品西湖龍井，悟千年茶道

陜西寶雞中學 呂昕滿

Longjing Tea, also known as West Lake Dragon Well Tea, is named after its production region—Longjing Village of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

West Lake Dragon Well Tea has topped the list of the ten most famous teas in China and is characterized by its green color, delicate aroma(芳香), mellow (醇厚濃香的) taste and beautiful shape. The five main production regions are Lion Peak (Shi Feng) Mountain, Longjing Village,Five Cloud (Wuyun) Mountain, Tiger Running(Hupao) Temple and Meijiawu. The superior geographical environment and good quality water resources around West Lake have contributed much to the growth of Longjing Tea, comfirming the saying that “Longjing Tea is the best among all of the Teas in the world, and the best Longjing Tea is produced on Lion Peak Mountain”. Its history can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty (618—907), and it has been famous in China since the Song Dynasty (960—1279), prevailing in the Ming (1368—1644) and Qing(1616—1911) Dynasties.

Both the picking and making processes of Longjing Tea are carefully prepared and organized in order to make sure it retains its high quality and original flavor, according to which Longjing Tea is classified into six grades (from superior to the fifth grade).

Much importance is emphasized on the timeliness of the leaves being picked, and the tea leaves that are picked before the Qingming Festival(Tomb-Sweeping Day) or after the “Grain Rain” period (6th solar term) are considered to be the top grade, while the leaves picked between the Qingming Festival and the “Grain Rain” period are considered almost worthless.

The process of making Longjing Tea is very strict. It usually employs iron pans for baking the tea, and it involves ten techniques based on different temperatures and moisture, including shaking, grasping, pressing, grinding (碾), rubbing, and throwing. A skillful tea-making master knows exactly how and when to use a certain technique according to the changes of moisture and temperature.

Longjing Tea is a delicious beverage with potential health benefits owing to its rich antioxidant (抗氧化物質) content. However, it's also rich in caffeine, which could adversely affect some tea drinkers in large enough amounts, so don't drink too much.

Critical Thinking

What words can we use to describe the picking and making processes of Longjing Tea?