Dragonwell Tea

Description

Dragonwell Tea

Dragonwell Tea, also known as Lung Ching Tea is a wonderful green tea with a unique history, flavor profile and even the processing of the tea leaves. Unlike other green teas which have a grassy flavor, Dragonwell has a lighter flavor, a light floral scent and sweet character. It has has a yellow-golden color.  It has a storied, legendary history. Here is some of it.

Dragonwell is processed all by hand by a 10-part process. It is grown in the Zhejiang Province, and has a unique green color, shape, floral scent and a sweet character. The area in which Dragonwell grows has fog and mists which make up for rain, as is the case in many tea-growing areas. The leaves are plucked by hand early in the Spring when the leaves are just appearing on the plants, before each shoot has more than one leaf.

The Dragonwell legend is that in 250 AD a Taoist monk affirmed that there must be a dragon lurking in a certain spring not far from Hangchow. The monk implored the well dragon to come to the rescue of the poor farmers suffering a crippling drought. Instantly, the clouds came rushing in from every side and poured forth a timely rain. One account of this, an old temple adjoining the spring is known as Dragon’s Well Monastery, and this tea derives its name from the same legend. There are other stories about its origin, but regardless of your preference, the tea once processed must be tasted to be appreciated.

The Lung Ching leaves are wetter than most due to high humidity and climate conditions where it is grown. The leaves are processed differently than green teas. They are dried then fried and pressed in the final steps to further reduce the moisture, giving the leaves their characteristic flat, pressed look. The result is what we cherish as a unique look, color and taste not found in any other green tea.

If you love the variety of green teas, we have a number of Japanese green teas we import directly from the Japanese family which grows them.  They include Fukamushi Sencha, Gyokuro Green Tea, Houjicha, Kukicha Twig Tea, Genmaicha Green Tea, Matcha Genmaicha and a Ceremonial Matcha.  Once you have tried all these green tea and others we carry, you might have some new best friends to enjoy.

Steeping Instructions
Hot tea brewing method: Put 1 slightly heaping tsp of loose tea for each 8oz of water in the cup or teapot. Pour the boiled but slightly cooled water over tea. Steep 3 to 7 minutes. Milk and Sugar are not recommended. Makes a wonderful Iced Tea as well.

Iced Tea: For a Liter or quart use 2 heaping Tbsp. of loose tea into teapot. Pour 1 1/4 cup boiling water on tea. Steep 5 minutes. Quarter fill serving pitcher straining tea. Add Ice. Top up with cold water, garnish & sweeten to taste.

Contains: Green tea