Longjing & ndash; the main variety of green tea in China. It belongs to the real masterpieces of the tea world, and its popularity has gone far beyond the Middle Kingdom.
In this article you will learn everything you need to appreciate the splendor of the taste and aroma of this hot drink, to discover all its benefits.
Description
An impeccable product that will not disappoint you in terms of taste and healing has four most important characteristics.
Rich color
As a rule, the leaves themselves have an emerald green or olive tint.
It may vary depending on the location and time of harvest.
A properly brewed finished infusion is greenish, transparent, and never cloudy.
When brewing a tea leaf for the first time, it is important to drain the first brew to get rid of dust and other small particles.
Sweet taste
Light sweetness is characteristic of Chinese teas. In addition, freshness and energy are revealed in each sip of Longjing.
The temperature of the water you use for brewing is important. Too hot water will spoil the taste, add bitterness to it.
Longjin tea can be purchased from our online store:
Pleasant aroma
Dew smell and subtle floral notes & ndash; the result of accurate, competent work of crop collectors on plantations. The younger the escape, the more delicate and subtle the fragrance will reveal.
Beautiful view
Even when dry, teabags look extremely aesthetically pleasing: they are symmetrical, even and smooth.
Opening in hot water, the green petals become soft, slowly, gracefully circling and forming a kind of funnel, plunge to the bottom of the vessel.
That is why it is recommended to use glass teapots and glasses for brewing, so as not to miss the opportunity to admire the beauty of the process.
In addition to the aesthetic component, the use of Longjing affects other factors:
- strengthens the immune system, has antiviral and antibacterial effects;
- removes excess fluid from the body;
- normalizes heart muscle activity and strengthens vascular walls;
- has positive effects on dental and oral health;
- inhibits aging and accelerates cell regeneration;
- improves gastrointestinal function;
- relieves fatigue;
- by normalizing metabolism helps reduce weight;
- Improves thinking and performance.
History of the appearance of moon jin tea
It is not known for certain when exactly this variety appeared.
However, already 1000 years ago in the Song era (960-1279), he was popular at the court of the emperor and even received a mention in the ancient book about Cha Chin tea.
Over the past centuries, this tea has developed many legends and traditions.
Legends
The first tradition is associated with the sage of Hangzhou, who took care of his own dragon.
These creatures play a special role in the Chinese tradition. It is believed that they are capable of calling for rain and act only for the benefit of people.
The elder built a beautiful well as a dwelling for his ward. Peasants who lived in a village nearby began to worship the sacred animal. After the death of the thinker, he was left with all his knowledge, as well as the secrets of the miraculous properties of the dragon's den.
The second legend is related to the fact that, having dug a well, the villagers found that it was filled with an unusual liquid: the water formed a funnel and looked like a mythical creature. The place immediately became a shrine.
The third option says about a stone found on the site of the well in the form of a legendary snake. In any case, all the stories boil down to the second name of tea & ndash; Dragon Well.
Historical Facts
- Already in the XVIII century, the rulers of the Qing dynasty awarded the drink & laquo; imperial & raquo; status. He was adored to drink at court, presented as a sign of friendship and location. Since then, mass production of the product has been established, huge plantations have appeared, but only the most wealthy could buy the cherished leaves.
- At the beginning of the 20th century, separate shops appeared in China that offer Longjing to everyone.
- Today, not only the unsurpassed taste of tea, but also its beneficial properties: the presence of antioxidants and vitamin C.
- Popularity and high demand have led to many fakes.
Manufacturing
To create a flawless product, which will fully justify its cost, it is important not only to comply with the special technology for collecting leaves, but also to carefully process them.
Manual labor is still used to make the drink today, which allows you to achieve the highest quality.
To get 1 kg of product, you need to collect more than 50,000 shoots.
Lun jin & ndash; child of Lake Si Xy
The natural component is also fundamental. A mountain with increased humidity and temperature changes is considered an ideal area.
The soil should contain useful trace elements, minerals and contribute to the appearance of catechins in plants, thanks to which the sweet taste of the drink arises.
In China, there are 18 officially established places for growing this variety. They received this status from the government and are the most favorable for the growth of valuable bushes:
- Xiaoshan, Binjiang, Yuhan, Yuecheng zones.
- Tonglui, Chunan, Shaoxin, Xinchang, Panan, Tiantai counties.
- Cities of Fuyang, Linan, Jiande, Shengzhou, Zhuji, Shangyu, Dongyang.
- West Lake Neighborhood (Si Hu).
The latter area is considered particularly attractive for unique tea shoots.
Plantations are located in Zhejiang province, where excellent conditions for growing shrubs have formed: soft, warm winds, fertile soil, regular and heavy rains, frequent changes in the sun and fog.
Of course, the & laquo; Dragon Well & raquo; and in other regions, but such products lose & laquo; imperial & raquo; status, are much cheaper and highly questionable in terms of quality.
Collection time & ndash; early spring
Harvest starts in late March or early April.
During this period, young shoots are especially tender, which directly affects the quality of the green drink.
Only the uppermost, solid leaves of the same size deserve the attention of collectors without any damage. Depending on the type of product, both the kidneys and the ovary with one or two petals are torn off.
