-
The maximum shelf life of Pre-Ming Longjing tea is how many years
The shelf life of Pre-Ming Longjing tea is 12 months. Pre-Ming Longjing tea is harvested early, and it is rich in quality with a high degree of freshness and briskness, suitable for brewing and drinking as soon as possible. It is not recommended for long-term storage. Under normal circumstances, Pre-Ming Longjing tea can be stored for 12 months. When storing, it should be placed in a cool place and attention should be paid to keeping it dry, preventing dampness, avoiding sunlight, avoiding exposure to light, and preventing odors. How to store Pre-Ming Longjing tea 1. Lime storage method To store Longjing tea using lime, first lay out block lime at the bottom of a lime jar, then wrap it in paper. Store the tea in 0.5 kg packages in the jar, cover it, and seal it for storage. The aroma of the Longjing tea will become increasingly fresh and fragrant. 2. Metal canister storage method When storing Longjing tea in a metal canister, place some tea wood in the canister and shake it while covering it or roast it with fire to remove any odors. Then put the Longjing tea leaves into the metal canister and seal the lid with… -
The Extreme Beauty of Longquan Celadon
Chinese people have a long-standing obsession and fascination with certain colors. One is the "sky-blue color waiting for rain" of the Ruyao "qing," while the "qing" of Longquan celadon is another. The green mountains yield celadon from Longquan, and over two thousand years ago, the people of Zhejiang's Longquan began writing the legendary history of creating celadons. Whether it is the layered green glaze colors, the interwoven textures of the porcelain shards, or the rounded and unique shapes, Longquan celadon always precisely stirs the Chinese sense of "beauty." The ceramic authority Chen Wanli once said: "Half of China's ceramic history lies in Zhejiang; half of Zhejiang's ceramic history lies in Longquan." The production of Longquan porcelain has a long history. It is the capital of celadon and swords, a national historical and cultural city, and a national advanced city in culture. Longquan got its name from a sword. During the Spring and Autumn period, Ouyezi cast three swords in Longquan, naming one "Longyuan," which became the place name. Later, to avoid offending the Tang Dynasty's founder, Li Yuan, it was changed to Longquan. During the Three Kingdoms and Jin periods, local residents relied on natural conditions to fire celadon. At…- 1
- 0
-
Interpretation of “Looking South of the River” (Part Three): Does the West Lake Longjing Tea Garden Need Human Management?
Let's start with a chart of the Longjing family relationships. The head of the family is Hang Jiahe, who has a daughter named Hang Pan with his former wife Fang Xiling. In the previous article, we mentioned the love at first sight between Hang Pan and Nationalist pilot Cao Jiayuan. Hang Pan is in charge of overseeing hundreds of acres of tea garden, including the famous Lion Peak Hu Gong Temple area. By "overseeing," it mainly means managing the garden rather than preventing others from stealing tea leaves. During the month or so when Longjing tea is picked and processed, there are many people bustling about on the mountain, making it difficult to steal tea. If it's not the picking and processing season, stealing tea would be pointless because the resulting tea would taste terrible and couldn't even be sold as vegetables. Hang Pan's oversight is essentially garden management. The People's Liberation Army took over ten days to capture Hangzhou, officially announcing its liberation on May 3, 1949. The first third of "Looking South of the River" describes the winter and spring before the liberation of Hangzhou. In her diary, Hang Pan wrote: "The fighting has started again, and everywhere… -
Purple Clay Trivia: Can the Speed of Drying after Watering a Purple Clay Teapot Indicate the Quality of the Clay?
A common question I often receive from teapot enthusiasts is: can the speed at which a teapot dries after being watered determine the quality of the clay used? In fact, there is no direct correlation between how quickly a teapot dries and the quality of its clay. Nor should the speed at which water dries be used to distinguish whether a teapot is made of genuine purple clay. Below are several examples to illustrate this: The speed at which the water dries is directly related to the following factors:1. The surface finish (mingzhen) of the teapot: If the surface finish is well-executed, the water will dry faster; otherwise, it will take longer.2. The fineness of the clay (mesh size): A higher mesh size (finer sand particles) means that the body of the teapot is more compact, so the water will naturally dry faster. Conversely, it will take longer. 3. The shape of the teapot: Certain shapes, like the Beauty of West Lake, Dragon Egg, or Siting teapots, do not tend to retain water on their surfaces due to their smooth contours, so they dry quickly. On the other hand, shapes like the Antique, Flat Lotus Cover, or Hollowed Flat teapots…- 2
- 0
-
How to Buy a Genuine “Red Clay” Purple Clay Teapot?
