Longjing (龍井)

tea imagery: Hare in a spring field

Longjing, or Dragon Well, is a green tea from Zhejiang with flat leaves and a combination of fresh vegetal and nutty notes. Xihu Longjing identifies tea from a defined area around West Lake in Hangzhou. Longjing is also produced in the Qiantang and Yuezhou regions.

History

The name comes from the Longjing area of Hangzhou, and the tea’s reputation grew during the Qing dynasty. Heating stops active oxidation, while working the leaves against a hot surface creates their flat shape. Production can combine handwork with machinery. Tea plants include the early-sprouting Longjing 43 cultivar and local seed-grown populations known as quntizhong. Mingqian means picked before Qingming; it is a harvest term, not the highest taste rating. The start of picking depends on the plants and weather.

Longjing means Dragon Well. Our illustration of a hare evokes a spring garden. The tea’s flat leaves take their shape during processing; to learn where they were grown, check the batch’s origin.

Terroir

Zhejiang: Xihu, Qiantang and Yuezhou regions. Ask about the particular garden. Varies across the West Lake, Qiantang and Yuezhou growing areas. Humid climate with seasonal variation; weather affects the timing of spring growth. Ask for the region, cultivar and harvest year. For Xihu Longjing, request origin details and verifiable batch labelling.

Leaf

dry leaf: Flat, relatively smooth green to yellow-green leaves; size and uniformity vary with the picking.

aroma in a warmed vessel: A warmed cup can reveal nutty or chestnut-like notes.

aroma after brewing: Brewing often brings out fresh vegetal and bean-like notes.

taste: Chestnut, young green beans, light sweetness and gentle astringency are possible. The balance depends on the batch and brewing.

finish: Notice whether a pleasant sweetness lingers. Strong dryness is a reason to reduce steeping time or the amount of leaf.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: “Cooling” is a traditional description of green tea, not a measurable effect on an organ.

What to know: Contains caffeine and tea polyphenols. The name cannot specify the composition of your cup or establish a special effect on metabolism.

Over a cup of tea: For a gentle start to the day, brew a light cup and notice how its fresh green notes give way to a nutty finish.

Caffeine: The particular infusion would need testing. Young leaves and a delicate taste do not mean low caffeine.

How to brew

A 200 ml teapot or brewing mug that lets you separate the liquor from the leaves. 3 g per 200 ml, starting at 85 °C; adjust temperature and time to taste. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

When to drink

Morning or daytime, allowing for your sensitivity to caffeine. Year-round; a fresh spring harvest offers a chance to compare batches. To explore green teas with nutty notes. Rice, steamed vegetables or mildly seasoned fish; taste the tea on its own first. At breakfast or during a short break

What to notice

Compare the dry leaves with the brewed leaves.
Look for vegetal and nutty notes separately.
Change only the steeping time for the next cup so the difference is easier to judge.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Longjing?

A 200 ml teapot or brewing mug that lets you separate the liquor from the leaves. 3 g per 200 ml, starting at 85 °C; adjust temperature and time to taste. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

What does Longjing taste like?

Chestnut, young green beans, light sweetness and gentle astringency are possible. The balance depends on the batch and brewing.

How much caffeine is in Longjing?

The particular infusion would need testing. Young leaves and a delicate taste do not mean low caffeine.

What else should I know about Longjing?

Contains caffeine and tea polyphenols. The name cannot specify the composition of your cup or establish a special effect on metabolism.