Best Seller From: Hubei Province

Organic Yu Lu Green

$16.95

5.0

Just $0.18/serving

Title: 3.5 oz Canister

3.5 oz Canister 16 oz Pouch

Try free sample! Limit one per tea, please.

About Our Organic Yu Lu Green

Yu Lu Green is the one in the collection that surprises green tea skeptics. It's mild, buttery, slightly sweet — vegetal in the way a spring morning is vegetal, not the sharp punch that puts people off green tea in the first place. "Light and not bitter," is how most people who try it describe it. Jessica put it plainly: "even if I forget about it on the counter it is still delicious cold."

This is also the tea that makes the most sense for cold brew. M.W. has been doing it for years — keeps a pitcher in the fridge, drinks it first thing in the morning.

What makes it different from every other Chinese green in our collection: it's steamed rather than pan-fired — the Hubei tradition. That one processing step puts it in a different flavor category entirely, and is why it's the closest thing in the lineup to a Japanese sencha.

Sourced directly from a worker-owned cooperative in Hubei Province. Certified organic. Brews at least twice from the same leaves.

Brewing Guidelines for Organic Yu Lu Green

2:30 MIN

190 F

1.5 TSP - 2.5G PER CUP

Brewing Guidelines are for one 8 oz. cup.

The best way to brew your tea is the way you like - don't let anyone tell you different. Our guidelines are configured for making your tea a cup at a time - maybe with our stainless tea filter. If making by the pot, maintain temperature and time but try with slightly less tea than the math would suggest.

For more brewing instructions, read our brewing guidelines.

Yu Lu Green — What Makes This Chinese Green Tea Different

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?

Green teas have measured about 12–50 mg per cup in published lab analysis (not our own tea), well under a typical coffee; a shorter, cooler steep means less. 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.

Customer Reviews for Organic Yu Lu Green

Yu Lu Green Tea

Nice tea that is light in color and is not bitter. The taste is hard to describe. Vernal with a spring vegetable flavor.
Very different from other green teas I have had.

Dynamite Tea

This tea is one of the best Green tea's i have ever tried and that's the truth.

Tea-ed up!

My intro to Yu Lu Green tea has taken me a few tries in terms of steeping time, amount to use for two cups, etc. I found the taste, at first, pretty uninviting—no flavor at first, then I did not like the flavor I got. Today I think I found the right balance. That said, I would like to try another “flavor” green tea and look forward to another purchase mostly because I believe in what little red cup is doing and what it stands for.

Yu Lu Green

My go-to tea ever since buying the first tin. Always the one I "default" to (with much pleasure) if I can't decide among the other Red Cup choices I have on the shelf. Always mellow and comforting with wonderful flavor, Yu Lu is beautifully normal when I'm a bit unhinged or trying not to go there. Lovely, lovely tea.

A+

Great family based company. Pleasure to do business with 😊

This tea is so good!

I ordered samples of 5 different tea to try. They are all delicious but my favorites are yu lu green and green eyebrow. I will be ordering those soon. The little red cup tea co. goes the extra mile for their customers. Just get some! You won’t regret it!❤️

Like a teenager

This tea is like a teenager. Distinct and with its own personality, and you can also tell it is still not just there yet. A green tea not yet fully developed into a bold taste but still has all the components to become one. You can taste the potential in the notes.

Yu Lu Green

I use a bit more of this. First and second steepings are 2 & 3 minutes respectively. I don’t normally do a third steep with my teas but may try with this just to see how it steeps a third time. I get a nuanced smokiness along with a wonderful green tea flavor - no bitterness. Very happen I purchased this. I look forward to having it when I wake up each morn.

Excellent!

I'm not great at describing teas, but I certainly really enjoy this one - bonus it is fair trade and organic!

Yu Lu Green is smooth

I did an at-home green tea tasting of a bunch of Chinese greens and this one is smooth and earthy with some sweetness too. Can resteep a couple times. Cold brew works too.

5 stars: 52 (96%)
4 stars: 2 (4%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

A great green

A fresh and comforting all-day tea that leaves me focused but calm

This was gifted me but someone who has gifted

This was gifted me but someone who has gifted Little Red Cup teas to me in the past, and I have loved them all. I just came back to order more Yu Lu as I am at this very moment sipping through my last pot on a leisurely Sunday afternoon. My only observation when brewing Yu Lu was that it is the only green tea I have brewed that does become bitter if I steep for a full 3 minutes, as I usually do for green teas. I noticed here on your page that you have indicated 2:30 as brewing time, and per my experience, I agree entirely. I love Yu Lu, but when it comes to the steeping, don't overdo! :)

Yum

This is a beautifully delicate green. It's lighter and not as bitter/ astringent as other greens. How much you use and how long you steep it really changes the flavor.