The red clay teapot is known for its lustrous and graceful appearance, particularly in smaller sizes. It is regarded as an elegant lady from a distinguished family by collectors and is highly favored by enthusiasts. Red Clay Companion Chrysanthemum TeapotThere are many different types of teapots on the market today, all claiming to be made of red clay. Some have very bright colors while others are more subdued, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake ones.What does a genuine "red clay" purple clay teapot look like?What is Red Clay?In Yixing's clay deposits, there is a type of ore called "tender clay," which is found in mountainous areas around Dingshu Town. The red clay ore is located at the lowest layer of this tender clay deposit. Raw Ochre Clay from Zhaozhuang and Firing Test PiecesLater, based on differences in the original layers and degree of weathering, the red clay was classified into ochre clay, small red clay, and large red robe clay, among others. Ochre clay is considered the finest of the red clays and has a higher iron content than other purple clay materials.False Red Clay Teapots1. The teapot shown below is a vivid red and has a…- 1
- 0
-
Green Tea is Best Enjoyed Fresh – Instead of Worrying About the Expiry Date, Learn How to Store It Properly!
1. It's the perfect season for selecting and enjoying fresh green tea. There are many varieties of green tea, and the optimal sales period for high-quality teas is short. You may buy some to try the new season's flavors, stock up on your favorites, or exchange them as gifts with relatives and friends... Before you know it, you've accumulated a good amount of tea. And the typical shelf life indicated for green tea is "one year." Many tea enthusiasts have found themselves with leftovers beyond this timeframe, handling them in various ways. Some continue drinking it as usual, while others believe it can no longer be consumed and dispose of it or use it as fertilizer. Image: Yulü from Enshi, Hubei Can green tea still be consumed after its expiry date (usually one year)? Based on our experience at Tea Encyclopedia: Drink it within the shelf life and as soon as possible; after the expiry date, whether it can still be consumed depends more on the current quality of the tea. In other words, rather than fixating on an uncertain time point, consider the following questions. — How can we store green tea daily to preserve its freshness as much…- 1
- 0
-
Exploring Tea Garden Revitalization Through Pruning in Hubei
Tea picking requires a large amount of labor and is highly seasonal. With urbanization, there has been a significant loss of young and able rural labor, increasing the demand for mechanized tea picking. However, we have gradually discovered that mechanically harvested tea gardens often quickly develop chicken claw branches and experience a rapid decline in the quality of fresh tea leaves.In late April 2023, I conducted a pruning and revitalization experiment in my family's tea garden in Enshi, Hubei, primarily attempting to replicate the tea garden management practices of the West Lake Longjing region in Hangzhou. This involves heavy pruning of the tea plants in late April to early May, followed by fertilization, and another heavy pruning in mid-to-late July to promote the growth of more productive branches, with a light pruning in November. The goal is to maximize the benefits of spring tea production. Figure 1 shows the result of my pruning at the time, preserving the main branches. Figure 1 However, out of laziness, I wanted to see what the effect would be without fertilizing or pruning again in mid-to-late July, so I only performed the initial pruning. During my visit home for the holidays this year, I… -
Unifying the Strength of Youth to Meet the Opportunities and Challenges in the Tea Industry
Recently, the Top 100 list for the 2024 Zhejiang Rural Revitalization Shared Prosperity Youth Pioneer “Qingniu Award” was announced, with one outstanding youth from our district, Zhang Yicheng, making the cut. To further leverage the exemplary leadership role of these young pioneers and rally a broad range of youth, including returnee college students, to actively participate in rural revitalization, on August 7th, Zhang Yicheng delivered a talk themed around “Unifying the Strength of Youth to Meet the Opportunities and Challenges in the Tea Industry.” He observed and summarized predictions for the development trends of China’s tea industry from various angles, including growth in market demand, changes in consumption habits, the rise of new tea beverages, opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative, smart tea industry development, as well as challenges and shortcomings, encouraging everyone to actively contribute to rural revitalization. Following this, Zhang Yicheng taught a class on the handcrafted production techniques of West Lake Longjing tea, carefully explaining and demonstrating to college students learning these skills. The youths made friends over tea, listened attentively, and learned together, collectively experiencing the unique charm of the handcrafted production techniques of West Lake Longjing tea. Submitted by: Youth League Committee of…- 1
