2025 Spring West Lake Longjing (pre-Qing Ming)

Harvested in early Spring, West Lake Longjing, also known as Dragon Well, is one of the most famous Chinese green teas and has a long, storied history. West Lake, located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, of eastern China is known for its beauty - surrounded by ancient padogas and other incredible architecture. South of West Lake, lie five famous Dragon Well villages, where authentic Dragon Well tea is still produced today using the same traditional methods. This tea, is from the famous Mei Jia Wu village.

West Lake Longjing is charactarized by hand-flattened, sword-shaped leaves with a yellow-green color. This tea is pan roasted, and boasts a fresh, light vegetal flavor - that of roasted peas, with a toasty, nutty, and slightly creamy finish. Refreshing, nourishing, and invigorating, this tea embodies the true essence of Spring.

Dragon Well is typically characterized by either the Pre-Qing Ming, or Pre-rain variety. Pre-Qing Ming, is the earliest-picked and most prized Dragonwell tea - picked in late March, before the Qing Ming ("clear and bright") festival, which runs each year from April 4th-6th. Tea then picked after the Qing Ming festival, but before Gu Yu ("crops and rain") - around April 20th, is of the Pre-rain variety. Gu Yu, is the 6th of 24 Chinese solar terms, and is known to mark the beginning of the rainy season.

Characteristic Tasting Notes:

Roasted peas, toasty and nutty body, sweet, slightly creamy finish

Brewing Instructions:

Water Temp: 175-185F

Amount: 5-6g tea, 140-200ml vessel

Steeping Time: 

1st Infusion: 3-5 seconds.

2nd Infusion: 5-6 seconds.

3rd Infusion: 6-8 seconds.

4th Infusion: 8-10 seconds.

5th Infusion: 15 seconds (add 5 additional seconds for any subsequent infusions after the 5th).

Western Brewing Method:

Use 4g of tea for every 0.5 liters (~2 cups) of water. Fill teapot or brewing device with water that's between 175-185F and steep for 2 minutes

Cold Brew Method:

Use 5g of tea for every 0.5 liters of water (~2 cups). Refrigerate for a minimum of 18 hours, with maximum strength at 24 hours.