green teas
Organic Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green Tea
Perhaps our favorite green tea and one of China's 10 Most Famous green teas. The name "Dragonwell" refers to both a type of production method for firing the green tea leaves and the location of a specific natural spring (pictured above) whose quality of water was thought to particularly enhance the flavor of the green tea.
Also known as "Long Jing", this tea was originally only produced in the hillsides around the town of Hangzhou, home of the infamous West Lake. Due to its success, Dragon Well tea is now processed at tea gardens in many other provinces in China and it has become one of the most copied teas in the country.
The harvested tea leaves are expertly processed by hand in a heated wok with slow precise movements of the bowl for 15-20 minutes. This processing gives the tea leaves their distinctive flat spear shape and their verdant green color. Dragon Well tea has a wonderfully balanced herbaceous flavor that at times sneaks in a slightly sweet note, at other times a bit nutty. The leaves unfurl when brewing and it is not uncommon to get 3-4 infusions from one spoonful of loose tea.
How to Prepare Dragon Well Green Tea
Heat water to 170˚F and add one full teaspoon loose leaf tea per cup (apprx. 8 ounces). Infuse the tea leaves for 1–2 minutes depending on taste preference. May be infused a second and third time.
INGREDIENTS: Organic green tea. Origin: Zhejiang Province, China.
A NOTE ABOUT THE SOURCING OF OUR DRAGON WELL TEA: As mentioned above, Dragon Well tea is now produced in many tea growing regions of China (and attempted in other tea gardens outside of China). While similar tea varietal plants grown in similar conditions may produce a comparable Dragon Well tea, we believe the unique characteristics of an area where a specific type of tea has been grown for centuries does bring a special quality to the tea.
Our Dragon Well tea is from the original tea growing area outside of the West Lake region of Hangzhou. Sadly, with the rapid growth of both Hangzhou (3.9 million people) and Shanghai 112 miles to the east (20 million people) and their increasing job opportunities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the skilled labor force for the seasonal harvest and processing of the tea in the West Lake growing region. We may be the last generation that has the opportunity to enjoy this tea, so initimately connected to the Long Jing tea growers and the original "dragon well" spring.
Traditionally, there are seven grades of Dragon Well, our tea is a mid-range grade from one of the few certified organic tea gardens in the area (the first and second grades almost never leave the country, partly due to their very limited harvest but also due to their high cost). We've tried to bring our customers the best quality, organic Dragon Well tea at a reasonable price while still maintaining the connection to the unique history of this special tea.
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