison is an earlier editorial table, not a complete verified current standard. Product name, growing source, plant material, harvest and grade are separate details. The original sensory table has only two tiers. Grade 2 occurs in the separate price list; no missing third sensory column is invented.
Names and origin
The original associates Wuniuzao with Yongjia around Wuniu and Luodong, using older local administrative names. Research-institute-hosted reporting explicitly identifies Wuniuzao with Jiaming No. 1 and describes cultivation and making outside the original locality. Early plucking varies with place and year; the old early-March statement is not a universal calendar guarantee. A flat green tea from Yongjia is not automatically West Lake Longjing, but neither is a blanket claim that this cultivar can never be used in another permitted regional product supported.
Everyday benefits
Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.
Who may enjoy this tea
It may suit someone exploring Wuniuzao through its described flavour and leaf form. Compare a traceable small packet and complete brewing method rather than relying on a famous name or a health promise.
When to take care
- Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
- Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.
These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.
How to brew
Original prose: heat-safe glass
The earlier method uses a heat-safe glass, 1:50 tea-to-water ratio and 85–90°C / 185–194°F water. It says to refill when about one-third of the liquid remains, and describes roughly three infusions/refills. It supplies no first steeping time. Keep the retained illustration’s method separate below.
| Detail | Original prose with an explicit ratio example |
|---|---|
| Tea | 3 g Wuniuzao as an editorial arithmetic example |
| Actual water | 150 mL / about 5.1 US fl oz, measured water; 3 g at 1:50 |
| Vessel | Heat-safe glass with room for the leaves and actual water |
| Water temperature | 85–90°C / 185–194°F |
| First drinking infusion | No first steeping time recorded in the prose; follow a complete packet method |
| Refill | At about one-third liquid remaining; refilling is different from a full fresh measured batch |
These inherited directions and explicit ratio examples are awaiting hands-on testing. Nominal vessel capacity and a drawn fill fraction do not measure actual water. Three repeat cups is not a guarantee of equal strength. If leaves remain in the glass, extraction continues; transfer or strain if the cup becomes too strong. Let the drink cool enough to sip.
Read the original illustration separately
The original graphic uses a heat-safe glass, 3 g, 85°C / 185°F and 1:50, implying 150 mL actual water by arithmetic. Start with water to one-third of the glass, gently swirl, fill to four-fifths and leave 2–3 minutes, then serve. Refill when about one-third remains; roughly three infusions are described. No vessel capacity or separate tea-rinse step is supplied. The fill fraction does not independently measure actual water.
For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.
Adjust your cup
| What you notice | One change to try |
|---|---|
| Too strong, bitter or drying | Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time |
| Weak or watery | Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose |
| Later infusions become stronger | Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves |
| Different from a flavour description | Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup |
Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.
How to buy
Check cultivar, actual growing place, maker, harvest and processing. Do not assume an early calendar date proves one locality. The old sensory table has two grades while the price list has three; the missing sensory tier is not invented.
See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Extra grade | 400 | 80 |
| Grade 1 | 290 | 58 |
| Grade 2 | 200 | 40 |
Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.
How to store
Original storage method
The original method places green tea in a closed foil pouch, gently removes excess air, then puts the pouch inside a lidded iron or tin container upright for refrigerated storage, protected from light, moisture and smells. Check that a paper pouch is actually lined and moisture resistant; plain paper alone is not an airtight moisture barrier.
Its general reference was 12 months, with storage below 10°C / 50°F and below 50% relative humidity. It also described a cool, shaded room-temperature option for tea expected to be finished within two months. These are inherited conditions, not a verified expiry or a remaining-life prediction for an opened packet. Follow the actual maker’s label, package and specified conditions first.
In a UK or US kitchen
If following a product’s cold-storage directions, keep the pack sealed against fridge moisture and food smells, and let it warm while still sealed before opening. Keep a working portion away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, sunlight and spices; reseal after use. Do not apply a refrigerator recipe to another tea automatically. See storing an opened packet for handling.
The original green-tea handling note keeps a separate one-to-two-week working portion to avoid repeatedly warming and opening the bulk cold pack. Portion in dry conditions and seal each pack.
Origin, processing and history
The original map shows graded spreading, qingguo pan working, moisture redistribution, finishing pan working and sorting. This describes the retained flat green style, not every possible use of the cultivar. The reviewed Dafo regional requirements include Jiaming No. 1 among several suitable plants, reinforcing why a cultivar name is neither sufficient origin proof nor an automatic exclusion from every other regional style.
Common questions
Does Wuniuzao on a packet prove it is West Lake Longjing?
No. It names plant material, not a West Lake growing certificate. Check actual growing source and finished processing. A suitable cultivar, a region and a regional product specification are different requirements.
Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?
Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.
Compare Dafo Longjing, or browse the green tea overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.