The first tea leaves harvest has begun in Hangzhou’s Chun’an, one week earlier than previous years.

While some first batches of tea have already hit the market, the large-scale tea plucking is expected to kick off in about a week in most tea planting villages.

The early harvest is known to produce the highest quality tea of the year. Spring tea gives a very tender taste and fresh fragrance, due to the rising temperature and good fertilizers of the crops.

The dry and warm weather in recent days has sent the tea signals to grow fast and more full-bodied. The so-called “wuniuzao” tea leaves will be sold at 90 yuan per jin (180 yuan per kg).