Which Chinese green tea's name means 'green snail spring'?

Which Chinese green tea’s name means “green snail spring”? Biluochun is the Chinese green tea whose name means “green snail spring.”

The name describes two visual and seasonal features. “Green snail” refers to the tightly curled leaves, which resemble snail shells, while “spring” points to the tea’s early-season harvest. Biluochun is traditionally associated with the Dongting Mountains beside Lake Tai, near Suzhou in Jiangsu Province.

The tea is prized for delicate leaves, visible white hairs, a pronounced floral aroma, and a fresh, fruity character. Its leaves are hand-shaped into small spirals during processing. The finest teas are made from exceptionally tender shoots: producing one kilogram of top Dongting Biluochun can require roughly 14,000 to 15,000 shoots.

A traditional story says the tea was once called “scary fragrance” because its aroma was unexpectedly strong. Another account connects the more elegant name “Green Snail Spring” with the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Those stories are part of the tea’s cultural history, while the literal meaning is straightforward. Biluochun can also be grown elsewhere, but teas from Dongting’s East and West Mountains are regarded as the classic form.