Yu Lu is the outlier in the Little Red Cup collection. Every other Chinese green tea here — Green Eyebrow, Gunpowder, Green Mao Jian, Bi Luo Chun, Dragon Well — is fixed by pan-firing. Yu Lu is steamed. That's not a minor processing note. It changes the flavor entirely.
Pan-firing creates the toasty, nutty, sometimes smoky quality that defines most Chinese green teas. Steaming preserves more chlorophyll and produces something different: softer, more vegetal, buttery rather than roasted. Sandy described ours as having "a softer vegetal flavor with no bitterness, even on the second brewing." That's the steaming at work.
The tea comes from Hubei Province — specifically Enshi Prefecture, where it's known as En Shi Yu Lu (恩施玉露), or Jade Dew. The Wufeng Mountains, where the leaves are grown, have selenium-rich soil; the combination of climate, mineral content, and steaming method produces a pale, clear brew that looks almost nothing like a pan-fired green.
If your reference point for green tea is Japanese sencha, Yu Lu is the Chinese tea you've been looking for. Not a replacement — the flavor profile is distinct — but the closest thing in the collection to that register. If you've been avoiding green tea because it's too sharp or too grassy, this is the one to try first.
How to brew Yu Lu Green Tea
190°F water, 2.5 minutes, 1.5 teaspoons per cup (2.5g). Start there. If you want a stronger cup, use slightly more leaf rather than hotter water — the higher end of the 190°F range is the ceiling, not the floor. The leaves re-steep at least twice; the second infusion is often slightly sweeter. Cold brew works exceptionally well: leave the leaves in cold water overnight, drink in the morning.
Yu Lu is USDA certified organic, sourced directly from a worker-owned cooperative in Hubei.
FAQ
What does Yu Lu Green taste like?
Mild, buttery, and vegetal, with a light sweetness and no bitterness. The brew is pale and clear. It won't overpower you — the flavor is present but soft. Nicole called it "bright and grassy"; Ellen described it as "smooth and earthy with some sweetness." Both are right depending on how you steep it.
Is Yu Lu a good everyday tea?
Yes. It's one of the few teas in the collection that works equally well hot or cold-brewed, morning or afternoon. John has been drinking it for years: "always mellow and comforting." Jessica uses it as her daily drinker specifically because it's still good cold if she forgets about a cup.
How is Yu Lu different from other Chinese green teas?
The main difference is how it's fixed after harvest. Almost all Chinese green teas are pan-fired; Yu Lu is steamed. Steaming produces a softer, more vegetal flavor without the toasted or smoky notes pan-firing creates. It's why Yu Lu is the only Chinese green in our collection that tastes anything like Japanese sencha.
How much caffeine is in Yu Lu Green?
Like all of our green teas, roughly 25–30mg per 8-ounce cup — about half to a third of a typical cup of coffee. Green tea caffeine pairs with L-theanine, which produces sustained, calm energy rather than a spike.
Can I cold-brew Yu Lu?
Yes, and it's especially good this way. Add your leaves to cold water and refrigerate overnight. The cold brew is smooth, vegetal, and slightly sweet — the bitterness risk of hot over-steeping disappears entirely.
