Yunnan Sourcing Imperial Dragon Well Tea From Hangzhou Long Jing Tea 2018.
I believe I’ve mentioned before, there is a classic list of “China’s 10 Famous Teas”. There’s a bit of waffling about some of the 4-6 Green Teas usually on the list, but one that is always on, and almost always first, is Long Jing Dragonwell from Hangzhou in China’s Zhejiang province.
I’ve had a bit of a love/hate/fear relationship with Dragon Well tea.
I drank it almost exclusively for several years, accidentally super overdosed one time, and now am a bit nervous about trying it again.
The problem with highly regarded, highly produced, highly desired, and often expensive Chinese teas, is, you run the risk that the producers will use chemicals or you will actually not get what you asked for.
Like the fact that far more Olive Oil is sold as Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil than could possibly be produced in Italy, more tea is sold as “Long Jing Dragonwell” than could possibly be produced in that Chinese province. Most often it is simply green tea from another region made in the style of Dragon Well.
I sort of suspect the tea I had such an adverse reaction to may not have been actual Dragon Well and may have been treated with chemicals.
In any case, that is not this Dragon Well.
You can see the typical flattened spear shape and lighter olive green color.
Brewed well with water this tea expresses a wonderful nutty taste, chestnut is the flavor used to describe what it evokes, but I get a little bit of coconut. It has a rich broth, lingering flavor, and re-steepability beyond what you would expect from a green tea. There is a little bit of tannic sensation in the later steeps, but no bitterness at all.
I brewed it in a Gaiwan, though it is more typical to brew Dragon Well Tea in a pitcher or glass, refilling with water as you go along.
I’m glad I overcame my reluctance and renewed my acquaintance with Dragon Well, one of China’s Top Teas.
#Cha #Tea #DragonWell #YunnanSourcing #DrinkTea #GreenTea
