Dragon Well Single Cultivar Long Jing #43

Origin: Jin Long Ping Village, Xuan’en County, Hubei Province, China
Cultivar: Long Jing #43
Harvest: Late March, Early April 2023 
Elevation: 700-900m 

This Dragon Well is comprised of tender buds and leaves harvested during the early spring Mingqian harvest season in the last days of March and first few days of April, resulting in a refreshing, dewy and sweet infusion. Dragon Well is a famous Chinese Tribute Tea once given as a tax payment to Chinese emperors and gifted to presidents and dignitaries in recent times. It was the tea that was presented to Nixon and Kissinger when they first visited China. This 2023 harvest batch was produced with the traditional tea bush cultivar named Long Jing #43 (literally, “Dragon Well #43”). It offers the classic Dragon Well profile of fresh spring greens balanced with chestnut sweetness and a mild toasted aroma.

Dragon Well is a pan-roasted green tea produced by “flat-frying” the tea leaves in hot wok shaped pans. The dried tea leaves take on a flat, spear shaped, blade-like appearance. The heated stirring, tossing and pressing action carried out in the hot woks initiates the Maillard reaction which slightly roasts and caramelizes the tea leaves. This special artisanal tea making style creates a pleasant roasted chestnut aroma balanced with fresh notes of alpine herbs and sweetgrass.

Add 4g-5g tea per 350-400ml (11 – 12oz) water into a glass teapot.   
Use water cooled to 180°F. 
Infuse for 3 minutes. 
Repeat for another 3+ infusions. Increase the steeping time by 30 seconds with each additional infusion.