Dragon Well

As one of the top ten famous teas in China, Baihao Yinzhen is not only well-known but also enjoyed by many tea enthusiasts. However, do you know the story and origin of Baihao Yinzhen? Legend has it that long ago, there was a prolonged drought in the region around Zhenghe, leading to an outbreak of plague with countless sick and dead. On Donggong Mountain, shrouded in clouds and mist, there was a dragon well, beside which grew some miraculous herbs. The juice squeezed from these herbs could cure all diseases; if dropped into rivers or fields, water would surge forth. Therefore, to save their fellow villagers, someone had to obtain these miraculous herbs. At the time, many brave young men set out to find the miraculous herbs but never returned. A family with three siblings lived nearby. The eldest brother’s name was Zhigang, the second brother was Zhicheng, and the youngest sister was Zhiyu. They decided that the eldest brother would go first to search for the miraculous herbs. If he did not return, the second brother would go next, and if he too failed to come back, then the sister would continue the search. One day, before setting out,…

Basic Introduction to Junan Green Tea Junan Green Tea is a specialty product of Junan County, Shandong Province, and is a Chinese geographical indication agricultural product. The county is renowned as the "Green Tea Hometown." The products are divided into seven major series: "Great Silver Sword, Great White Spring Snail, Emerald Bud, Green Sword, Fur Peak, Pine Needle, Snow Lotus." Junan Green Tea has been recognized by the China National Tea Research Institute for its unique high-quality characteristics: "thick leaves, good for multiple infusions, strong aroma, rich flavor." In national, provincial, and municipal tea competitions, it has won 116 awards above the municipal level, including 20 at the national level and 50 at the provincial level. It has received accolades such as "China's Famous Product" and "The Most Trusted Shandong Product by Consumers," and the county has been named "China's Tea Hometown." Product Features The majority of tea plantations in Junan County are located in hilly areas in the east and south, with towns such as Zhoubian, Zhuanggang, Tuanlin, and Zhulu serving as primary bases for producing high-quality Shandong green tea and ecological garden zones. The tea produced here comes in various forms, such as bud-shaped, needle-shaped, flat-shaped, and bundled…

The launch of West Lake Longjing in March is drawing ever closer, and tea enthusiasts must be getting impatient. West Lake Longjing tea boasts excellent color, aroma, flavor, and appearance. It is light yet far-reaching, clear and fragrant, ranking among China's Top Ten Famous Teas and has been favored by many tea connoisseurs since ancient times. However, faced with the myriad varieties of Longjing on the market, many consumers wonder: how can one buy authentic West Lake Longjing? Today, we've compiled some handy buying tips for you. Let’s take a look. 01 Zhejiang Longjing ≠ West Lake Longjing Historically, based on their origin, West Lake Longjing teas were categorized into five brands: “Lion Peak (Shifeng),” “Dragon Well (Longjing),” “Clouds and Rest (Yunqi),” “Tiger Run (Hupao),” and “Plum Blossom Village (Meijiawu),” with Lion Peak Longjing being the highest quality. However, if you visit small shops or unregulated markets to buy Longjing tea, some vendors might recommend "Zhejiang Longjing" to you. The newly implemented "Regulations for the Protection and Management of West Lake Longjing Tea in Hangzhou City," which came into effect on March 1 this year, clearly defined the production area of West Lake Longjing tea as the following: "The area…

Tea is the national drink, and with the improvement of living standards, more and more people are developing a liking for it. If you enjoy drinking tea, it's inevitable that you'll end up storing some at home—whether for your own consumption or for when guests visit. However, how to store tea is a headache for many tea enthusiasts, as improper storage can easily cause the tea to spoil, affecting its taste and potentially turning it into a "toxic" tea that may be harmful to health. So, what should you do if you have too much tea at home? How to Store Too Much Tea at Home Firstly, we need to categorize the tea stored at home. If there is a large quantity and variety of teas, it's best to sort them by type for better preservation. The storage method varies depending on the fermentation process used in the tea. For lightly roasted or aromatic types of tea, proper sealing is crucial. Choose containers like aluminum packaging or vacuum cans that provide good seals. Additionally, aromatic teas should ideally be stored separately to avoid their scents mixing and compromising the purity of the original aroma. Lightly roasted teas typically include Oolong…

