Brewing Guide
Recommended method: Cup brewing
- Warm the cup, then add 3g of tea leaves to appreciate the aroma.
- Pour 85–95°C purified water until the cup is 80% full.
- Can be re-infused 1–3 times.
- With each additional infusion, slightly extend the steeping time. If bitterness or astringency occurs, consider shortening the steeping time or reducing the amount of tea leaves.
Is it West Lake Longjing?
No, this tea is Qiantang Longjing, not West Lake Longjing.
West Lake Longjing and Longjing tea are not the same. "Longjing tea" is a broader category—any flat-shaped green tea produced within Zhejiang Province can be called Longjing tea, including Qiantang Longjing and Yuezhou Longjing. Well-known examples such as Dafu Longjing from Xinchang County and Yuexiang Longjing from Shengzhou both belong to the Yuezhou Longjing category.
West Lake Production Area:
Located within the West Lake Scenic Area and Xihu District of Hangzhou City. West Lake Longjing is characterized by its green color, flat and smooth leaves, fresh aroma, and mellow taste. It accounts for approximately 7%–10% of total Longjing tea production.
Qiantang Production Area:
Covers areas along both banks of the Qiantang River, including Xiaoshan and Yuhang districts, as well as Lin’an, Fuyang, Tonglu, Jiande, and Chun’an. Qiantang Longjing features a green, flat, and smooth appearance with a chestnut-like aroma and a fresh, mellow flavor, making up about 28%–30% of total output.
Yuezhou Production Area:
Located in the ancient Yuezhou region, primarily in Shaoxing and surrounding counties such as Xinchang, Shengzhou, Shaoxing, Zhuji, Pan’an, Dongyang, Shangyu, and Tiantai. Yuezhou Longjing has a green, flat, and smooth leaf with slight down, a chestnut aroma, and a rich, full-bodied taste, accounting for 60%–64% of total production.
Since the 1970s, many regions across Zhejiang have begun producing Longjing-style tea, commonly referred to as Zhejiang Longjing. In 2001, the former State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued Document No. 28 to implement geographical indication protection for Longjing tea. Under this regulation, Longjing tea produced in the West Lake area of Hangzhou is designated as West Lake Longjing, while tea from other parts of Zhejiang is classified as Qiantang Longjing or Yuezhou Longjing, both eligible to use the “Longjing Tea” geographical indication.
