A recent cold snap brought heavy snowfall to Hangzhou, draping the famed West Lake Longjing tea plantations in a delicate white veil. Many residents have voiced concern - Can those tea bushes withstand the freezing temperatures? And will this year’s yield and quality of Longjing be affected?

According to officials from Xihu Subdistrict, however, the snowfall is actually welcome news for tea growers.

First, it has alleviated winter drought and stabilized soil moisture. Prolonged dry, sunny weather since early winter had left tea fields parched, prompting some farmers to activate water-conservation measures. The snowfall has now effectively replenished soil moisture, creating favorable conditions for spring bud development.

Second, the cold has suppressed overwintering pests and reduced pest populations. Major tea pests typically enter dormancy around November, hiding as eggs, larvae, or pupae in the soil or on the undersides of leaves. While the low temperatures won’t eradicate all pests, they significantly inhibit their survival - easing the burden of pest control come spring.

Notably, West Lake Longjing tea bushes belong to small-to-medium-leaf cultivars that naturally enter physiological dormancy in winter, giving them strong cold tolerance. Experts confirm that short-term snow and freezing temperatures pose no harm to the plants. At present, the tea bushes are expected to overwinter safely - and emerge next spring with renewed vigor.