Sweet Dew is grown on what might be considered a holy mountain of tea, Mengding, which translates as ‘Misty Peak’. It is located in the Sichuan province of China and stands at 1460 metres above sea level. There are several stories associated with the first tea bushes ever planted, seven in number, in a temple garden on this mountain. The stories date back as far as 206B.C. There is some confusion over who planted them, it was either a buddhist monk, Gan Lu or a farmer named Wu Lizhen. It is certainly considered to be the first place of tea cultivation in China. The tea from these original bushes came to be known as the ‘Tea of the Immortals' due to its ability to cure illness and aid longevity. For over 1000 years it was the number one tribute tea to the Royal household and today it is still known as "Number One Under Heaven". Mengding’s tea growing area, entirely organic, now produces many types of tea but none so precious as Gan Lu, meaning Sweet Dew. The scenery around the mountain’s five peaks, shaped like a lotus flower, is often referred to as the ‘Fairy Kingdom’ because of its grace and wonder. Thousand year old Gingko trees surround the old temple and mist covered undulating peaks are adorned with gnarly old pine trees. The tea itself, picked and made from start to finish with great artistry, has a sweet, chestnut like flavour and aroma. It is made with the first picking of tiny buds covered in fine, silver hairs which you can see floating in the water and which lend a crystalline appearance to the pale infusion. Another legend I enjoy that explains yet another name the tea was known by is that of an elderly monk who had a seemingly incurable ailment. A tea farmer told him of a tea named Thunderclap that could be harvested at the first roll of thunder heard in March. It was said that one ounce would cure his illness, two would mean continued health, three would renew his bones and four would make him an Immortal. At the time there were very few bushes and some sources say that only ninety leaves could be plucked a year so although he was cured he could not gather enough to become immortal. Whilst more of this tea is now grown it remains relatively rare. Not so rare as some of the other 'Famous' teas which is why, considering its comparable quality, it is a little less expensive than them.