Long Jing - The Aroma of Fresh Rain and Springtime
Long Jing, or "Dragon Well" tea, is China’s most celebrated green tea, hailing from the picturesque West Lake region near Hangzhou. With a history as rich as its flavor, Long Jing is revered for its distinctive flat, sword-shaped leaves and its delicate balance of freshness, sweetness, and toasty warmth. It’s a tea that carries the mystique of ancient legends, where dragons swirl in misty waters, and emperors choose it as their favorite. Drinking Long Jing is like sipping springtime in a cup, a refreshing experience that awakens the senses and soothes the soul.
The Aroma of Fresh Rain and Springtime
Before you even bring the cup to your lips, the soft aroma of Long Jing welcomes you with the essence of a spring breeze. Imagine walking through a tea garden just after a light rain—there’s a fresh, green scent in the air, a combination of newly sprouted leaves, fresh-cut grass, and the faint sweetness of orchids and jasmine. The fragrance is as delicate as it is inviting, promising a sip that will be both uplifting and soothing.
A Sip of Balance: Sweet, Nutty, and Refreshing
The first sip of Long Jing is like tasting the first days of spring. Its flavor is light and clean, with a sweet, chestnutty warmth that caresses your palate. There’s a refreshing grassy brightness up front, reminiscent of freshly steamed vegetables like asparagus or snap peas, which quickly gives way to a smooth, lingering sweetness.
As you continue to sip, the tea’s complex layers begin to reveal themselves. Beneath the fresh green notes lies a subtle nuttiness, like lightly toasted almonds or hazelnuts, with a soft, buttery finish that glides smoothly over the tongue. The tea’s sweetness is gentle, like a drop of honey dissolving in your mouth, balanced perfectly by a whisper of minerality that hints at the rocky hillsides where the tea is grown.
Long Jing’s smooth, umami-rich depth makes it more than just a green tea—it’s a tea with character and grace, balancing freshness with warmth in every sip. The aftertaste is long and pleasant, leaving behind a faint hint of orchid and toasted grains, as if the tea wants to remind you of its quiet complexity long after you’ve finished drinking.
A Legendary Origin
Long Jing is steeped in legends and stories as rich as its flavor. According to one of the most famous tales, the tea gets its name from a dragon-shaped well near Hangzhou’s West Lake. It’s said that a dragon once lived in the well, protecting the villagers by controlling the local weather, ensuring bountiful harvests and prosperity. The well’s water, believed to have magical properties, was said to imbue the tea leaves with their distinctively fresh and sweet character.
Another legend tells of an emperor from the Qing Dynasty, who, upon tasting Long Jing for the first time, declared it to be the finest tea in the land. So impressed was he by the tea’s taste that he elevated it to imperial status, making Long Jing the official tribute tea to the emperor.
The Art of Cultivation: Nature and Craftsmanship
The beauty of Long Jing is not just in its taste but in its craftsmanship. The tea leaves are handpicked in the early days of spring, often before the Qingming Festival, when the young buds are at their most tender and flavorful. These fresh, delicate leaves are then carefully pan-fired by tea masters, using a centuries-old technique that defines Long Jing’s signature flavor.
As the tea is slowly roasted in large iron woks, the leaves are pressed and shaped into their characteristic flat, sword-like form. This traditional process gives the tea its unique nutty, toasty notes while preserving its fresh, green essence. The result is a tea that is both light and refreshing, yet rich in depth and complexity.
A Golden Green Hue
When brewed, Long Jing transforms into a shimmering, golden-green liquor, like the reflection of sunlight on a springtime pond. The color is a visual reminder of the tea’s freshness and purity, inviting you to take another sip and dive deeper into its crisp, vegetal sweetness.
A Tea for All Moments
Long Jing is the perfect tea for those moments when you want to pause, breathe, and take in the beauty of life. Its light, refreshing character makes it an ideal tea for morning or afternoon, a calming ritual to center your day. It’s a tea for quiet contemplation or sharing with friends, a drink that encourages mindfulness and appreciation for the simple joys in life.
Whether you’re sipping it at the start of your day or enjoying a peaceful cup in the afternoon, Long Jing offers a sensory experience that’s both invigorating and grounding. Its gentle, uplifting energy soothes the mind while awakening the senses, making it the perfect companion for reflection, creativity, or simply unwinding.
A Cup of Harmony
Long Jing is more than just a green tea—it’s a cup of balance, harmony, and tranquility. Its delicate sweetness, toasty warmth, and fresh green vibrancy come together to create a drinking experience that’s as calming as it is refreshing. Every sip is like a quiet celebration of spring, a reminder of nature’s beauty and the artistry of tea.
In Long Jing, you’ll find a tea that is both humble and majestic, a drink that invites you to savor every moment and appreciate the subtleties of life’s flavors.