Long Jing Dragonwell Green Tea

Famous for its high level of anti-oxidants, we bring you this green tea from Hangzhou, the 'tea capital' of China. Soft and fresh flavoured, this Long Jing green tea is excellent for everyday drinking as you instantly fall in love with its distinguished flavours.

Long Jing tea leaves are unfermented and pan fired to stop fermentation. When steeped, the tea produces a yellow-green colour, a gentle, pure aroma, and a rich flavour. The tea contains Vitamin C, amino acids, and the highest concentration of catechins among teas. The name of this tea literally means 'dragon well', a well that contains relatively dense water, and after rain the lighter rainwater floating on its surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous and twisting boundary with the well water, which is supposed to resemble the movement of a traditional Chinese dragon.

However, a myth does surround the name of Dragon Well. The myth states that a great drought took place in the mountainous area of China’s Lion Peak in Hangzhou in 250A.D. The drought was causing the tea crop to fail for that year so there was no rain and all hope seemed lost. A monk desperate for a cup of tea travelled across a mountain risking his life to beg the dragon that lived there to help. The monk pleaded with the dragon for the rain that would save the tea crop. Thankfully the dragon agreed to help and granted the monk’s wish by bringing many rain clouds. The clouds opened and the tea crop was saved by the glorious rainfall. After the rainfall a spring was formed that has never dried up. This spring is where Dragon Well gets its name from.

Long Jing was given Imperial Tea Status during the Qing Dynasty by Chinese Emperor Kangxi. This happened when his grandson Qianglong visited Shi Feng Shan. He travelled to the Lion Peak Mountain where he visited the Hu Gong Temple and was presented with a cup of Long Jing tea. After tasting the tea he was so impressed that he rewarded the 18 tea bushes the tea had come from with special imperial status. The trees still exist and the tea produced from them is sold annually gram for gram more than gold.

There are a few variations on the story surrounding how Long jing gained its flat shape. The one I have most commonly come across follows Emperor Qianglong (third emperor of the Qing Dynasty). He traveled to Shi Feng Mountain and after watching others pick the tea he decided to pick some himself. While picking the tea he received news that his mother was ill and that he must return to Beijing immediately. In his haste he placed the newly picked leaves in his sleeve. Upon retuning to his mothers bedside she smelled the leaves and enjoyed the taste of the brewed tea so much the tea was given Imperial Status. Long Jing tea leaves are now made to mimic the flattened leaves Qianglong found in his sleeve.

Brewing Guide

3-4g in an average sized teapot, use boiled water cooled to 75˚C. Infuse for 2-4 minutes, depending on taste. Re-steep up to 3 times.

Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight