Harvest time: 28.3.2025.

Origin: West Lake, Xi Hu, Zhejiang, China

Garden height: 750 m

Cultivar: Longjing #43

Picking Method: Manual

Long Jing is one of the top 10 teas in China. Very simple tools are used for harvesting, and they require exceptional skills and experience of the master.

This Long Jing also comes from the village of Mei Jia Wu, one of the official Long Jing villages in the West Lake region. A delicate light drink with a soft and sweet taste that lasts. It consists only of the first picking of one bud of one leaf and one bud of two leaves.

As soon as the buds ripen in early spring, picking begins. There is a saying in Chinese that says: Time is everything, start 3 days early and harvest the treasure, start 3 days later and it turns into grass.

The most tender leaves with one bud and one leaf or one bud of two leaves are harvested. The right raw materials form the basis of excellent Long Jing.

Tea growers usually harvest the leaves every day or once every two days to make sure they harvest more. It is usually harvested about 30 days a year in early spring before the ming festival.

Immediately after picking, the leaves are dried in the shade, which reduces the bitter taste of the leaves.

While most other types of tea follow a rolling/rubbing process to shape the tea, Long Jing is shaped when roasting in a pan. This step consists of 10 different hand movements that end up shaping the leaves into their flat shape.

This drying and frying process is repeated until the water content is reduced to the desired level before it is ready for storage or consumption.

Preparation – kettle

• 3 g tea
• 200 ml water
• temp. 75°C
• 3 pour-overs: 1.5 min, 2 min, 3 min

Preparation – gaiwan

• 4 g tea
• 100 ml water
• temp. 75°C
• Overflow 4-5: 30s, 40s, 50s, 100s, 150s

Cold brew

• Quantity: 7-8 g of tea per 1000 ml of water
• Preparation: Place the tea leaves in water at room temperature, let them sit for 15 minutes, and then refrigerate them for 7-8 hours. Strain the drink and drink within 24-48 hours.

Serving tip: If desired, you can additionally decorate the finished tea with fresh mint leaves, slices of lemon, orange or other fruit of your choice.