Tastes like spring

I tried the Yu Lu as part of the 5 sample deal, and am so pleased. It sounds comical but it tastes like a delicious hay mash (if I was a horse lol). It is light, and has a delicate taste, without bitterness. Highly recommend Yu Lu!

Yu Lu Green is smooth

I did an at-home green tea tasting of a bunch of Chinese greens and this one is smooth and earthy with some sweetness too. Can resteep a couple times. Cold brew works too.

bright and fresh

Yulu green is bright and fresh with a mellow tang. The first sip is one of my favorite moments of every day!

Excellent local retailer. Personable.

This is such a great, light tea!

This is such a great, light tea. I can actually sip on it all day!

Yummers

The perfect daily driver!

My new morning go-to tea

I was struggling to drink green tea. This one is mild, buttery, slightly sweet with a bit of savory vegetal taste. It brews perfectly around 180 and I frequently go back and resteep the leaves for at least a second cup.

My favorite

I have been an everyday green tea drinker for over 15 years. I only started enjoying good green tea about 4 years ago, when I found little red cup. This Yu Lu green is my overall favorite!

My daily tea

I started cold-brewing the Organic Yu Lu Green last summer, and almost always have a pitcher in the fridge. It is now the first beverage of the day for me, most days, enjoyed cold. Smooth and vegetal. Just ordered my second pound!

Wonderful flavor!

Although it reminds me of some of the Japanese green teas I often enjoy, this tea has a softer vegetal flavor with no bitterness, even on the second brewing. It's definitely my new favorite green tea.

I <3 Little Red Cup

I bought this as a gift for my mom for Christmas. I won't stop telling everybody how much I love Little Red Cup! High quality tea, excellent ownership.

Organic Yu Lu

As I write, I am enjoying a glass of this lovely tea, cold-brewed. The description here is accurate, and I'm glad that I purchased the 16 oz. pouch!

This green tea is so good! But almost better than the tea is the excellent service from his small family owned businesses. My order was shipped right away with a handwritten note and a follow up email to make sure I was enjoying my tea. I will definitely order again from Little Red Cup Tea.

my mom is addicted to this tea!

My mom lives on green tea. I was thrilled to discover little red cup ( a local company). After trying a few varieties, she is hooked on this one! I just got her the subscription for Christmas. The perfect gift for the impossible to shop for tea lover!

Yu Lu Green

My go-to tea ever since buying the first tin. Always the one I "default" to (with much pleasure) if I can't decide among the other Red Cup choices I have on the shelf. Always mellow and comforting with wonderful flavor, Yu Lu is beautifully normal when I'm a bit unhinged or trying not to go there. Lovely, lovely tea.

A+

Great family based company. Pleasure to do business with 😊

Of the green teas, it’s my favorite.

Flavorful

It's perfect, really satisfying

Tea bliss

Tea ambrosia!! Sipping this tea during a blizzard was heaven. The tea arrived with a thank you note! First class tea company

How I start every day

I drink this tea almost every morning and it is completely delicious.

Repeat Customer

Excellent tea and always excellent service!

Excellent

Cold Sun brewing them here and their all wonderful and great quality!

Organic Yu Lu Green

Yu Lu Green

Bright and Refreshing!

I love every tea I have ordered...

...but Yu Lu green is my daily drink that never ceases to please. Thanks Little Red Cup!

Great Tea

I love little red cup, high quality organic loose leaf tea. I make one strainer full and steep it multiple times throughout the work day. Can't beat it

Very nice green tea! I experimented with water temps and amount stepped and prefer to steep about 1Tbs at 180 degrees for 2 1/2 minutes.

Fantastic Tea

I normally get tea from China while traveling and from friends and family who travel to China. These Little Red Cup tea company products are the next best thing to being there, and the quality is as good or better. Just pay close attention to the brewing instructions. Read tips and tricks online, watch the videos and experiment a little. If you like honey in your tea, I recommend mild flavored honey so you can appreciate the subtitle complexities in the different flavors available. I’ve tried several types and flavors, and have enjoyed them all. I find Yu Lu Green to be mild in flavor with a nice caffeine kick. I brew it cool to keep the bitterness down and warm it up to drink it as hot as I can stand it. :-)

Why Our Tea Is Organic

Tea is among the most heavily treated crops in conventional agriculture. When you steep tea leaves in hot water, you’re making an extraction—and that extraction doesn’t discriminate between flavor compounds and pesticide residues. Every tea we sell meets certified organic standards. Our teas are certified organic by the USDA and MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association), a leading independent organic certifier. This means no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, and annual third-party inspections to verify it. We source from worker-owned cooperatives in rural, mountainous regions of China, where traditional growing methods align naturally with organic standards. These aren’t industrial plantations; they’re small farms where people have been growing tea the same way for generations. Healthier soil produces better tea. Plants grown without synthetic chemical inputs develop more complex flavor profiles. You can taste the difference.

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