With so many varieties of tea, it can be overwhelming to choose. How to pick the right tea is a common challenge. If you want to buy good quality tea, consider the following suggestions: 1. Avoid buying by "Famous Names" In today's market, almost every tea bears a famous name, such as "Iron Goddess (Tiě Guānyīn), Frozen Peak (Dòngdǐng), or Great Red Robe (Dà Hóngpáo)" for oolong teas, "Dragon Well (Lóngjǐng), Da Fang" for pan-fired green teas, "Green Snail Spring (Bìluóchūn)" for slender green teas, and "Yellow Mountain Fur Peak (Huángshān Máo Fēng)" for plump green teas. Be aware that famous teas are not as common as potatoes. 2. Avoid buying by "Packaging" Poor quality teas are often packaged extravagantly in gold-embellished or antique-styled containers, such as porcelain bottles, tin cans, and redwood boxes. They may look like gold on the outside but are like cotton fluff inside. 3. Avoid buying "Assorted Collections" Dishonest sellers mix poor quality teas and package them as "Five Famous Teas," "Eight Famous Teas," or "Ten Famous Teas." Be cautious; if you want to try all types of famous teas, you need to do some research. 4. Avoid buying by "Place Names" When visiting tea-producing…

Possibly the only Oolong tea that is still processed the old fashioned way, Chinese tea Fenghuang Dancong bushes are growing between 500 to 1400 meters above sea level on the SE mountains slopes of Fenghuang (Phoenix) Mountain in Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, China. Fenghuang Dancong’s production is very limited due to the tea trees’ unique geographical preferences. Local people discovered Dancong tea trees in the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) and started to farm it. As the tip of the leaves resembles the shape of bird beak, it is also called "bird beak tea". The special feature of Dancong tea of China lies in the flavors of tea. According to Wikipedia, "The doppelganger of teas, Dancong teas are noted for their ability to naturally imitate the flavors and fragrances of various flowers and fruits, such as orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond, ginger flower, etc."China Dancong tea’s special functions includes (in addition to the functions of general tea): Reducing the free radicals in the body thus reducing chances of cancer; Lowering cholesterol and fatty tissue levels; Slowing the aging process; A Dancong tea dealer once told us that Dancong from old tea trees could dissolve the meat and rice overnight. We did try…

Basic Introduction to Longjing TeaLongjing Tea is renowned for its emerald green color, beautiful shape, rich aroma, and mellow taste. Its unique characteristics of being "subtle yet far-reaching" and "aromatic yet fresh" set it apart from other teas in terms of divine elegance and exceptional quality, making it the top among China's Ten Most Famous Teas.The picking of Longjing Tea has three distinct features: early, tender, and frequent. As the saying goes among tea farmers, "Tea leaves are like grass that grows by the hour; picked three days early they're a treasure, but three days late they become just grass." The tea is also known for its delicate picking, with the freshness and uniformity of the fresh leaves forming the basis of Longjing's quality. "Frequent" refers to the practice of picking larger leaves while leaving smaller ones, with about 30 batches harvested throughout the year.Traditional Longjing tea processing involves ten techniques: tossing, shaking, spreading, stirring, pressing, flicking, grabbing, pushing, folding, and grinding. Different processing techniques are used for different grades of tea. Due to differences in ecological conditions and processing techniques, West Lake Longjing is categorized into five types: "Lion Peak," "Dragon Well," "Clouds and Mist," "Tiger Run," and "Meiji."The…

The Beauty of Harmony Harmony with all teas. Tea lovers know that green tea should be drunk from a glass cup and oolong tea from a lidded bowl, but the purple clay pot can be used for both green tea and the currently fashionable Pu'er tea. Since people's tea drinking habits changed in the Ming dynasty, the purple clay pot has become the best vessel for drinking tea. At that time, there was only green tea. It wasn't until the mid-Qing dynasty when fermentation techniques were developed and the variety of teas increased that people discovered that the purple clay pot is suitable for all types of tea and can brew the best results. Porcelain is ranked first among tea utensils, whether it is the noble Pu'er or Dragon Well, or even the Jasmine tea of country folk, when placed in a purple clay pot, it will emit the purest aroma and flow out the truest color. Harmony with all things under heaven. Fruits, pears, peaches, human figures, and creatures leap out of the hands of the pot maker, naturally bringing different emotions and wishes to the pot. There is a pot named Wave Spike, said to have been the…

