$8,712 per 500g for best China tea! 2026 Xihu Longjing Tea Picking in China's Hangzhou 明前西湖龍井採摘季

The official start of the 2026 spring harvest of West Lake Longjing tea, a UNESCO-listed premium tea grown in Hangzhou’s core West Lake plantations.

Picking began on March 19 across 10 local villages, with only 15%–20% now under sporadic harvesting. Thanks to favorable weather and fresh bud growth, both yield and quality are expected to rise this year.

Lingyin area holds 403 mu of tea gardens serving about 1,200 farmers, targeting around 20,000 jin in output with slightly higher market prices. Pre-Qingming Longjing, rare and labor-intensive, commands top prices up to 60,000 yuan (US$8,696) per jin; a single premium cup costs about 360 yuan (US$52).

Tea dealers place early pre-orders for high-end and mid-range batches, securing stock one year ahead. Local farmers, including young growers, own small tea plots and enjoy steady pre-sales and rising annual incomes.

Fresh 2026 spring Longjing will officially enter the market as early as next week.