Spring Pre-Qingming Long Jing green tea was harvested and processed in early April in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Harvesting in the spring season ensures a superb taste, as the plant retains all the nutrition gathered during the winter. It is a gentle, refined tea with sweet, roasted notes and a silky body, reminiscent of a warm spring morning with its freshness.
Tasting – Sight and smell
The leaves of this Spring Pre-Qingming Long Jing green tea, with its characteristic flattened shape, are glossy and vibrant yellow-green hues. Once infused, they give off sweet plant notes and roasted nuts. The liquor in the cup is pale yellow, and in suspension are discernible particles of baihao, the silvery down that covers and protects the buds in which this tea is rich.
Tasting Notes
GONG FU CHA
Spring Pre-Qingming Long Jing green tea infusion is super sweet and silky smooth on the palate. Roasted notes of nuts such as almonds and walnuts emerge gently. Vegetable scents are light and sweet: hints of zucchini and steamed chard can be tasted. With the second infusion, the roasted notes are accentuated, with a touch of savory flavor reminiscent of peanuts. With the third and subsequent infusions, fresh plant notes of lettuce and freshly cut young grasses return. Astringency is barely noticeable and perfectly balanced.
WESTERN
In the opening, Spring Pre-Qingming Long Jing green tea immediately brings out roasted notes of nuts, such as pecans and almonds. The taste evolves into decidedly sweet notes and delicate vegetable hints: we find notes of fresh salad, zucchini and carrots and a round and pleasant umami. The closure brings back toasty notes to the palate, which linger for a long time.
Place of origin
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Brewing method
We strongly recommend infusing Spring Pre-Qingming Long Jing green tea in the traditional Chinese method (gong fu cha) to best enjoy these leaves. Following this preparation, 5 grams of leaves (about 3 teaspoons) can be used in a gaiwan of about 150 ml to make several infusions with different tastes. After a quick rinse of the leaves in water at 75°C, one can proceed with an initial infusion of 25 seconds, and after that, keeping the water at the same temperature, proceed with multiple infusions, increasing the time by 10 seconds each time (25 – 35 – 45…)
This tea has a longevity of about 5 infusions.
For a classic preparation according to the Western style, we recommend 3 grams of leaves (about 2 teaspoons) in a 200-mL cup with water at 75°C for an infusion time of 3 minutes.
The tea can be filtered for greater ease at the moment of tasting, and also the infusion times indicated above are intended to be purely indicative, so you can also adjust according to your personal taste.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.