Farmers harvest Wuniuzao tea at a tea garden in Yongjia county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/wzrb.com.cn]

Yongjia county's Wuniuzao tea, renowned as Zhejiang's earliest, has been in its annual harvest season since Feb 19, fetching prices as high as 7,000 yuan ($947.11) per kilogram.

This tea variety, known for its early harvesting, hits the market in mid to late February every year, about a month ahead of renowned teas such as Longjing.

"Due to the rain and snow on Jan 22 and the low temperatures in early February, the budding process was delayed, resulting in a longer growth cycle. The tea buds have become plumper, with richer contents and more intense aroma and flavor," stated Zhang Boping, a tea expert from the county.

Each tea picker can harvest over 1.5 kg of high-quality leaves per day, with harvesting continuing through the end of March. Expectations are optimistic for a slightly higher yield compared to last year's 700-plus metric tons, provided there are no adverse weather conditions like late frost.

Processed tea leaves currently fetch around 4,000 yuan per kg, primarily serving pre-booked clients in the Wenzhou area. The highest-quality tea can command prices of up to 7,000 yuan per kg.

Wuniuzao tea has been introduced across seven provinces in China since the 1980s, covering more than 1 million mu (66,666.67 hectares) in over 80 counties. Yongjia county, with 46,000 mu, serves as the origin and core production area. This year's expected output value is about 250 to 260 million yuan.