Longjing (龙井) is a pan-roasted green tea where it is mostly produced by bare hands in iron pans and has been reowned for its exquisite quality.
Longjing, which literally translates as "Dragon Well," is said to have named after a well that contains relatively dense water, and after rain the lighter rainwater floating on its surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous and twisting boundary with the well water, which is supposed to resemble the movement of a Chinese dragon.
Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or Imperial tea, in Qing Dynasty by Chinese emperor Kangxi.
According to the legend, Kangxi's grandson Qianlong visited West Lake during one of his famous holidays. He went to the Hu Gong Temple under the Lion Peak Mountain (Shi Feng Shan) and was presented with a cup of Longjing tea. In front of the Hu Gong Temple were 18 tea bushes. Emperor Qianlong was so impressed by the Longjing tea produced there that he conferred these 18 tea bushes special imperial status. The trees are still living and the tea they produce is auctioned annually for more money per gram than gold.
During one of his visits to the tea plantations in Hangzhou, the emperor’s mother became ill, forcing him to return at once taking some tea leaves.
Upon his arrival, his mother was intrigued by the smell of the tea leaves and the emperor brewed them for her. She soon improved and the emperor granted Imperial status to the temple tea trees.
This tea is harvested in early spring and then only young buds are plucked. Another step in the process that is unique to this tea is the roasting. This magical art is done by hand in iron pans.
Benefits :
- High antioxidants, Vitamin C !#!amp!*! amino acids
- Aids weight loss, one of the highest concentrations of green tea antioxidants
- Lower bad cholesterol
- Promote blood circulation