Longjing is not automatically West Lake Longjing; a specific origin claim needs traceability.
Longjing, commonly called Dragon Well tea in English, is one of China’s best-known green teas. Its pressed, flat shape makes it especially useful for learning how processing changes leaf appearance.
The broad tea name and a specific origin claim are not interchangeable. A package labeled “Dragon Well” does not by itself establish that the tea came from the West Lake production area.
Look · Dry leaf
Flat, smooth leaves are the clearest visual starting point. Color varies by cultivar, harvest and processing, so bright green alone is not a quality test.
Smell & taste
Typical aroma: nutty, vegetal, floral. Flavor tendencies: sweet, umami, vegetal. Body: light-medium. These vary by batch, storage and brewing.
Brew · A starting point
Try 3 g in 200 ml water at 80–85°C for 90–120 seconds. Fully decant before tasting.
Read the wet leaves
Tender material may open into buds and young leaves. Evenness and integrity are useful observations, but wet leaves do not prove exact origin or grade.
Sources & review status
- ChinaTea101开发说明2.md — Page 01 Longjing Tea — Owner-supplied editorial draft. Structured from the supplied content pack; independent source and GI review remain pending.
- Longjing / West Lake Longjing fact review — Claude editorial fact-check (2026-09-24). Core claims checked against reliable general knowledge — Zhejiang origin, West Lake (Xihu) Longjing as a narrower protected-origin claim, flat-pressed processing family, and hedged hardness of any single visual/color quality test all confirmed accurate. No factual corrections needed.
Imported from ChinaTea101开发说明2.md. Updated 2026-09-20. Last reviewed 2026-09-24
How we check claims