While most visitors to Hangzhou are, understandably, drawn to the city’s famous and undeniably beautiful West Lake, the sheer number of tourists in the area can sometimes be overwhelming. The special name of this Chinese green tea refers to an ancient village 'Dragon Well' southwest of the 'West Lake'. Fertile soils, pure water and a pleasant climate combine to produce the city’s famous longjing (龙井, lóngjǐng) – or dragon well – green tea. It's surrounded by little pagoda-topped hills and wonderful bridges. Lung Ching leaves are hand-picked in early spring and give a pale green infusion that's lightly sweet with a soothing toasty vegetal aroma. Our artisan Dragon Well tea is sourced directly from small family farms in the Mei Jia Wu village. For a different take on drinking lonjing tea, head to Lingyin Temple where you can gain an understanding about ‘zen’ tea culture. It’s believed that the geographical area and the high quality of the waters in and around West Lake have a great deal to do with why the tea is so special. There are several stories about how the Emperor, who was a great traveler, first discovered this tea. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. There are generally two ways longjing tea is served in Hangzhou. Broadly speaking, the real deal must come from the Zhejiang province and or from the XiHu district of China and not, as some look-alikes are, from Guangdong, Yunnan, Sichuan, or Guizhou provinces. The path emerges at Yanxia Cave, a naturally formed limestone cave that features Buddhist statues carved into the walls. Those seeking a respite from the crowds and space to enjoy Hangzhou’s verdant beauty needn’t go far, however. The highly ritualised process of picking, preparing and serving the tea helps the monks on their journey to enlightenment. The 7 groups can be divided into two categories, namely, S and N. The groups ‘S A ’, ‘S B ’, and ‘S C ’ are the standard certified set ranked by professional tea experts. But success is a double edged sword, as it's getting harder and harder to find an authentic and original Longjing these days. From here, the trail descends down past vast expanses of tea plantations and offers wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. However, it’s not all authentic. The Emperor ordered it and after drinking it the Empress Dowager praised it as a tonic and a cure for all ills. Swirl the water gently around the pot, cup, or tea bowl to aerate it. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The original branch is the nearer to the city, just on the edge of the tea plantation area and occupying several hectares of land dedicated to the art, cultivation and tasting of tea. The taste is smooth and never bitter and leaves a mild, lingering after-taste. On his return, his mother smelt the fragrance of the freshly-picked leaves and asked for tea to be made. While pickin… Our Dragon Well tea is fully made according to original methods: It's handpicked and manually processed by skilled tea masters. Longjing Tea, also known as Dragon Well Tea or XiHu (West Lake) Dragon Well Tea, is one of Chinas top ten teas. They know exactly when to shake the pan, press or rub the leaves, etc. The rolling hills that occupy the area to the west of West Lake are home to the city’s other major claim to fame – longjing green tea plantations – and amongst them, secluded hiking trails, hidden caves and quiet family-run tea shops. To some the West Lake is considered as the representation of classical beauty of China. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ represent the quality level of the tea. It is thought that it was given its name during the southern Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) when tea production was being invested in and developed. Call toll free 866-TEA … At both branches you can try different teas and learn about how and why this humble plant has had such a huge impact on the world. Qing Ming is a traditional day for paying respects to ancestors and clearing their graves. Use spring or filtered water so that chemicals and impurities often found in tap water don’t detract from or spoil the taste of the tea. The Xihu Longjing, also known as the West Lake Dragon Well, is without a single doubt the most popular green tea in China. Pour the water over the tea slowly and gently so that they leaves float on the surface. The following guidelines are helpful: This may sound like a lot of trouble to go to, but the health benefits of Longjing Tea and its wonderful taste and smell make it worthwhile! The newer, second Longjing Scenic Area branch is further up the hill along Longjing Lu into ever-more densely planted tea fields. If one has concerns or reacts badly to the supposed Longjing Tea benefits, speak to a medical practitioner, herbalist, or pharmacist. The very best stuff is worth more, even, than gold. 8 Reviews Add Your Review. It is believed that these skilled roasters, known as Tea Masters, can better judge the heat in the large iron pans by using their bare hands. © 2020 Lonely Planet. