Tea farmers in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, begun last week to pick Longjing tea (Dragon Well Tea), the most renowned among the variety of green tea produced in the country, due to the early advent of warm weather.

Full-scale picking will start these days if no disastrous weather nor cold temperatures hit the region.

Tea picked before early April is much dearer and better in taste compared with those picked later.

The West Lake Longjing tea boasts a history of over 1,000 years and is often called the "Empress of Green tea," and those picked earlier are reputed as "gold buds" and can cost up to 6,000 yuan a kilogram.

Officials predicted that the total output of Longjing tea this year will reach 950 tons with a total value of 65 million yuan (about US$7.9 million).

(People’s Daily 03/21/2001)