"When picking tea leaves, pick only the tender buds. Don't pick the small leaves, otherwise it will affect the quality of the tea." Early one morning recently, the Siming Chunlu No. 1 tea garden was a vibrant green. Jiang Liping, head of Yili Tea Factory, led more than 20 tea pickers, their fingers flying as they harvested the first batch of spring tea this year, seizing the opportunity to get it fresh to market.

"After the start of spring, I've been closely monitoring the growth of the tea leaves to ensure the yield and quality of this year's new tea," said Jiang Liping. She explained that the tea leaves in this garden had entered the "one bud, one leaf initial unfolding stage," and "at this time, the small leaves have fully unfurled, making it the best time to pick tea." To seize this "golden period" for spring tea picking, Jiang Liping quickly organized a group of experienced villagers from surrounding villages to participate in the harvesting work.

"The weather is good today, we must pick the tea immediately. If we miss this crucial period, the quality of the tea will decline," Jiang Liping said, instructing everyone while simultaneously taking videos and photos of the tea picking process to post on Douyin and WeChat Moments. "Even good tea needs promotion to expand its market!" she told reporters with a smile. She explained that since the beginning of spring, ample rainfall and suitable temperatures have resulted in excellent tea growth, promising another bumper harvest.

"Today we're picking Jiaming No. 1, and next we'll be picking Longjing 43, Longjing Changye, Golden Bud, Zijuan, and other varieties." As the tea-picking season begins, Jiang Liping enters her busiest time of the year. "Today we estimate we'll pick about 35 kilograms. We don't pursue quantity; quality is our top priority."

Ningbo Siming Chunlu Tea Industry Development Co., Ltd., since its establishment in 2002, has always adhered to the philosophy of "craftsmanship" in tea production. From developing classic products such as March Bud Green Tea and April Sprout White Tea in its early days, to launching innovative products such as portable tea bags and instant solid tea in recent years, the company continuously enriches its product portfolio to meet diverse market demands. In the construction and management of the tea gardens, the company uses manual weeding and green disease and pest control methods throughout to ensure the naturalness and health of the tea.

In terms of brand building, Siming Chunlu has also achieved fruitful results. Its products have won numerous awards, including the "China Green Cup" Gold Award for Famous and High-Quality Green Tea and the Gold Award at the Zhejiang Green Tea Expo. In 2020, it was awarded the title of "Zhejiang Featured Souvenir," and in 2022, it was recognized as a "Ningbo Time-Honored Brand." In 2025, it obtained green food certification and organic conversion certification. In addition to traditional store sales, the company actively develops e-commerce platforms, expanding its sales channels across multiple online platforms. This integrated online and offline development model allows the aroma of Siming Chunlu tea to reach even further.

With the full-scale commencement of the 2026 Ningbo spring tea harvest, Siming Chunlu No. 1 Tea Garden is enthusiastically welcoming the new year's harvest season. Amidst the green hills and clear waters of Siming Mountain, tender green buds carry the craftsmanship of this time-honored brand and the hope for rural revitalization, their fragrance spreading far and wide.