The Chinese like drinking teas, and most of them are green tea lovers. Xihu Longjing, a famous kind of green tea which is grown only in the West Lake area in Hangzhou, is often regarded as the Chinese National Tea. It also holds the honor of being chosen as a tribute to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by Emperor Qianlong. Xihu Longjing, also called Dragon Well Tea, contains abundant vitamin C and amino acids, making it a healthy drink.

The famous Xihu Longjing has a long history. More than 1200 years ago, the famous sage of tea, Lu Yu (陆羽), wrote the treatise Tea Classics, in which Xihu Longjing was documented. Xihu Longjing is not only the name of the tea, but also the name of a temple and a spring. Since the water of the Longjing Spring is clear and sweet, Buddhist monks planted tea trees there and built the Longjing Temple nearby. Thus, the tea was named Longjing Tea. 

Green in color and delicate in flavor, Longjing is refreshing and flavorsome. Xihu Longjing Tea can be classified into three types, “Shifeng Longjing”, “Meijiawu Longjing” and “Xihu Longjing”, among which Shifeng Longjing is the best. Drinking Longjing is good for health and beneficial for the eyes, and also helps to promote digestion and remove excess fat from the body. 

Dry leaves of Xihu Longjing have a beautiful flat and long shape. In terms of storage, the tea must always be kept dry, or else it will degrade.

(Executive Editor: Yongliu HE)