We have compiled the ultimate guide to Dragon Well Tea; the origins, health benefits and our luxury loose leaf top picks for you to explore this delicious Chinese Tea.
History Of Dragon Well Tea
Dragon Well Green Tea, has been a part of Chinese Tea culture for thousands of years, renowned for its heads of state calibre and contains may health benefits which go back to the times of Qing Dynasty.
Longjing, or Dragon Well as it's directly translated to in English, Green Tea has been a part of Chinese Tea culture for hundreds of years, as far back as the Ming Dynasty in 1368-1644.
In 1644-1912, then heads of state, namely Emperor Kanji, officially recognised the beverage for its delicious flavour and well-documented health benefits it was consumed personally by the emperor, his family (particularly his sick mother) and used to welcome foreign guests.
The variety gained popularity, allowing it to become the most popular tea in China, and one of the most famous internationally.
Origins Of Dragon Well Tea
Dragon Well Tea gets its name from a well in the village of Longjing, where the tea grows locally and is filled with dense groundwater.
By looking into the well, you would see an illusion that makes it seem like a dragon lurks beneath the surface with a pillowy breath.
Where and how is Dragon Well Tea grown?
Despite its documented popularity, this tea, with such an incredible history, has been growing for thousands of years in Zhejiang Province, China with the best often growing around the West Lake region on the outskirts of Hangzhou. This is a protected zone for the growing area, and because of this, you may occasionally see Long Jing referred to as Xihu Long Jing.
There are four original Long Jing tea villages within the West Lake, th two most revered being Xifeng (aka Chi Feng or Lion Peak) and Mejiawu.
What makes this region so unique is that it's mountainous and has a relatively mild and temperate climate that sees frequent rainfall with moderate sunlight exposure.
This is an ideal terrior for growing exceptionally high-quality and flavourful teas. It also allows the tea leaves to preserve more thiamine, a compound that helps give Dragon Well Tea its characteristic mellow, sweet flavour profile.
How is Dragon Well Tea made?
Like many Chinese Teas, Dragon Well is hand-harvested in the Spring where only the youngest, tender buds are selected. As this is a Green Tea, the leaves undergo no oxidisation, and they are instead quickly pan-fried to preserve the tea's character and dry the leaves. This process yields an emerald-green, fragrant tea that has a distinctive flat shape.
When the leaves are brewed at 80C, the infusion achieves a distinctive yellow-green hue with a light, fresh flavour. It is often thought that the lighter the infusion, the better the quality of the tea.
Top Health Benefits Of Dragon Well Tea
It is no surprise that Dragon Well Tea is good for you and there are various health benefits. It is part of the Green Tea family, that has been considered a health-promoting beverage since ancient times.
Digestion & Inflammation
It is known that drinking Dragon Well can help aid the body's digestive system and decrease inflammation, helping against arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory problems.
Weight Loss
However, one of the most important Green Tea antioxidants, which is high in concentration, is catechin which are great for weight loss effects and can help speed up the body's metabolic rate.
These catechins are also known as epigallocatechin gallatn (EGCG). Research has suggested this helps maintain cardiovascular and metabolic health, which can help slow down ageing and help you lose weight.
Other Benefits
Long Jing tea has higher levels of thiamine, which is the single most crucial Green Tea quality indicator. It counteracts the side effects of caffeine and has a wonderfully soothing effect.
As a result, you should choose a premium Green Tea with a high thiamine for the best impact. Furthermore, this organic tea also contains Vitamin C and amino acid, which can help strengthen the immune system and help lower cholesterol and lower the risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Our Premium Dragon Well Loose Leaf Teas
At The Tea Makers of London, we have two versions of the Dragon Well Tea; Organic and Supreme.
Supreme Dragon Well Tea
This delicious tea is derived from Xifeng Village, West Lake Region, Zhejiang Province, China. Here, it is meticulously dried by hand using a traditional pan-firing method.
Feted as the 'Tea of the Emperor', this stunning blend affords a pale and illuminating yellow liquor with the most gentle and pure aroma.
Organic Dragon Well
This organic tea is harvested in the Spring in the Zhejiang province, China. Our customers tend to love this tea and often describe it as smooth, refreshing and authentic.
The flavour of Dragon Well Tea is fresh umami flavour with nutty undertones and hints of grassy meadow with a fresh aroma of a strong scent of toasty grass.
We recommend drinking Dragon Well Tea from a Yixing clay teapot for a traditional tea experience and a fuller flavour.
You can also brew the tea, amongst other Chinese teas, with one of our luxury Gaiwans.
This drink can be enjoyed as a hot or cold brew, making it perfect for all year round. This loose-leaf tea works well as an after-dinner drink and pairs nicely with steamed foods, such as steamed vegetables and steamed fish.
If you are interested in further information you can browse our Chinese Teas Collection or alternatively discover our full range of Green Teas from around the world.
Colin Barnes on Mar 17, 2023
Having worked in China, I have an affinity with Longjiang tea. I leave the teas in a mug/teacup after pouring in the hotwater rather than straining – any comments?