LocalLifeChengdu
New Member
Heading to Chengdu soon and trying to avoid the usual souvenir-tea scramble inside Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子).
I had better luck stepping just outside the scenic strip onto a normal neighborhood street and tasting a couple of short cups before packing anything. Emei Xueya (峨眉雪芽) was light and clean; Mengding Gan Lu (蒙顶甘露) felt a bit softer/rounder; jasmine Piao Xue (飘雪) was more perfume-forward if you want a floral gift. Loose leaf from a small bag worked for trying more than one kind.
The stop I used was 峨眉雪芽雪儿姐茶坊(宽窄巷子店) / Emei Xueya Xue'erjie Tea Shop (Kuanzhai Alley branch) at 成都市金牛区西安南路140号附2号 / No. 140-2 Xi'an South Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu. Hours were 09:00-22:00. Metro Line 4, Kuanzhai Alley Station (宽窄巷子站) Exit D, then about 100-200 m. Prices were marked and they let me taste before deciding.
If you have bought tea around Chengdu, did you stay inside the alley gift counters or look on the side streets? Any leaf that traveled well for everyday drinking vs gifts?
I had better luck stepping just outside the scenic strip onto a normal neighborhood street and tasting a couple of short cups before packing anything. Emei Xueya (峨眉雪芽) was light and clean; Mengding Gan Lu (蒙顶甘露) felt a bit softer/rounder; jasmine Piao Xue (飘雪) was more perfume-forward if you want a floral gift. Loose leaf from a small bag worked for trying more than one kind.
The stop I used was 峨眉雪芽雪儿姐茶坊(宽窄巷子店) / Emei Xueya Xue'erjie Tea Shop (Kuanzhai Alley branch) at 成都市金牛区西安南路140号附2号 / No. 140-2 Xi'an South Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu. Hours were 09:00-22:00. Metro Line 4, Kuanzhai Alley Station (宽窄巷子站) Exit D, then about 100-200 m. Prices were marked and they let me taste before deciding.
If you have bought tea around Chengdu, did you stay inside the alley gift counters or look on the side streets? Any leaf that traveled well for everyday drinking vs gifts?