Long Jing Long Wu West Lake Dragon Well (2021)

Description

Long Jing Long Wu West Lake Dragon Well (西湖龙坞龙井) is a classic pre-Qing Ming early spring green tea and this version from Longwu Village (龙坞) next to Xihu is really one of the best. This Ming Qian Dragon Well tea utilises the traditional Long Jing Chang Ye (龙井長葉) Long Leaf cultivar. The resulting tea has a fresh verdant character with characteristic nutty and creamy notes. This lot is a Ming Qian harvest, picked on 23 March 2021, before the Qing Ming Festival.

Long Jing is perhaps the most famous and popular tea in China and the West Lake versions are some of the most sought after types. Authentic Dragon Well originates from West Lake (Xihu, 西湖), near Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. It is said by purists that only tea from the very core Long Jing growing area around the West Lake Scenic Area can be called an authentic Long Jing. The main production areas around West Lake are: Shifeng (Lion’s Peak), Wengjiashan (Weng Family Mountain), Yunqi (Cloud Dwell), Hupao (Tiger Run) and Meijiawu (Mei Family Dock). Dragon Well teas from Shifeng and Meijiawu are particularly sought after and attract very high prices.

However the core designated area that is recognised and protected by the government is a much larger growing area than just the West Lake Scenic area, encompassing some 168 square kilometres. Longwu Village is one such location, being outside the West Lake Scenic Area but still lying within the recognised Long Jing designated area. It is also the location with the biggest yield of tea in the whole of West Lake, making the teas from here more accessible.

This particular Long Jing Long Wu West Lake Dragon Well has a classic appearance of neat, flat polished leaves. When brewed, it produces a refreshing liquor that is delicate and light. The clean taste has a grassy and vegetal profile with savoury, umami and nutty notes. The clean aftertaste is smooth and creamy, with just a touch of dryness. This is a fresh and light tea and a fantastic example of a top grade early spring Dragon Well.

This Long Jing West Lake Dragon Well is best brewed with at 80c for 2-3 minutes and can be brewed multiple times.

You may also be interested in trying our Dafo Long Jing, the award-winning Long Jing Ming Qian Dragon Well.