Longjing (Dragon Well)
Longjing (Dragon Well) is a pan-fired flat green tea from West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, known for chestnut, toasted soybean and sweet vegetal flavors.
Definition
Longjing, "dragon well", is China's most famous green tea. Its protected origin, Xi Hu (West Lake) Longjing, covers hills around West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, with classic sub-areas such as Shi Feng (Lion Peak), Meijiawu, Longjing village, Yunqi and Hupao. Tea from other parts of Zhejiang is sold as Zhejiang Longjing or under county names such as Qiantang and Yuezhou. The leaf is pan-fired in a wok, traditionally by hand. Producers press the leaves flat against the hot surface with their palms in a series of distinct movements, which gives the tea its smooth, sword-shaped flat leaves. The process stops oxidation and dries the leaf in one series of steps. The best Longjing is mingqian, picked before the Qingming festival around April 5, from cultivars including Longjing #43 and the older Longjing qun ti zhong (the traditional seed-grown population). The cup is pale yellow-green with chestnut, toasted bean and sweet grass notes, and low bitterness when brewed correctly.
In Depth
Brew at 75-80°C (167-176°F). A glass is traditional: 3 g in 150-200 ml, add a little water first to wet the leaves, then fill. Drink when the leaves settle, and top up before the glass is empty. In a gaiwan, use 4 g per 100 ml with 30-60 second infusions.
Genuine high-grade West Lake Longjing has flat, smooth, uniform leaves, yellow-green rather than bright green, with no down. A strong roasted-bean smell and a dull or brownish color indicate an older or lower-grade tea. Hand-fired leaf is less perfectly flat than machine-made leaf, which often looks overly uniform and glossy.
The West Lake protected zone is small, and far more tea is sold as "West Lake Longjing" than the area produces. Authenticated tea often carries a government anti-counterfeit label. Store sealed and cool; drink within a year.
See Also
- Hangzhou Tea
- Chinese Green Tea
- Pre-Qingming Harvest