A worker picks tea leaves at a tea garden in Zhoushan. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Many tea gardens in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, have entered the spring tea harvest period, which was delayed by more than 10 days compared with previous years, local media reported on March 15.

Yu Lingjing from the Zhoushan municipal bureau of agriculture and rural affairs said that the delay in harvest is due to the unusually low temperatures.

Although sales of tea leaves have been affected by the pandemic, the impact has not been significant.

Chen Shi, manager of Jinshan Tea Garden in Zhoushan, said that the orders he has received can keep his tea garden busy until the end of this month.

Chen noted that his tea garden can produce 30 kilograms of tea leaves per day and these tea leaves can be sold after they are stir-fried.

"I'm not worried about sales at all," said Sun Haojie, the manager of the Putuo Buddha Tea Garden, which can produce more than 100 kg of tea leaves per day.

"The superfine Wuniuzao early spring tea leaves, which fetch a price of 4,000 yuan ($628) per kg, are still popular among customers."

The harvest period of spring tea leaves in Zhoushan is expected to continue until April 20.