Longjing tea (simplified Chinese: 龙井茶; traditional Chinese: 龍井茶; pinyin: lóngjǐng chá; Cantonese Yale: lung4 jeng2 cha4; Standard Mandarin pronunciation: [lʊ̌ŋ.tɕìŋ.ʈʂʰǎ]), sometimes known in English as Dragon Well tea, is a pan-roasted green tea.
It is traditionally produced in the area surrounding Longjing Village near West Lake in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, and is widely regarded as one of China's Famous Teas.
Longjing tea is known for its flat hand-shaped leaves, yellow-green infusion, and flavor, which is often described as sweet, fresh, vegetal, or chestnut-like. The tea is shaped by hand during pan-firing, which halts oxidation.
The name "Longjing", meaning "Dragon Well", derives from a historic well near Longjing village. Tea grown within the traditional production area around West Lake is protected under geographical designation systems in China and the European Union. Premium grades are harvested in early spring before the Qingming Festival in early April, particularly the "Pre-Qingming" or Mingqian teas.
Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or imperial tea, during the Qing dynasty. According to legend, the Qianlong Emperor granted imperial status to eighteen tea bushes near West Lake after visiting the region in the eighteenth century. Tea produced from those bushes remains highly prized.
Due to its commercial value and reputation, Longjing tea is frequently imitated. Tea sold as Longjing is often produced outside the traditional growing region, including in other parts of Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.
Description and classification
Longjing tea is a variety of pan-roasted green tea from the area of Longjing Village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It is considered one of China's Famous Teas.
There are several definitions of Longjing tea. A common definition states that authentic Longjing must originate in Zhejiang, while stricter definitions limit the designation to tea produced in the villages and plantations surrounding West Lake in Hangzhou. It may also refer more broadly to tea grown within Xihu District in Hangzhou.
Areas
thumb|Meijiawu Village, longjing tea field at Dragon Well Tea Plantation
There are five peaks within Xihu (West Lake). Ranked by desirability, they are Lion, Dragon, Cloud, Tiger, and Plum Flower.
Shi Feng Longjing: A type of Xihu Longjing from the Shi Feng (Lion Peak) production region. Fresh tasting, its fragrance is sharp and long-lasting. Its leaves are yellowish-green in color. Some unscrupulous tea makers excessively pan-fire their tea to imitate its color.
Cloud Peak is a government testing ground, and the tea from there is not usually for sale on the open market.
Tiger Spring Longjing: It is named after the best water source in the Tiyun Mountains. This type of Xihu Longjing tastes wonderful even after repeated infusions.
Meijiawu Longjing: A type of Xihu Longjing from the area around Mejiawu village. This tea is renowned for its jade green color.
Bai Longjing: Not a true Longjing, but looks like one and is commonly attributed to it; it is actually a Bai Pian. It comes from Anji in the Zhejiang Province. It was created in the early 80's and is a Green tea from a race of White tea trees and is hence very unusual; it is said to contain more amino acids than ordinary Green tea.
Qiantang Longjing: This tea comes from just outside the Xihu district. It is generally less expensive than Xihu Longjing.
Flavor and quality characteristics
Longjing tea contains vitamin C, amino acids, and high concentrations of catechins, as is common in many Chinese green teas.
West Lake Longjing tea, produced in the West Lake area of Hangzhou, is associated with relatively high amino acid levels and lower tea polyphenol levels, characteristics linked to local growing conditions. These qualities contribute to its fresh taste and nutritional value.
Longjing tea is divided into six grades: Superior and then grades 1 through 5.
Authentic Longjing tea is generally described as sweet, mellow, and rounded. Some varieties are described as vegetal or grassy, while others have notes of roasted chestnut and butter.
Environmental requirements for growth
Water
thumb|232x232px|Longjing tea plantationThe overall water content of tea plants is 55%–60%, but that of new shoots can reach 70%–80%. In the tea-picking process, the continuous regrowth of new shoots requires a constant supply of water. Therefore, Longjing tea trees need more water than ordinary trees. It is suggested that the growth and development of tea trees were most suitable when the annual precipitation was 2000–3000 mm, the average monthly precipitation in the tea season was 200–300 mm, the atmospheric relative humidity was 80%–90%, and the soil field water holding capacity was 70%–80%.
Temperature
The annual average temperature suitable for tea trees is above 13 °C, and the monthly average temperature in the growing season of tea trees is no lower than 15 °C. The most suitable temperature range for the growth of Longjing tea is between 10 °C and 20 °C. The growth of new shoots first accelerates with increasing air temperature, but when the air temperature reaches above 35 °C, the growth of tea trees will be inhibited.
Regional climate and terroir
In Hangzhou, the solar radiation is weak, the rainfall is more, and the temperature is lower. Especially areas around the West Lake in Hangzhou are known for a mild, temperate, and often rainy climate, creating the perfect terroir to maximize flavor. West Lake Longjing Tea is grown in the area around West Lake, near the Qiantang River, where high humidity and relatively low solar radiation create ideal conditions for growing Longjing tea.
