Green Teas

Tunlu (Tunxi Green) Tea, a Time-Honored Name

The name Tunlu is a contraction for Tunxi Green, refering to various teas well known on the Hongkong and foreign markets since early in this century. Tunxi is a mountain city located where the southernmost corner of Anhui province meets Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces. Once, all the tea from a large surrounding area in the three provinces was brought there for processing and shipping. Since 1949 some of the areas have been producing tea under their own names, including Wulu and Suilu (Wuyuan county, Jiangxi and Sui'an, once a county in Zhejiang).

Tunlu tea may still be remembered in some countries by the names under which it was once known: Special Tribute in Russia, Chunmee (Chunmei, Zhenmei, Precious Eyebrow) and Oolong Chunmee in Europe, and Fengmei (Phoenix Eyebrow), E'mei (Moth's Eyebrow), and Xiamu (Shrimp's Eyes) in the U.S.

In 1960 the varieties were renamed in order of quality as: Chunmee, fine taut, eyebrow-shaped strips with strong fragrance and mellow taste, outstanding among green teas and popular both in China and abroad; Gongxi (Tribute to Emperor Kang Xi), shaped like grains of various sizes; Xiumei (Elegant Eyebrow); and Fuxi (Supplementary Tribute).

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