Late cold snap affects harvesting of Westlake Longjing

This year's first batch of Westlake Longjing tea, a well-known variety of top-end green tea produced in Zhejiang province, went on sale on March 17, its earliest offer in 20 years.

Traditionally picked just prior to Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on April 4 this year, the most expensive Longjing tea is priced similar to last year, said sellers.

Wuyutai Tea, one of Beijing's oldest distributers, has bought around 75 kilogram of Westlake Longjing, priced at about 8,200 yuan ($1,264.44) per 0.5 kilogram, said Sun Danwei, Wuyutai's general manager.