Production process
thumb|292x292px|Freshly-picked tea leaves laid out to dry
Like most other Chinese green tea, Longjing tea leaves are roasted early in processing (after picking) to stop the natural oxidation process, which is a part of creating black and oolong teas. The actions of these enzymes are stopped by "firing" (heating in pans) or by steaming the leaves before they dry out completely. As with other green teas (and white teas), Longjing tea leaves undergo minimal oxidation. When steeped, the tea produces a yellow-green color.
Pick Times
West Lake Longjing tea picking has three characteristics: early, tender, and diligent.
In the picking season (the best picking period of West Lake Longjing tea is from late March to April, and the climate before and after the picking period has a vital impact on the quality of tea, including nutrition, tea polyphenols and amino acid content), the local temperature is basically between 10 °C and 20 °C, which makes the tea buds of West Lake Longjing tea picked at this time smaller and higher in quality.
Pre-Qingming Longjing
The premium early season first-picking known as Ming Qian or Pre-Qingming (or Before Ching Ming) Longjing tea requires it to be produced from the first spring shoots before the Qingming Festival on the 5th of April each year (approximately). According to the Chinese farming calendar, which is a national holiday between April 1 and 4, it rains. After the rain, the temperature heats up, causing the tea plant to grow faster. When the tea bud becomes too big, it begins to lose complexity in the brewed flavor; the pre-qingming tea is considered best.
Guyu (Grain Rain)
The tea picked before the arrival of Grain Rain in mid-April is also quite good, which is called Yuqian Tea.
Drying after picking
thumb|Tea drying on bamboo screens|left|300x300pxLongjing tea needs about half a day for drying on a bamboo sieve after picking and spread to a thickness of about 2 cm (0.8 in). It always start with grasping and shaking. After losing a certain amount of water from the tea leaves, people should gradually switch to pressing, shaking, and throwing for preliminary molding. The pressure is changed from light to heavy, achieving the purpose of straightening into strips and flattening molding. When the tea leaves are parched to 70%-80%, stop frying immediately. The whole process lasts for 12–15 minutes. the Kangxi Emperor's grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, visited West Lake during one of his famous holidays.
He went to the Hu Gong Temple under the Lion Peak Mountain (Shi Feng Shan) and was presented with a cup of Longjing tea. In front of the Hu Gong Temple were 18 tea bushes. The Qianlong Emperor was so impressed by the Longjing tea produced here that he conferred special imperial status on these 18 tea bushes. The trees are still living, and the tea they produce is auctioned annually for a higher price per gram than gold. There is another legend connecting the Qianlong Emperor to Longjing tea. It is said that while visiting the temple, he was watching the ladies picking the tea. He was so enamored with their movements that he decided to try it himself. While picking tea, he received a message that his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing, was ill and wished his immediate return to Beijing. He shoved the leaves he had picked into his sleeve and immediately left for Beijing. Upon his return, he immediately visited his mother. She noticed the scent of leaves on his sleeves, and he immediately had it brewed for her. It is said that the shape of Longjing Tea was designed to mimic the flattened leaves the emperor brewed for his mother.
Longjing, which literally translates as "dragon well", is said to have been named after a well that contains relatively dense water. After rain, the lighter rainwater floating on the surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous, twisting boundary with the well water, which is said to resemble the movement of a Chinese dragon.
Legend also has it that to achieve the best taste from Longjing, water from the Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, a famous spring in Hangzhou, is to be used. The water quality of the spring now is certainly very different from before. The tea takes its name from the eponymous "Dragon Well" located near Longjing village.
Authentic Longjing
Commercial production and adulteration
A large majority of Longjing tea on the market however is actually not from Hangzhou. Many of these inauthentic longjing teas are produced in provinces such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Guangdong. However, credible sellers may sometimes provide anti-fake labels or openly state that the tea is not from Zhejiang. Some tea makers take fresh tea leaves produced in the Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces and process them using Longjing tea techniques, while some merchants mix a small amount of high-grade tea with low-grade tea and sell it as expensive high-grade tea.
Protection
龍井茶 / 龙井茶 / Longjing cha is protected in the European Union and the UK as a Protected Designation of Origin since 1998.
Protected designation and regulation
Authentication of Longjing tea is shaped by government rules and by features linked with tea from the traditional growing area. Chinese authorities designate protected zones in Hangzhou, and only tea grown within the 168-square-kilometer region may be labeled "West Lake Longjing." This rule is a main factor in separating authentic Longjing from tea produced outside the area.
Certification and labeling
To manage certified production and confirm origin, the government created official labels, including the "single-farmer tea" label and the "double-label management system". These labels connect tea to approved growers and limit what can enter the market under the Longjing name.