Xuan Tea - Shop at Xuan Tea for the finest teas, green teas, white teas, black teas, oolong, pu'er and flower teas.

Tea Store

Tea Wisdom

Satisfaction Guarantee

Tea Store

Green Tea

West Lake Dragonwell

West Lake Dragonwell

zoom

Price: $ 19.99

My Rating:

Rate this Login

Quantity:

10 grams
Price: $ 2.49


Other Names:	Dragon Well Green Tea, Dragonwell, Dragon Tea, Lung Cheung, Longjing, West Lake Longjing
Flavor:	Clean and clear with a slippery liquid and subtle sweetness, strong chestnut aroma.
Growing Region:	West Lake, Hangzhou
Harvesting Period:	March. 2011
Health Benefits:	Weight loss, mental focus
Basic Brewing:	Slightly cooler water, around 180 degrees. Best in a gaiwan or tall glass. If using a tall glass, refills are usually done with 1/3 of the water remaining, otherwise the water at the bottom may be slightly bitter.

Xuan's high grade dragon well green tea - sometimes referred to as dragon tea or simply dragonwell

- is from Longwu Town, Hangzhou. Longwu Town is located in West Lake District, and is one of the few regions allowed to call it's tea "West Lake Longjing."

Many people are very surprised when they first try a high grade dragon well green tea. Many of the lower grades may have a very strange acerbic or vegetal taste, but the high grades have a very light flavor. As one Chinese poet proclaimed, it's like the leaves aren't even there. Why, then, is the tea so famous? Aside from being one of the healthiest green teas in the world, Dragonwell is associated with a feeling of clarity, a purity and peace of mind.

Dragonwell also has a special place in Chinese history. It was first recorded in the Tea Classic by one of the saints of tea, Lu Yu. Later, under the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Dragonwell's most classic story was told.

The Emperor was a frequent visitor of Hangzhou, going six times in all. On four of these occasions, he decided to visit the tea villages, drink Dragonwell, and write poetry. On one occasion, he noticed several women working in the fields picking the tea. He wanted to learn the art, and decided to join them. After he had just picked his first handful, a messenger came running up to him. "Your majesty, the Queen is sick. You must return to the Capital at once!" The Emperor stuffed the leaves he had just picked in his pocket, and returned home quickly and nervously.

When he returned home, he found the Queen with red and swollen eyes and an upset stomach, but no serious illness. Apparently, she had gorged herself on seafood and was feeling the unpleasant aftereffects of such imprudent dietary habits. Nonetheless, the Emperor was relieved to see her well, and she asked what he had brought back for her from Hangzhou. He produced the leaves, which a chambermaid then brewed. After one sip, the Queen felt much better, and asked that the palace receive dragon well green tea. The Emperor then passed an order that every year, leaves from the 18 trees which he roamed on Lion's Peak be sent to the Capital as a tribute - a practice that is supposedly continued to this day.