Long Jing (Dragon Well)
Green tea
About this tea
Dragonwell (Longjing) is China's most celebrated green tea, renowned for its distinctive flat, smooth, sword-shaped leaves and its elegant chestnut-sweet flavor with toasty undertones. Grown in the mist-shrouded hills around Hangzhou's West Lake in Zhejiang Province, Dragonwell has been praised by Chinese emperors and poets for centuries. Its unique pan-firing technique produces a tea with a pale yellow-green liquor, a mellow nutty aroma, and a sweet, lingering aftertaste that is unlike any other green tea in the world.
How to brew: 75°C, 2 min, 2 g per cup.
Caffeine
Medium
How to brew
Flavor notes
sweet, nutty, smooth
Often associated with
Calm alertness, Clarity
Best time to enjoy
Mid-morning, Early afternoon
Tags
Origin & Production
Authentic Dragonwell comes from the area surrounding West Lake (Xi Hu) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The most prized production zones are the five historical growing areas: Lion Peak (Shi Feng), Longjing Village, Five Cloud Mountain (Yun Qi), Tiger Spring (Hu Pao), and Meijiawu. The unique terroir — misty mountain air, acidic sandy soil, and moderate rainfall — creates conditions that no other region can fully replicate.
Production process
Pre-Qingming harvest
The most prized Dragonwell (Ming Qian) is picked before the Qingming Festival (around April 5). These earliest leaves are tiny, tender, and richest in amino acids. Later picks (Yu Qian, before April 20) are also valued but bolder in flavor.
Withering
Freshly picked leaves are spread in thin layers indoors for several hours to reduce moisture content and begin developing the characteristic aroma. This step is shorter than for oolong or black tea.
Hand pan-firing & pressing
Leaves are pressed by hand against the sides of a hot iron wok (typically 80–100°C) using 10 distinct hand movements perfected over centuries. This simultaneously halts oxidation, shapes the leaves flat, and develops the nutty, toasty flavor.
Sorting & finishing
After firing, leaves are sorted by size and quality, then given a final low-heat bake to stabilize moisture and fully develop the mellow chestnut aroma. Top grades are remarkably uniform in shape and color.
History & Tradition
Dragonwell has been revered in China for over 1,200 years and is one of China's Ten Famous Teas — a distinction that reflects both its extraordinary quality and its deep cultural significance.
Lu Yu's Classic of Tea
Tea sage Lu Yu mentions Hangzhou tea in his seminal work 'Cha Jing' (The Classic of Tea), the world's first tea monograph, establishing the West Lake area's reputation as a fine tea region.
Emperor Qianlong's endorsement
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Longjing Village multiple times and was so impressed that he designated 18 tea bushes at Lion Peak as 'Imperial Tea Trees.' These trees still stand today and are a tourist attraction.
State recognition
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Dragonwell is officially named a National Tea and served to visiting heads of state. It becomes China's most prestigious diplomatic gift tea.
Nixon's visit to China
During President Nixon's historic visit to China, Premier Zhou Enlai served him Dragonwell tea. This moment helped introduce Longjing to a global audience and cemented its status as China's representative green tea.
Geographic Indication protection
West Lake Longjing receives Geographic Indication (GI) protection, meaning only tea from the designated West Lake production area can legally be labeled 'Xi Hu Longjing,' protecting it from imitations.
Health Benefits
Amino acid richness
Pre-Qingming Dragonwell is especially high in L-theanine, which promotes alpha brain waves for a state of relaxed focus. The amino acid content gives it its characteristic sweet, umami taste and cognitive benefits.
Catechin protection
Rich in tea catechins including EGCG and EC, which act as powerful antioxidants. Pan-firing preserves these polyphenols effectively, offering protection against cellular oxidative damage.
Vitamin C preservation
Dragonwell retains significant amounts of vitamin C and vitamin E despite pan-firing. These vitamins work synergistically with catechins to support immune function and skin health.
Blood pressure support
Studies on Chinese green tea consumption show an association between daily intake and lower risk of hypertension. The polyphenols in Dragonwell support nitric oxide production, aiding healthy blood vessel relaxation.
Metabolic balance
The catechin-caffeine combination in Dragonwell supports healthy metabolism. Research published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry suggests green tea polyphenols may improve insulin sensitivity.
Grades & Varieties
Xi Hu (West Lake) Longjing
The authentic Geographic Indication-protected grade, grown only in the five historical zones around West Lake. Flat, smooth, jade-green leaves with a mellow chestnut aroma and sweet umami flavor. The most prized and expensive Dragonwell.
Best for
- ✓Gongfu tea ceremony
- ✓Drinking straight
- ✓Special occasions
Qiantang Longjing
Grown in the greater Hangzhou area outside the West Lake zones but still within Zhejiang Province. Very good quality with similar flat-leaf processing, slightly more vegetal and less nuanced than Xi Hu grade, at a more accessible price.
Best for
- ✓Daily premium drinking
- ✓Gifting
- ✓First Dragonwell experience
Yuezhou Longjing
Produced in the Shaoxing area of Zhejiang. A more affordable option that still uses the flat-pressing technique but with leaves from different cultivars. Bolder, more astringent flavor — a solid everyday Dragonwell-style tea.
Best for
- ✓Everyday drinking
- ✓Introduction to Longjing
- ✓Value-oriented choice
Did you know?
Dragon Well tea was named after a village legend where a dragon in a well brought rain during a drought; in 2012, 500 g of top grade sold for more than gold.
Foods with this tea
What to Eat with Dragonwell Tea
Dragonwell's toasted chestnut sweetness and clean vegetal finish pair beautifully with light seafood, steamed dumplings, and delicate East Asian flavors.
Dragonwell Tea-Smoked Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken thighs kissed with Dragonwell tea smoke, sliced thin and tucked into crisp lettuce cups with pickled vegetables and sesame.
Dragonwell Chestnut Financiers
Miniature French almond cakes infused with ground Dragonwell tea and chestnut flour—nutty, buttery, and impossibly tender.
Drinks with this tea
Dragonwell Ginger-Honey Morning Elixir
A gentle morning tonic blending Dragonwell's nutty sweetness with fresh ginger and raw honey—warming, clarifying, and full of antioxidants.
Iced Dragonwell with Yuzu and Cucumber
Cold-brewed Dragonwell meets bright yuzu and cool cucumber for a spa-like iced tea that's crisp, clean, and endlessly refreshing.
Dragonwell Gin Smash
A botanical gin cocktail infused with Dragonwell tea, muddled with fresh basil and lime—herbaceous, nutty, and dangerously smooth.