West Lake LongJing Tea Introduction

Surrounded by various legends, West Lake LongJing (also known as Dragon Well tea) is one of the more expensive green teas, and is known for its great quality and light taste. It is often faked and then - sold as authentic. However, genuine Dragon Well tea can only come from the West Lake plantations in Zhejiang. Tea connoisseurs are very familiar with this luxurious, high-end green tea because it is praised for its excellence. If you want to go one step further with your exploration of green teas, LongJing is certainly the one you should not miss. This fine green tea is renowned for its superior taste, as well as its fascinating history, legends, and production process. It is no wonder that LongJing is considered to be the most famous green tea that comes out of China.

Its mellow taste is very floral and sweet and you will certainly notice the difference between LongJing and other green tea varieties. Its exquisite flavor is very delicate and does not overwhelm you like some other teas. Dragon Well tea is also famous for its yellowish green color and distinct nutty aroma. It is a perfect beverage to drink in the morning and throughout the day. It contains caffeine so you will definitely get some energy from consuming it. That makes it a great coffee alternative. An interesting feature of this green tea is that you can actually eat the tea leaves after they have been brewed which adds another layer in the LongJing experience.

Tea Details

Taste and Smell Profile

• Flavor: Very gentle and sweet
• Color: Yellowish green
• Smell: Nutty and mellow

West Lake LongJing Tea Profile

• Before Brewing: Slim with a unique, flat shape
• After Brewing: Soft with a subtle aroma, tea leaves can be eaten after brewing

About AiryTea West Lake LongJing Tea Package

• Tea Type: West Lake LongJing Tea
• Weight: 70g
• Shelf Life: 18 months

• Tea Storage Recommendation: Store it in a cool and dry place away from sunlight.

The History and Legends of LongJing Tea

The first mentions of this exquisite green tea go as far back as the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD) that had a great impact on tea production in China. But it was not until the Qing Dynasty (1616 – 1911 AD) that Long Jing was exported and was available for purchase in other parts of the world. The second name of this green tea, Dragon Well, comes from an interesting Chinese legend. An actual well of spring water exists near the West lake area, but the legend tells us that there is a dragon living inside the well. It is said that there are underground tunnels through which the dragon can reach the sea. There was a drought and the farmers begged the dragon for rain that would fill up the well.

The dragon granted their wishes and the meadows were once again fertile. Another story goes that the emperor named Qianlong traveled to Hangzhou and the West Lake area. He witnessed some lady farmers picking green tea leaves and was so fascinated by it that he decided to try it himself. In the process of picking the leaves, he found out that his mother was severely sick. He stuffed his sleeve with some leaves that he picked and immediately left to visit his ill mother. She was captivated by the smell of the leaves and wanted to taste them. After she had tasted the LongJing tea, she was instantly feeling better and her sickness went away. Since then, LongJing is the preferred tea for emperors.

How is West Lake LongJing Tea Made?

The whole process of tea making, from picking to packaging, influences the tea flavor, aroma, appearance, and quality. The reason why Long Jing tea is considered to be so luxurious and high in quality is exactly because of the specific stages of production. Knowing how this green tea is made will also help you distinguish the flavor from a genuine West Lake LongJing and a fake one. The Zhejiang Province is simply perfect for growing tea because of the mountainous areas and mild climate. The rain falls throughout the year and there is no sun which results in a very mild and fruity green tea. Although Long Jing is produced all over the Zhenjiang Province, the highest quality one comes from the mountains of West Lake.

Only young buds are selected in early spring before the famous Qingming Festival. Any leaves picked after the festival are considered to be very low in quality. Iron pans are used to essentially bake the tea, which gets rid of any water. The buds are then shaped into sticks by rolling and this extracts even more flavor from the leaves. Before packaging, the leaves are dried one more time. You can recognize this green tea by its unique flat shape of the leaves. All of this criteria needs to be meet in order for it to be real traditional West Lake Long Jing tea.

Health Benefits of West Lake LongJing Tea

When purchasing LongJing tea, make sure that it is genuine and that it comes from West Lake. Also check that it is completely organic because that’s the only way to get all the amazing benefits this green tea offers. Dragon Well is known for its aid in weight loss. Because it contains many antioxidants, it can speed up your metabolism which results in fat burning and muscle building. It will also make you feel less hungry so you will be able to lower your calorie intake. For best results, drink a cup of Long Jing after each meal and exercise regularly. Another amazing thing about West Lake green tea is that it contains amino acids that relax you. It does contain caffeine so you will feel more energy and alertness, but it won’t overstimulate you. Other health benefits include cancer prevention, immune system strengthening, protection against cardiovascular disease, lowering cholesterol, better blood flow, and oral health. LongJing is an overall amazing beverage that will certainly captivate you and become a part of your everyday diet.

For more, please check our post green tea health benefits.

How To Brew Green Tea?

For the best tasting green tea, we recommend you use 2 grams of tea leaves per 6 ounces of water. If you like stronger tea, feel free to add more.

- The optimum water temperature for green tea is 160 - 170* F (70 - 80* Celsius).

- Please note that green tea leaves expand and release their flavors, so a bigger cup or strainer is recommended. Please avoid strainers and cups made of plastic materials.

- After you have boiled water and added tea leaves, let it sit in the cup / kettle for 60 seconds, then taste every 30 seconds until you find your favorite taste combination.

Green Tea Shipping Times

We are proud to offer two great shipping methods that will suit everyone’s needs.

Flat Rate Shipping

- Great for people who are not in a hurry and want to save on even more for green tea. This method will take around 10 to 30 days to arrive.

Express Shipping

- For everyone who wants to try our green tea as soon as possible, pick this method and get your tea in just 1 to 5 business days.

Please note: this excludes handling time, which is usually less than 24 hours. However, if there are certain situations beyond our control (such as the post office being closed) it may take up to 72 hours for your package to be shipped.

Return Policy

If you have changed your mind regarding the tea, you can return the unopened package to us and we will be more than happy to give you a refund. Please contact us (with your order number) to proceed with the request.