No matter what kind of tea you drink, it should be appropriate for the occasion, time, and person. Drinking the right type of tea can maximize its effects and provide excellent health benefits. Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes that people have different constitutions, being either hot or cold in nature. Teas, after undergoing various processing methods, also have cool and warm properties. Therefore, it is important to consider one's constitution when choosing a tea to drink. A chart showing the properties of the six types of tea. What is your constitution? Which type of tea suits you best? A table matching the nine constitutions with the six types of tea. Cool green tea Dragon Well from West Lake, Anji White Tea, Biluochun from Dongting, Lu'an Guapian, etc. Suitable for those with a hot constitution, high stomach fire, and abundant energy. Drinking this tea on a hot day or when feeling agitated provides a refreshing and cooling sensation. Green tea has good radiation protection effects, making it very suitable for people who work frequently on computers. Contraindications: People with liver disease should avoid drinking green tea, as caffeine is metabolized by the liver, and excessive tea consumption can damage liver function. Pregnant…

As its original producer and cultivator, it’s no surprise that the art of tea is embedded in China’s culture and history. In China, teas aren’t just simple beverages you drink when you’re thirsty. Teas are also central to their spiritual relaxation, and the process of drinking teas also has its own set of etiquettes and related ethics. Additionally, teas have health benefits you definitely wouldn’t want to miss. Know More About Your Favorite Chinese Tea Nowadays, the consumption of tea is spread throughout the world, with most countries having their own variation and unique preparation processes. Still, nothing beats traditional Chinese teas, and fortunately, there are many places you can look. Before you go tea-shopping, it’s best to know what tea you should go for. Below, we’ve got a summary of the things you need to know about your Chinese tea options Green Tea Chinese Green Tea is one of the most common and most consumed teas over the world. The Chinese Green Tea is a type of unfermented tea that doesn’t undergo the usual oxidation and withering process used when making other types of teas. Flavor Profile Chinese Green Tea usually have a sweet and light flavor, coupled with…

You may have heard of cold-brew coffee, but have you ever heard of cold-brew tea? Yes, that thing exists! Cold-brew tea has actually been around for a while, but its popularity is not as high as its hot-brew counterparts. In this article, you will find out more about the history of cold-brew tea, the innovative ways of cold-brewing teas, the caffeine level of cold-brew tea, the differences between cold-brew tea and iced tea and hot-brew tea, and of course, the health benefits of cold-brew tea! Interested? Read more to find out! Traditional way of Cold-brew Cold-brew tea is not a new innovation. The Japanese have long believed that hot-brewing tea destroys the tea’s natural benefits as it burns the tea, which gave rise to the traditional way of cold-brewing teas: steeping tea in cold water for hours. However, this process may take a long time to finish – from 6 to 24 hours. Our way of Cold-brew In this fast-moving world, it is always convenient to have the instant option for our everyday necessities – and that includes cold-brew teas! If you are looking for the natural benefits and low caffeine level of cold-brew tea but steeping your tea for…

Green tea, the oldest of all teas. There is no way you have never heard of green tea or its types – matcha, hojicha, or dragon well. Originated thousands of years ago, green tea has successfully become one of the most famous drinks in the world. Green tea has every right to become famous - refreshing, easy to process, packed with many benefits for our body. You may have seen it, tasted it, or even fallen in love with it - but what exactly is green tea? What is the difference between green tea and black tea? Is it true that green tea has tons of benefits for our bodies? Read on to learn more about this famous type of tea. The history of green tea Legend has it that almost 5000 years ago, Emperor Shénnóng (神農) from China was boiling water in the shade of a wild tea tree when a breeze flew a few leaves into his pot. He drank the mixture and found that it was delicious and refreshing. It turned out that he was sitting under a Camellia sinensis tree, and that mixture was what we know as green tea now. Green tea was then used…

For many people, nothing beats greeting the morning with a nice cup of tea. Its refreshing, clean taste evokes a feeling of calmness and mindfulness. For more than four millennia, tea has delighted, inspired, and satisfied countless drinkers in all corners of the world. Olivia Yang, the author of The Art of Drinking Tea, said that “the Chinese are, without any doubt, the right people to understand everything about tea.” For thousands of years, the Chinese have practiced and maintained the art of tea cultivation, preparation, and consumption. As tea is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, it is best to learn about it from them. Keep reading to know more about the utterly rich Chinese tea culture. Traditional Chinese Tea: The Basics There are several main types of Chinese tea, each one with distinct characteristics. Though all tea came from the same plant source - Camellia sinensis - they can be easily referred to as green tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, and dark tea. Here’s a brief description of each tea. Green Tea When you hear the word "tea," green tea is probably what first comes to your mind. After all, this is not just the oldest…