Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Product Description:
One of China’s most famous green teas, Dragonwell (Lung Ching or Longjing in local parlance) comes from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. This tea has a very distinctive shape: smooth and perfectly flattened along the inside vein of the leaf, the result of highly skilled shaping in a hot wok. This process, known as pan-firing or pan-frying, was perfected in China by tea masters over many centuries. It gives the tea an inviting, toasty aroma. Our Dragonwell also has a sweet, rounded flavor, perhaps reminiscent of freshly roasted white corn. Full, nutty and buttery texture and pleasantly dry finish. A truly satisfying cup of tea.
Taster’s Review:
There was a time when I would shy away from Dragonwell tea, but I’ve come to not only appreciate it, but actually really enjoy it.
This is a very fine Dragonwell. It has a light, crisp flavor. I find myself agreeing with the above description completely: notes of roasted corn, sweet, nutty, buttery, toasty. All of those describe this tea well.
There is a faint grassy taste in the distance. A sweetness in the foreground throughout. The buttery flavor is not a thick buttery essence, but rather, it is like a touch of butter on the fresh roasted corn. There is very little astringency that seems to be noticeable only when I’m actually trying to search for it. The finish is crisp and dry, and the aftertaste is lightly sweet.
This tea is available in loose leaf form, as well as part of the Artisan Comfort Gourmet Tea Collection which features a select variety of teas in pyramid sachets. Perfect for travel or on-the-go! (PS: The holidays are approaching and one of these Gourmet Tea Collections would make a great gift for the tea lover on your shopping list!)
Organic Dragons Well from Bird Pick Tea & Herb
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bird Pick Tea & Herb
Product Description:
Dragon’s Well Green Tea originates from the mountains surrounding West Lake in the Zhejiang province of China. Today, this tea remains a specialty of this region. The name was given according to legend of a dragon that lived in a well near West Lake Village. It is said that it saved the village from a long drought by bringing rain. The tea has a unique appearance of smooth, flat green leaves with pointed ends – resembling that of a sparrow’s tongue.
Taster’s Review:
An excellent Dragons Well tea!
The tea is crisp and light-bodied and yet full of flavor. It is grassy/vegetative but there is also a pleasant fruit-like flavor in the forefront that mingles deliciously with the vegetative quality.
The sip approaches the palate with a sweet, almost creamy taste. The fruit flavor then presents itself, and it is somewhat citrus-y. A grassy undercurrent is present throughout the sip while the taste of lightly buttered vegetables weave in and out. The sip finishes with a light astringency with a nutty aftertaste.
I brewed this in my gaiwan and it produced four delightful infusions that way. It is a very mild tea, one that is very enjoyable later in the afternoon when a black tea might seem too heavy. A nice way to unwind!
Bird Pick Tea & Herb comes through with yet another high quality, delicious tea! I’m really impressed with this company.