G-CN-002
West Lake Dragon Well (Longjing)
西湖龍井
Pan-fired flat leaf, from Zhejiang, China.
Green tea
West Lake Dragon Well (Longjing) is strongest on nutty, sweetness and umami. Typical tasting words: chestnut, edamame, sweet pea, toasted grain, butter. Conferred imperial tribute status by the Qianlong Emperor during the Qing Dynasty; traditionally harvested around the West Lake of Hangzhou. China's most renowned green tea, traditionally served in tall transparent glasses to admire the vertical dancing leaves.
Also known as Longjing, Dragon Well and Xihu Longjing.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Zhejiang, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Longjing 43 or Qunti
- Harvest
- early spring before Qingming, late March to April
- Elevation
- low
- Oxidation
- 0 to 3%
- Roast
- very light
- Leaf
- flat
- Price band
- premium
- Availability
- everywhere
- Ageing
- not for ageing
- Forgiving to brew
- 3 of 5
- L-theanine
- moderate
Made by: withering, then pan-firing, then shaping and flattening, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of West Lake Dragon Well (Longjing) carries a typical estimate of 35 mg of caffeine, within a range of 25 to 50 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 80 to 85 °C | 2 min, 2.5 min, 3 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 4.5 g | 80 to 85 °C | 15 s, 20 s, 30 s, 45 s, 60 s, 90 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 2.5 g | Fridge | 4 to 8 hours |
Up to 6 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- morning
- midday
- social
Pairs with seafood, poultry and dim_sum. Milk: no. Iced: yes. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
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shares smoothness and nutty - G-TW-017Taiwan San Xia Dragon Well
shares sweetness and smoothness - G-CN-011Zhu Ye Qing
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shares sweetness and umami - Y-CN-003Mengding Huangya
shares sweetness and smoothness
More: all green tea teas, teas from Zhejiang, China, or filter the whole drawer.