Chinese tea "Longjing": description, properties, history and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

This green leaf is probably number one in China. And one of the products that Cha Chin mentions is an ancient book about tea (first millennium AD). Tea "Longjing" - "Dragon's Well" (as this name is translated from Chinese) - is famous and popular in China, and in other countries around the world. And it has its own centuries-old history, even its own philosophy. And according to tradition, when visiting the Republic of China, celebrities are treated to this particular drink.

A bit of history

The first Chinese "talmud" about tea says: "Longjing" tea was first cultivated in the area at the foot of two temples: Tian Hu and Lin Yuyin. They called it "Dragon Si Hu Well" (lake of the same name). For many years of cultivation, Longjing tea, thanks to its magical taste with aroma, confidently spreads to most territories of China, deserves fame and honor at the imperial courts. Ming Dynasty, reaches its "peak of fate" in the Qing Dynasty. Longjing tea in those ancient times is included in the list of mandatory tax collection. There was also a ceremony of offering a drink to the emperor. For more than a millennium, it has spread worldwide. But even today, China remains the only state in the world that exports its national pride - this tea. This enhances both material value and cultural uniqueness.

Gong

In China, there are many varieties of this tea product, but 4 categories are in the lead in the ranking. And among them - "Gong" (Tribute), and he honorably holds the championship both in quality and in cost. This is because the most valuable variety is grown in only one well-protected area, on the plantations of Xi Hu, the western lake. The total field area is 163 kilometers (Hangzhou settlement, Zheqiang province). A "gong" grown elsewhere is not considered authentic.

Mao's favorite tea

Gong was one of Chairman Mao's favorite drinks. During his visits to Lake Xi Hu, he collected some tea buds with his own hands, and they were subsequently brewed with the best water from the stream of the Running Tiger. The aroma and taste of this tea impressed Mao. He said that there is nothing more beautiful than Longjing Gong tea made with water from this source. And then, after the death of the Great Chairman, the tea tree from which he collected the buds was planted in the courtyard of the Hangzhou Tea Company, where it still grows.

Milk Oolong

This "Gong" is grown on the western slopes of the hills, near Lake Xi Hu. These places are famous for their fertile soils, humid climate, abundant rainfall, fog and low clouds, which densely cover the western hills almost all year round. The characteristics of Gong tea are also affected by the selection of bushes, and timely collection, which should take place from 10.03 to 05.04, as well as the method of manual roasting, which lasts as much as 10 hours. Approximately 26,000 buds go to a kilo of tea raw materials. The Chinese Longjing tea of the Gong brand bears the title of the most famous brand in China and abroad. In 1991, he was awarded the corresponding prize at the international festival, in 1992 - a gold medal and the title of "The Most Purchased Goods for Tourists", in 1994 he was named the most famous food product in China, the standard of agricultural products.

Longjing green tea. Other varieties

Depending on the qualities of leaf pairs, as well as buds, according to the time of collection, Chinese producers of "Longjing" distinguish several subspecies. About the "Gong" has already been said a little above. This is an expensive quality sheet. It consists of the upper buds of the tea bush. Its collection is carried out in the first 2 weeks from the very beginning of the harvest period. "Gong" has a strong, fresh, subtle flower aroma that is more intense when brewed a second time. The color scheme of the finished drink is dark green.

• Next: Grade A. Its fees are held3rd and 4th weeks after the start of the harvest period. This tea raw material is from the kidneys plus one leaf that begins to unfold. In this case, the kidney is larger than the leaves themselves. "A"-class also belongs to the categories of quality and has a delicate and refined taste, a bitter aftertaste that fills the mouth of the taster. Moreover, which is typical: "A"-class does not change the taste and aroma for ten brews! The tea color is dark green.
• "AAA" class. It also belongs to the high class tea categories and is harvested a week later than "A". The raw material contains unopened buds and a couple of barely unfolded leaves. Its aroma is subtle, with a sweet aftertaste of meadow herbs. After five brews, the bitter taste is more pronounced. The color scheme of the drink is yellow-green, jade.
• Jing Pin. This tea raw material is harvested late in the harvest period - 7 days before the final.

Falsifications

Exclusive and excellent quality product cannot be cheap: in order to grow it, you need to make quite serious and temporary, and financial costs. This is not always combined with the wishes of dishonest manufacturers. Tea "Longjing" also does not escape the fate of falsifications - it is forged immediately outside the region. Roasting of cheap varieties is used, in such a way as to achieve the signature shade of authentic longjins, a mixture of a small amount of an authentic variety with others, cheaper processing of real raw materials.

"Longjing" (tea): properties and use. Reviews

Tea drinking is a whole ritual that includes traditions developed over the years. And many of them are even protected by the tea laws of the country. According to reviews, Longjing tea requires the right attitude during the process. You can not destroy the "spirit of tea", so pre-rinsing is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 70 degrees. Brewing takes place at 85. The amount of product should not exceed 5 grams per volume of standard teapots. The drink is infused for about ten minutes, after which the tea can be drained and repeated multiple brewing. The utensils with which tea comes into contact should be made of glass, porcelain, jade, then the risk of changes in the original taste and aroma is excluded. Reviews advise drinking a divine drink better from small cups. This tea is not recommended to be mixed with anything and not to jam with anything. Have a nice tea party!