Longjing tea
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The Queen of Chinese Teas

To talk of Chinese green teas is to talk of Longjing Tea!

This combination of nutty flavour with powerful green tea antioxidants certainly deserves the spotlight in your tea collection. Not only does Longjing give you an immune system boost but it also treats all manner of digestive disorders.

What a remarkable beverage! Let’s take the time to understand the beauty and history behind this unique tea, shall we?

Discovering Longjing Tea

Grown in the ancient area of Hangzhou, in the Zhejiang Province, for more than a thousand years, Longjing is China’s most famous tea and it is often offered to heads of state.

Imagine starting your day drinking such an exquisite tea!

Longjing tea is indeed a world full of elegance, benefits and history, starting with its name. This Chinese green tea is also known as Dragon Well, and there is more than one legend to explain this mysterious name.

One version tells us that in ancient times, people believed that a dragon lived in the village well, controlling the rainfall. They would actually visit the well and pray for rain.

Another legend says that the name Longjing is both the name of a water spring and the name of a temple, where monks planted tea trees.

Historically, Longjing tea was not given its name until the southern Song Dynasty (960 – 1279AD), a dynasty that invested in the development of tea production.

However, it was only during the Qing Dynasty (1616 – 1911AD) that Dragon Well tea was introduced to the world, due to the increasing interest of the emperor Qianlong (1735 – 1796AD).

Delighted and intrigued by this tea, this philosophic and poetic emperor often visited the Longjing tea growing area to observe the processing methods, drink a cup of tea and also sing and write poems about it.

During one of his visits, his mother became ill, forcing him to return at once and take some tea leaves. Upon his arrival, his mother was intrigued by the smell of the tea leaves and the emperor brewed them for her. She soon improved and the emperor granted Imperial status to the temple tea trees.

So, if you are looking to take part in this ancient and healthy experience, Longjing tea will take you on an extraordinary adventure. Come with us and discover the world of Longjing or Dragon Well.

Cultivation and Processing

• Longjing tea comes to life in the mountainous area of the Zhejiang Province, surrounded by a mild climate, rain and fog all year round. These conditions, and the lack of sun, allow the tea leaves to retain more theanine, thus providing your tea with a mellow and fruity taste. This method of processing tea in the shade is similar to that of Gyokuro tea and Matcha tea, both Japanese green teas.


• The best Longjing quality tea can be found in West Lake, namely in Lion Peak Mountain. There are, of course, other Longjings produced outside West Lake, within the Zhejiang Province, and even produced in other provinces.


• This tea is harvested just once a year, for six weeks, in early spring and then only young buds are plucked. Leaves are jade-green in colour. The first two weeks are considered high grade, while the remaining ones are low grades.


• Immediately after picking, the tea is withered, thus removing moisture and increasing the content of theanine.


• The tea is then roasted. This magical art is done by hand. Roasters use their bare hands to better experience the heat and understand the development of the tea leaves, which takes up to five years to master. Leaves are folded by hand into the shape of flattened sticks. As this stage of the processing takes place a wonderful warm aroma emanates from the tea leaves, instantly reminding of all the tea cups you've drunk in your entire life.





• Finally, the tea should be placed in the refrigerator, to avoid humidity, where it can remain fresh up to three years, thus letting you enjoy this marvelous experience for a long time.

Longjing Tea Varieties

Considering the different areas of production, this tea may offer you several varieties that will equally delight you and protect your health.

• Xi Hu Longjing tea flourishes near West Lake and it is the most famous and expensive variety.


• Qian Tang Longjing tea is produced outside West Lake area and it is a cheaper variety.


• Bai Longjing tea is not considered a true Longjing. Produced in An Ji, in the Zhejiang Province, it is also called Bai Pian tea and it stands out for having a higher amount of amino acids that will help you relax and remain calm.


• Mei Jia Wu Longjing tea is quite famous and expensive as well. It is produced in Mei Jian Wu village, in the Zhejiang Province.


