LUNG CHIN, LONG JIN OR DRAGON WELL " GREEN TEA"

LUNG CHIN, LONG JIN OR DRAGON WELL

“GREEEN TEA”

Ooops!!! this is quite  a catchy ancient Chinese proverb- read this:

"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." 

On Drinking Tea Alone...(Chinese saying)

"In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all

of nature represented in its green color.

Closing my eyes I find green mountains and pure water 

within my own heart. 

Silently sitting alone and drinking tea, 

I feel these become part of me."

I am prompted to blog on green tea again- inspired, after knowing that my blogger friend, Lee, cosumes six glasses of green tea daily, consistently, for more than twenty years now.

Name: Long Jing Tea or Lung Ching Tea or  Dragon Well   Tea  (Chinese Green Tea)

Origin : Hangzhou,  Zhejiang Province  China

Longjing is one of China's top 10 teas and is considered the best by those devoted to green tea.

Brand: There are many brands of Dragon well  tea  in the market.

ABOUT LONG JING TEA (DRAGON WELL TEA)

This tea doesn't store very well (green teas are best drunk fresh). Green teas can be stored for 1 year in a dry, air- and light-tight container.

Suggested Usage: Use between one and two teaspoons of leaves per cup of 75-85 degree water (167-185F) for up to 3-5 minutes.

The flat and smooth tea leaves (resembling pine needles with a pale green color) brew a tea with light green color, a subtle fragrant scent, and a refreshing taste.

It is one of China's most celebrated green teas. 

INTERESTING HISTORICAL EVENTS 

Tea was accidentally discovered by Emperor Shen Nung (aka the Shennong, Yan Emperor or "Emperor of the five grains") over 5,000 years ago, 

when it was found to be an antidote against the poisonous effects of some herbal medicines.

The tea has a long history; more than 1000 years.

It's earliest record may be found in the book named chajing, the first book on tea in the world, written by the Chinese expert of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Lu Yu. 

Knowledge of the tea began to spread and became known all over the country by the times of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.

Especially in the Qing Dynasty, Longjing tea became very popular. 

One of the most remarkable emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Qianlong, paid four visits to the growing area of Longjing tea, not only to enjoy sipping tea, and to write and sing poems to praise the tea, but also to watch the process of picking and roasting it with serious intent. 

He was so interested in Longjing tea that he named the eighteen tea trees in front of the Hugong Temple "royal tea".

The Chinese government has made a great effort to promote it and introduce advanced technology in planting, picking and roasting of the tea with high quality standards.

TEA CULTIVATION IN THE CLOUDS AND MIST

The name Longjing is from a small village  in Hangzhou Zhengjiang Province. It is said that residents in ancient times believed that a dragon dwelled there and controlled the rainfall. 

As a result, people went there, whenever there was a drought to pray for rainfall, from as early as the Three Kingdoms Period (221-280).

Longjing tea is grown in the Longjing mountain area of Hangzhou, southwest of the West Lake. 

The fertile land is both rich in phosphorus and sub-acidic sand. 

This region prevents the cold current from the north and holds back the warm current from the south, thus the growing area of Longjing tea can be coated by cloud and mist for long periods of time. 

HARVESTING BY HAND

Grown in the mountainous regions of Lion's Peak of Hangzhou, Zheijiang province.

Like other famous teas (notably Darjeeling), the notion of "flush"

(time of picking)

i.e. spring, summer or autumn) applies to this wonderful tea.

First flush Long Jing, which is picked once a year by hand when the leaves and buds are at their smallest and most fragrant stage, is immediately roasted and has a characteristic shape of leaves folded flat along their length. 

The right time for picking the tea leaves is very short. The period between Qing Ming and Grain Rain (from April 5 to 21) each year is generally considered the prime time to get the highest quality Longjing tea.

This is a premium tea and highly prized as such in China. 

It is difficult to find in export as it's mostly consumed by the local market and it isn't cheap.

Long Jing is very delicate and fresh tasting, has a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and a lasting buttery finish.

HEALTH BENEFITS IN BRIEF

Longjing tea aids one's health in many ways regardless of your age.

It is used to deter food poisoning, refresh the body, stop cavities, fight viruses, control high blood pressure, lower the blood sugar level, and to prevent certain cancers. 

Hence, Longjing tea is regarded as the elixir for health and is widely sold and accepted all over the world.

A more detailed health benefits list, strictly  based on research, will be publish in my future posting.

GREEN TEA BREWING

The brewing method we highly recommended is to put a pinch of dry, roasted tea leaves into a porcelain or transparent glass cup and pour hot water at about 85C into the cup. 

Sip and enjoy!

TEA CULTURE

Longjng tea is famous both because of its good quality, as well as its historical and cultural values. 

The chinese have their way on tea ceremony.

When having visitors or entertaining guests, make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone. It is impolite to set the teapot down where the spout is facing towards somebody. 

The spout should always be directed to where nobody is sitting, usually just outward from the table.

 A LEGEND ONCE TOLD- UNTIL TODAY

The Legend about the Shape of Dragon Well Tea

The present-day flat shape of Dragon Well Tea is said to have something to do with Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that on one of his inspection tours to Hangzhou...

Emperor Qianlong disguised himself as an ordinary man and came to the Hugong Temple at the foot of Shifeng Mountain near Dragon Well Village. An old monk served him some Dragon Well Tea of the West Lake. 

 This is just a legend. The flat shape of Dragon Well tea is generally believed to be influenced by Dafang tea of neighboring Anhui area in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty.