Shi Feng Long Jing, Made from the "Old Tea Tree"

We have released Shi Feng Long Jing 2013. To many tea drinkers, Long Jing sounds very familiar, and it has become a common tea nowadays. Any tea that is made into a flat sword shape can be called Long Jing. Yet we only searched for first-plucked Long Jing produced from old trees aged more than 100 years. It is the original mixed cultivar planted at Shi Feng by the West Lake of Hangzhou.

Long Jing No.43 dominates the commercial tea market

In the modern commercial tea market, the sooner a tea is available to sell, the greater its price advantage. For this reason, tea farmers are now more interested in tea cultivars that bud earlier in spring. Generally, the earliest available Long Jing is produced from the cultivar "Long Jing No.43". This cultivar buds about 7 to 10 days earlier than the mixed cultivar of Long Jing. The later-budding mixed cultivar accumulates more functional substances, and it gives a stronger body and after taste, contributing to a more satisfying drinking experience.

The brewed leaf of the mixed cultivar (tea from the old trees) from Shi Feng is supposed to be yellowish.

This tea is only available if it is booked one year ahead. Although we booked this first-plucked old tree Long Jing one year ago, this year we only managed to obtain a very limited quantity; less than a kilogram is available.

Quality Long Jing plucked earliest in spring is generally less than 20mm long. The leaf is bigger if it is plucked later.

Brewing tips

1. Use 3g of tea leaves for 150ml of water.
2. Use hot water at 85-95 degrees C.
3. First rinse the teapot with hot water, and then put the tea leaves into the teapot.
4. After pouring in the hot water, brew for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on your personal preference.
5. From the second brewing onwards, the brewing time is less than a few seconds.
6. The same tea leaves can be brewed 4 to 6 times or more.

The first brew gives a sweet, nutty and floral flavor. The second brew gives a slightly fresh, leafy flavour with a hint of sweet baked seaweed aroma.

Our Chinese green teas are available in our Chinese green tea collection.