• Shi Feng Longjing tea gains life in the mountainous area of Shi Feng, also in the Zhejiang Province.

Every variety of this amazing green tea will do wonders for your mind and body. You will feel rejuvenated, energetic, calm and you will also lose weight! So come along and discover why green tea and benefits are connected.

Longjing Tea Health Benefits

• Weight Loss Aid
  
  Do not look for a miraculous diet. We are sorry to tell you, but the truth is that there isn’t one. However, if you wish to lose body fat and still feel healthy why not drink green tea?
  
  Longjing or Dragon Well tea may be a good choice for you. It has a high concentration of green tea antioxidants, namely catechins, which combined with caffeine allow your metabolism to work faster. This combination will make you burn fat, build muscle and still feel healthy.
  
  Remember this tip: Try having a daily balanced diet, take your time to drink your tea cups during the day, especially at meals, and do some physical exercise and your metabolism will improve.


• Calming tea
  
  The great thing about tea is that despite its caffeine content, tea contains an important amino acid called L-Theanine that relaxes your mind. This combination will allow you to feel relaxed, calm and still remain alert and energetic during the day.
  
  Coffee alternative: Caffeine in tea isn’t that strong and it is released progressively, during approximately 6 to 8 hours.
  
  So rather than feeling the need to replenish your caffeine levels every couple of hours, something that will harm your heart, you will feel focused, alert and calm at the same time, for longer periods. Allow yourself to enjoy a pure moment of calmness every day.


• Lower Cancer Risk
  
  Again, EGCG green tea antioxidants are a powerful ally to fight cancer, particularly through preventive action. Drinking this tea will allow its antioxidants to boost up your metabolism making it stronger to block the growth of the enzyme, urokinase, necessary to the development of tumors.
  
  Protect yourself, protect your loved ones. Drink a cup of tea. Share it with your friends and family, while hosting a tea party! Have fun and take care of yourself at the same time.


• Healthier Smile
  
  Don't fight the urge to smile! Help is on the way to make horrible dental plaque disappear. As we mention above, tea has countless benefits and green tea properties are just what you need to smile again.
  
  These green tea leaves contain fluoride and minerals that will help you fight dental plaque, tooth decay and bad breath! So why not start right now? After meals, try rising with it and feel its freshness working. You will be smiling immediately!


• Protect your Heart
  
  If you are having trouble with your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, drinking tea should be the right choice for you. Longjing tea antioxidants may help you prevent cardiovascular diseases and lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. It is a fantastic way to stay healthy and enjoy pure moments of happiness.

Green tea is a world for itself, so continue your adventure and find out everything it has to offer you as well as its possible side effects at our page green tea health benefits.

Taste a green tea fit for an emperor!

or check out our dragon well selection at amazon.co.uk

Drinking Longjing Tea

To truly savour this experience you should prepare your tea correctly, so let’s learn how to brew Longjing tea together.

• Start by selecting your water. Spring water will be the right choice for you, as it will avoid possible impurities.


• Let’s move on to the water temperature, a very important step. The ideal temperature should be between 140ºF and 190ºF (60ºC / 70º C). The higher the quality of your tea, the cooler the water and the shorter the brewing time. This avoids cooking the leaves and ruining the flavour of your Longjing.


• Next, place one teaspoon of Longjing tea leaves per cup of water inside your teapot and let it brew of 1-2 minutes.


• Drink it immediately and delight yourself with its chestnut-like flavour and limpid, pale yellow colour. Do not add sweeteners and enjoy the pure pleasure that is Longjing or Dragon Well tea.

This green tea is great to drink with your meals, particularly with steamed dishes. So put away sodas and other sugary drinks and choose this tea for a better and healthier digestion.

Embrace a healthier life and true moments of pleasure with Longjing tea!

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”In the Taste of a single cup of tea you will eventually discover the truth of all the ten thousand forms in the universe.”
- Attributed to Kyongbong Sunim, Ch'an (Zen) Master