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Once reserved as an imperial tribute, this renowned green tea unveils a delicate cup that glides across the palate, its subtle savoury depth lingering like a whispered secret.
Name
English Name
Xi Hu Long Jing
Type of Tea
Harvest Date
Pre-Rain (雨前茶) (April 5 – April 20)
Origin
Shelf Life
12 months
Caffeine Level
Good
so soothing
very fragrant reminded me of english breakfast tea
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With over 1,200 years of heritage, Xi Hu Long Jing tea stands as a gem in China’s rich tapestry of cultural heritage. Revered for its exquisite taste and meticulously nurtured leaves, this green tea embodies centuries of tradition and craftsmanship. Delicate and nuanced, this tea dances on the palate, with a subtle, savoury depth that lingers like a whispered secret.
A Dragon in the West Lake
The name itself is a map and a myth. Xi Hu (西湖) means "West Lake," the breathtakingly beautiful lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, around which this tea is born. Long Jing (龙井) translates to "Dragon Well." Legend tells of a benevolent dragon who lived in a well near the village of Longjing. The dragon controlled the rains, ensuring the land was always fertile. During droughts, the villagers would pray at the well, and the dragon would answer, bringing life-giving rain. The tea, nurtured by these rains and the unique misty microclimate of the West Lake hills, was named in the dragon's honor. To drink Long Jing is to taste the water of the Dragon Well.
The Origin: An Emperor's Seal of Approval
The history of Long Jing tea stretches back over a thousand years, but its legendary status was cemented during the Qing Dynasty by the Qianlong Emperor. The story goes that the emperor, a great connoisseur of art and tea, was traveling incognito in the hills around West Lake. He stopped at a tea farmer's house and was so captivated by the flat, jade-green leaves that he stayed to learn the art of pan-firing.
Suddenly, a messenger arrived with urgent news from the capital. In his haste to leave, the emperor stuffed the tea leaves he was drying into his sleeve. When he finally reached the palace and met his ailing mother, she complained of feeling unwell. Remembering the leaves, he brewed a cup for her. The empress dowager was enchanted by the delicate aroma that filled the room—a scent that had been intensified by the warmth of the emperor's sleeve. After drinking it, she felt revitalized.
The Qianlong Emperor was so impressed that he conferred upon the eighteen tea bushes outside the Hugong Temple at West Lake the status of "Imperial Tea." These original bushes still exist today, and the tea produced from them is among the most precious and expensive in the world.
The Artisan's Touch: The Look of the Leaves
What makes Long Jing visually unique is its flat, sword-shaped appearance. This is not natural; it is created by the masterful pan-firing technique. After a brief withering, the leaves are tossed, pressed, and smoothed by hand in a hot wok. This process, called "kill-green," halts oxidation, preserving the green color, while the pressure from the artisan's hands flattens the leaves.
A high-grade Long Jing leaf is not dusty or broken. It is a whole, smooth, pale jade-green spear. When you pour hot water over them, they come alive, dancing in the cup and slowly unfurling to release their story.
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