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. The young buds are harvested in early spring. Although one is unlikely to drink vast quantities of this tea because it’s costly—and because one can have too much of a good thing—it’s advisable to limit one’s intake to (a generous) 1000 ml daily. While there may not be clinical studies to support all these claims, centuries of anecdotal evidence does – and as we always say, first and foremost, drink it because you enjoy it. West Lake Dragon Well Tea - Xi Hu Longjing, Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea - Liu An Melon Seed, Tai Ping Hou Kui - Monkey Picked Green Tea, Small Glass Tea Storage Container - Airtight Jar with Bamboo Lid (460ml / 15.5oz), Jian Tea Cup NO. Be warned though – from summer through into autumn, Hangzhou is hot and humid, and mosquitos are ubiquitous. You can can try this and other classic Hangzhou dishes, and sup a glass of tea, at Maocao Wu restaurant, which sits right on the edge of the plantations. The name probably comes from the local village of the same name, which in turn possibly got its name from an eponymous well, whose waters apparently twisted and danced like a Chinese dragon after heavy rainfall. Discover the Power of Purple Corn with Inca Tea, Bromley Tea is a Family of Passionate Tea Lovers. The applied pan-frying method results in an outstanding toasty and nutty aroma. The earliest of these statues date from the Five Dynasties period (907-960) and the Song dynasty (960-1027). The most common and less formal way in basic teahouses and stores is with the tea leaves served in a large glass mug or cup with hot water poured directly onto them. 8 ‘ Heavenly Flower’ 70ml / 2.35oz, Handmade Bamboo Tea Coaster - Wooden Tea Coaster, Jian Zhan Teacup 'Pearly Space' - Blue, Purple, Pink Jian ware. The health benefits of Longjing tea offered by this aromatic beverage are thanks to the high levels of theanine (amino acid), catechins (a natural phenol and antioxidant), vitamin C, and very low levels of caffeine. Watch the video to see how easy it is to do it yourself: West Lake Dragon Well green tea is from one of the main tea regions in China; the Hangzhou West Lake region in Zhejiang province, also known as 'xi hu'. Legend has it that while visiting tea plantations in the area he became so interested in the harvesting activities that he asked to join in. This first harvest yields the highest quality leaves and tea. This amino acid contributes to the special taste and health benefits. After steeping a high quality tea produces a yellow-green color whereas a poor quality one will be darker green or even slightly blue. The varieties are determined by where the tea is cultivated and this in turn impacts on the quality… and the price. These give rise to a number of teas but the five main varieties are: How can one tell what variety one is buying or if it is really Longjing tea? West Lake Dragon Well Tea - Xi Hu Longjing. The alternative story is that Emperor Qianlong was presented with a cup of this tea at the Hu Gong Temple at the base of Lion Peak Mountain. Longjing is considered one of the best teas in China, with its fame reflected in its price – the first harvest of the year in March and April can fetch upwards of ¥6000 (around US$875) per kilo. This method also takes a while, as you need to wait until the leaves settle, and the water cools sufficiently, before you can properly drink – although, accidentally eating a tea leaf is nothing to be worried about. Carrington Tea offers Simple Herbal Options for the Budget Conscious, Triple Leaf Tea Serves Centuries of Herbal Wisdom, Teatulia offers Tea from their own Garden in Bangladesh. Fortunately all the types offer health benefits and superior taste. The climate in Zhejiang province (mild with year-round rain and fog), the higher altitude, and the low levels of sun are all believed to help the leaves retain more theanine in dragon well tea as opposed to different varieties. Thanks to its growing popularity, more of this type of tea is being produced. There was absolutely no bitterness, and it draws out all the sweetness from mother nature. People then drink from that glass, constantly topping it up with fresh boiled water from an insulated flask. But where does the name itself come from? He was so interested in their movements that he decided tohave a go himself. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. South of the lake perhaps China's most well-known tea regions, named after the lake. Every year, toward the starts of the harvest season, the temple hosts the Cloud Forest Zen Tea Performance to promote this unique aspect of monastic life. This green tea comes from the village of Longjing and thanks to its superior quality and unique production method it was granted the title of China Famous Tea, and were going to be taking a look at the Longjing Tea benefits and what makes this stuff so nice. This picturesque lake is loved by Chinese and foreign tourist for its leisurely charm, and it's the symbol of Hangzhou, China. This green tea comes from the village of Longjing and thanks to its superior quality and unique production method it was granted the title of “China Famous Tea”, and we’re going to be taking a look at the Longjing Tea benefits and what makes this stuff so nice. Produced for more than 1000 years in this area of China, this tea possesses four qualities that set it above other teas: emerald green color, aromatic flavor, overall appearance, and crisp and refreshing taste. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. But it was the philosopher-poet Emperor Qianlong (1735 – 1796) of the Qing Dynasty who introduced this tea to the rest of the world. Our Dragon Well tea is fully made according to original methods: It's handpicked and manually processed by skilled tea masters. Too much of any green tea may cause anemia and gastric upset in some people. This green tea goes back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). After this initial drying process, the leaves are dry stir-fried in a wok until they are nearly brittle enough to break when touched. A rare find. A particularly nice and relatively easy trail takes you from Santai Shan Lu, just west of West Lake, up through forests dotted with the tombs of various local dignitaries. The tea from these bushes, all of which are still living and producing, is auctioned annually for a price per gram that exceeds that of gold! Dragonwell Green Tea: This is an authentic Chinese West Lake Dragonwell and considered to be one of the world's finest green teas. The literal translation is “Dragon Well”. When brewed, this tea is pale yellow-green and subtly aromatic. In his haste to leave he placed the leaves he picked in the sleeve of his robe.

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