The best variety is obtained before the pure light holiday (Qingming) & ndash; as a rule, falls on April 5th. Second & ndash; to rainy season (Mingqian) from March 20 to April 5.
Sorted shoots are laid in a thin layer in a cool room on a mat, where they have to lie down during the day.
Xihu longjing treatment: from sublimation to frying
Then comes the roasting step in hot boiler.
At the same time, the leaves are mixed manually and intensively, which allows you to remove chlorophyll, which gives bitterness.
After roasting for 10-15 minutes, the future tea is laid out on bamboo sieves and cooled.
At this point, the color of the tea leaf changes from green to brown, and the leaves that have not changed shade are removed.
At the production stage, it all depends on the professionalism of the workers, who must maintain skill and attentiveness even in difficult conditions of high temperatures.
Recently, due to the active development of technology, processing has become partially mechanized, but it is the manual processing product that is most valued and more expensive.
Tea varieties: how to choose
There are several varieties of the drink that differ in the origin of the raw materials and the time of leaf collection.
- Xi Hu Long Jing of West Lake & ndash; the most famous version of the product, which is divided into 5 more subspecies:
- Lev Shi (& laquo; lion & raquo;) belongs to the first-class products, in the Middle Kingdom it is one of the most expensive and valuable.
- Mei Jia (& laquo; plum & raquo;).
- White Yes Pho.
- Xy Pao (& laquo; tiger & raquo;).
- Yun Qi (& laquo; staying in the clouds & raquo;).
There are also varieties whose production is partly related to technical automation. These include Zhejiang, whose taste is valued lower.
And also distinguish Long Wu, growing in the village of the same name and possessing deep taste shades, and Bai & ndash; a young variety that began to be produced in the 80s of the last century.
When choosing a variation of the Dragon Well, it is important to pay attention to several criteria. They will help you not stumble upon a fake and purchase a really high-quality product.
- Four characteristics are met. Before buying, you can check only three of them & ndash; olive or emerald color, rich aroma, impeccable integrity and leaf shape.
- Packaging. It should contain information about the manufacturer, as well as data confirming its reliability. For example, a code that can be entered on the site and check for a certificate. Make sure the tea package is sealed.
- Storage conditions. The perfect Dragon Well is placed in the freezer, where there are no more products besides it. However, it is extremely difficult to find such a storage option in Russia, so it is enough to make sure that the product was located in a dark, cool place.
What you get from tea
Long jin is ideal for morning tea.
It fills the body with energy and refreshes, calms the mind and gives taste pleasure.
Regular consumption of the drink improves memory, metabolism, relaxes and pacifies.
Who it's for
Longjing Tea & ndash; a great choice for those with low immunity and a high risk of catching a cold.
It will also help in situations of overexertion, under heavy loads, so it is suitable for those who need to restore emotional and physical strength.
Thanks to the useful trace elements contained in it, tea infusion helps to remove toxins, toxins and other harmful substances from the body. These properties make it a helper for those who are struggling with excess weight.
Benefits
The uniqueness of the composition of green tea & laquo; Dragon well & raquo; associated with more catechins & ndash; special substances with antibacterial effect. This puts it first among other varieties.
The presence of vitamins C, P (which contribute to the expansion and strengthening of blood vessels), antioxidants, potassium and calcium in the drink has been proven.
Regular consumption of this product can help lower cholesterol, normalize blood pressure, improve gastrointestinal function, and strengthen tooth enamel and bones.
With a rather long use, the influence on thought processes becomes noticeable: thoughts become clearer, structured and faster.
Contraindications
The only contraindication to the use of this wonderful tea is individual intolerance to its individual components.
Taste characteristics
Imagine the delicate, buttery tang of honey, fruit and nuts, the sweet floral notes and the freshness of morning dew. To all this add a little tart spring herbs. After each detail of the unique taste is revealed, a sweet aftertaste will remain.
How to brew Longjing
Only the correct method of brewing will preserve the unique taste and aroma properties, as well as not lose useful qualities.
Improperly brewed tea can lose taste, flavor, and bitterness.
The Chinese tea ceremony is less ritualized than the Japanese one.
But some important rules are strictly enforced.
- Capacity. Transparent glassware is usually a glass. Before starting, it must be poured with boiling water, while rotating in a circle.
- Clean drinking water. Its temperature should not exceed 80 degrees, since tea leaves are very tender and they may lose their useful properties from exposure to hot liquid.
- Pour a few grams of tea into a glass, pour a small amount of water for a couple of seconds, then add the rest of the liquid. The drink will be ready after three minutes.
- You can repeat the process up to 10 times.
You don't need to add sugar or honey: extra ingredients will only distort the taste. Itself & laquo; Dragon Well & raquo; pretty sweet. Try to feel every note of its taste as much as possible, which will reveal itself as much as possible after the third brew.
A few sips of a really high-quality drink can quickly quench thirst, relieve fatigue and give strength. It can and should be consumed during vitamin deficiency (spring and autumn).
Store Longjing tea leaves at low temperatures & ndash; so the Dragon Well will not lose its useful properties. After brewing, its fermentation will continue, which means & ndash; it is the only green variety that retains its qualities throughout the year.