Quick Answer
Four Seasons Spring (Si Ji Chun) is the name of a Taiwanese tea plant cultivar, not a processing method. According to cultivar data from Taiwan’s Tea and Beverage Research Station, it is a local variety selected by farmers in Muzha, known for sprouting early, dense branches and buds and strong disease resistance, and it is suited to pouchong-style tea. Because it can be harvested several times a year with stable yields, it has become a popular bubble tea base. The Four Seasons tea used in bubble tea is usually a lightly oxidized, floral oolong, not a green tea.
Four Seasons Spring Cultivar Profile
Summarized from the Tea and Beverage Research Station’s cultivar overview:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Cultivar type | Local variety selected by farmers in Muzha |
| English name | Shy Jih Chuen (official cultivar name); commonly sold as Four Seasons Spring |
| Plant shape | Medium-large, spreading, with dense branches and buds |
| Sprouting | Early |
| Resistance | Strong disease resistance, moderate drought tolerance |
| Best suited for | Pouchong-style tea |
The name “Four Seasons Spring” is commonly explained as meaning it sprouts and can be harvested in every season; the official data describes the same trait as “early sprouting”.
Is Four Seasons Spring a Green Tea?
No. Tea types are defined mainly by how much the leaves are oxidized during processing, not by the cultivar:
- Green tea: not oxidized
- Pouchong and oolong: partly oxidized
- Black tea: fully oxidized
The Four Seasons cultivar is suited to pouchong-style tea, which is partly oxidized. Most Four Seasons tea on the market is made in a light, fragrant style with low oxidation, so it tastes floral and refreshing, closer to green tea, but it is still classified as a partly oxidized oolong.
Four Seasons vs Other Bubble Tea Bases
| Tea base | Flavor | Common bubble tea use |
|---|---|---|
| Four Seasons oolong | Light, floral, sweet aftertaste | Straight tea, fruit tea, Four Seasons milk tea |
| Green tea (e.g. jasmine green tea) | Fresh, clear tea flavor | Lemon green tea, Yakult green tea, fruit tea |
| Black tea (e.g. Assam, Ruby) | Strong, good with milk | Bubble milk tea and milk teas |
| Roasted oolong, Tieguanyin | Roasted, full-bodied | Oolong milk tea, Tieguanyin latte |
Four Seasons’ floral aroma pairs well with fruit, so it is a common base for fruit teas. For a black tea option, see Taiwan Ruby Black Tea (No. 18).
How to Use Four Seasons Spring Tea in Bubble Tea
- Straight tea: brew and serve iced for drinks that highlight the tea.
- Fruit tea: pair with passion fruit, lemon or orange syrups; see our fruit syrup dosage chart.
- With milk: Four Seasons milk tea is lighter than black milk tea, good for customers who prefer a lighter drink.
Follow each product’s package for brewing temperature, time and leaf amount, then test in your store and write the settings into your SOP.
Tang Sugar Four Seasons Spring Products
Tang Sugar supplies Four Seasons Spring oolong leaves (600 g bags), Four Seasons oolong filter-free bags and Four Seasons oolong brewing bags, so you can choose by equipment: whole leaves for traditional brewing, filter-free bags to skip straining, and brewing bags for tea espresso machines. See our tea products or request samples.
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FAQ
What is Four Seasons Spring tea?
Four Seasons Spring is a Taiwanese tea cultivar. According to the Tea and Beverage Research Station, it is a local variety selected by farmers in Muzha that sprouts early and suits pouchong-style tea.
Is Four Seasons Spring a green tea?
No. The cultivar is suited to partly oxidized pouchong-style tea, and the Four Seasons tea used in bubble tea is usually a lightly oxidized, fragrant oolong.
What is the difference between Four Seasons Spring and oolong?
Four Seasons Spring is a cultivar name, while oolong is a tea category (partly oxidized). Partly oxidized tea made from the Four Seasons cultivar is what is commonly called Four Seasons oolong.
What drinks is Four Seasons Spring tea good for?
Its light, floral aroma makes it popular for straight tea and fruit teas, and it also makes a lighter milk tea.
What is the official English name of Four Seasons Spring?
The official cultivar name is Shy Jih Chuen; it is commonly sold as Four Seasons Spring or Si Ji Chun.
How do I choose Four Seasons tea for a bubble tea shop?
Start from your equipment: whole leaves for traditional brewing, filter-free bags to skip straining, and brewing bags for tea espresso machines. Tang Sugar’s Four Seasons tea comes in all three formats; see our tea products or request samples to test.
Further Reading
- Taiwan Ruby Black Tea (No. 18): Origin and Bubble Tea Uses
- How Much Fruit Syrup to Use: 500 ml and 700 ml Dosage Chart
- What Is Winter Melon Tea? How to Cook Winter Melon Tea Bricks
- What Is Tieguanyin Tea?
- A History of Taiwanese Tea
Sources
- Tea and Beverage Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture: Shy Jih Chuen (cultivar overview) (in Chinese)
- Tang Sugar product list (March 2026 edition)
