Hangzhou Longjing Tea
Longjing tea or Dragon Well tea is a famous variety of green tea from Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, where it is produced mostly by hand and has been renowned worldwide. The tea is grown in the Longjing (dragon well) mountain area of Hangzhou, southwest of the West Lake, hence it is also commonly known as the West Lake Dragon Well or Xihu Longjing tea. In China, Longji tea is extolled as the "Queen of Green Tea" mostly for its "four wonders" - emerald green color, aromatic flavor, sweet taste and beautiful appearance.
Longjing tea leaves have a pleasing shape: fresh green and flat leaves in even size. When steeped, the tea produces a yellow-green color, a gentle, pure aroma with a hint of fruit and nut combined, and a rich flavor. The aftertaste is almost instantaneous, filling your mouth with a sweetness reminiscence of grape fruit. Dragon Well tea is among the very best of Chinese green tea. It is divided into seven grades: Superior, Special, and then 1 down to 5.
Major Tea Plantations Of Xihu Longjing
In Hangzhou, most of the Longjing tea plantations distribute around Longjing (dragon well) mountain area including the West Lake, Yunxi Mountain, Hupao, Shifeng Peak, Longjing Village, and Meijiawu Village, where the fertile land is both rich in phosphorus and sub-acidic sand. It is considered as the best place for growing Longjing tea.
Varieties of Longjing Tea
* Xi Hu Longjing tea
Also known as West Lake Longjing. It is in fact the most famous and expensive one and is grown in the Zhejiang Province near Xi Hu Lake.
* Qian Tang Longjing
This tea comes from just outside the Xi Hu Longjing designated area, in Qian Tang. It is generally not as expensive as Xi Hu Longjing.
* Bird's Tongue Longjing
First growth picked on March 21 yields; a more intense aroma and taste of sweetness than the better known Ming Qian Longjing. Supply solely depends on yearly climate; therefore it can be expensive.
* Pre-Qingming Longjing
The tea picked before Qingming Festival on the 5th of April each year (approximately) is called Pre-Qingming Longjing. The production cycle is very short, ly ten days before Qingming every year. In the 10-day span when Ming Qian Longjing is produced, the sprouts at the tip of the stalks are only hand-picked by experienced workers, and then specially processed; as a result, Pre-Qingming Longjing is more expensive than "standard" Longjing tea.
* Shi Feng Longjing
A type of Xi Hu Longjing. This tea is considered the highest quality in China. Fresh tasting, its fragrance is sharp and long lasting. Its leaves are yellowish green in color.
Meijiawu Tea Village, Hangzhou Travel Photos* Mei Jia Wu Longjing
A type of Xi Hu Longjing. This tea is renowned for its attractive jade green color. Early teas can fetch up to 6000 yuan per kilogram (2005 data) direct from the growers.
* Bai Longjing
Not a true Longjing but looks like one and is commonly attributed, it is actually a Bai Pian. It comes from Anji in the Zhejiang Province. It is a Green tea from a race of White tea trees and is hence very unusual; it is said to contain more amino acids than ordinary Green tea.
Health Benefits Of Longjing Tea
The Dragon Well Tea contains Vitamin C, amino acids, and has one of the highest concentration of catechins among teas, second only to white teas. Because of its nutritional value and extraordinary effect on people's health, it is favored by both the domestic and foreign markets. It was a favorite tea of many ancient emperors of China, and now it is often offered to heads of state.
Longjing tea aids one's health in many ways regardless of your age. It is used to deter food poisoning, refresh the body, stop cavities, fight viruses, control high blood pressure, lower the blood sugar level, and to prevent cancer. Therefore, Longjing tea is regarded as the elixir for health and is widely sold and accepted all over the world.
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