Description

With this spring’s Shifeng Longjing teas behind us, we picked up a limited amount of Pre-rain grade Longjing from both #43 varietal and quntizhong bushes.

The earlier/faster sprouting and higher yielding #43 varietal has an overall more delicate and lighter taste, but there is a consistent and distinct fried-bean taste that carries through, as well as a light floral note.

The quntizhong tea has a comparatively deeper and more complex flavour, developing a more sugary fragrance in subsequent infusions. Many would call this the “original taste” of Longjing.

These teas were picked after the Qingming festival, but before spring rains. This later picking offers a good balance of affordability and quality compared to the pre-ming pickings.

Each purchase is for 25g, making this more accessible than their 100g pre-order counterparts. This is also an excellent opportunity to compare the difference between the quntizhong (heirloom, marked with a gold sticker) and newer #43 varietals.

There are 5 areas within the Xihu (west lake) production area that produce Longjing, each with their own minor differences in processing: Each of these teas come from Shifeng, which is considered the top sub-region in terms of quality.

The other subregions are Longjing, Yunxi, Hupao, and Meijiawu (which produces the largest amount of Longjing out of lot). Tea from these regions are also considered as authentic Xihu Longjing. Other “Longjing” is technically Zhejiang Longjing from Qiantang or Yuezhou.

Additional information