- 0
-
Facing the Heatwave, Tea Villages in the West Lake Scenic Area Have Measures to Protect Their Crops
With Hangzhou experiencing continuous hot and sunny weather, many citizens are concerned about how the West Lake Longjing tea is faring.Today, reporters learned from the West Lake Scenic Area that overall, the tea villages and tea fields are holding up well. Although temperatures are high, yesterday’s thunderstorm helped alleviate some of the drought conditions in the tea fields. Currently, various tea villages have started implementing measures to protect their tea trees from the sun and provide them with sufficient water. Through a range of actions, they aim to ensure the tea trees can survive the summer safely. "During this period of continuous high temperatures and drought, tea farmers are taking great care in nurturing their tea trees. Starting from July, flat tea fields without shade, such as parts of Shuangfeng Village, began laying down agricultural sunshades. Tea fields with irrigation facilities are being watered by farmers every morning and evening to ensure the tea trees receive adequate moisture," explained Lu Yiqing, a staff member of the Agricultural Technology Service Station of the West Lake Subdistrict. "Laying down sunshades requires attention to detail; they should not be placed directly on top of the tea trees but should leave enough space to…- 4
- 0
-
Processing Technology: The Manufacturing Process and Key Points of Dongting Mountain Biluochun Tea from Suzhou
Dongting Mountain Biluochun tea is one of the top ten famous teas in China, ranking alongside Longjing tea from West Lake. It is produced in Dongting Mountain (now Dongshan Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou) and Xidongting Mountain (now Jinjing Town, Wuzhong District, on the West Hill Island of Taihu Lake, Suzhou). The tea groves and orchards are integrated, with tea plants interplanted among peach, plum, apricot, and loquat trees, representing a typical intercropping model of tea and fruit. The manufacturing process for Dongting Mountain Biluochun requires high standards, with premium-quality tea leaves needing to be handcrafted. The raw materials consist of the tender buds from a single bud and leaf at the initial stage of development from the local tea variety. Producing one pound of Dongting Mountain Biluochun requires 65,000 such buds, which are carefully processed through five steps: spreading, fixation, rolling, shaping, and baking. The finished Dongting Mountain Biluochun has a slender, tightly rolled shape resembling a snail, with visible bee legs, densely covered in white down, and a silvery-green hue with a hint of emerald. The infusion is bright yellowish-green, with a fresh aroma and prominent fruity fragrance. The taste is fresh and strong, with a noticeable fruity flavor.… -
How to Buy Authentic West Lake Longjing Tea Without Being Deceived: These Methods Are for You
If we compare the West Lake to Xi Shi, we can say that fine tea is like a beautiful woman. The excellence of West Lake Longjing tea needs no further elaboration, but the market is full of mixed quality and it's hard to distinguish between genuine and fake products. If you end up with inferior tea, it will undoubtedly affect your enjoyment of the tea. Therefore, knowing some tips for selecting West Lake Longjing tea is crucial. Here’s how to discern the quality of West Lake Longjing tea: How to Select West Lake Longjing Tea? 1. Touch Judge the dryness of the tea. Pick a random piece of dried tea and crush it between your thumb and index finger. If it turns into powder easily, then it is sufficiently dry; if it breaks into small pieces, then it is not dry enough or has absorbed moisture. Tea that is not dry enough is difficult to store and lacks aroma. 2. Look Check if the dried tea meets the basic characteristics of Longjing tea: West Lake Longjing tea has a lustrous green color, a delicate and elegant fragrance, a fresh and mellow taste, and a shape resembling a sparrow’s tongue, possessing the four distinct features… -
One Minute Guide to Tips for Selecting Tea
There are many varieties of tea in China, and it's unlikely that non-professionals can judge the quality of every type. Typically, people are familiar with just a few kinds they like. Teas from their place of origin tend to be purer, but differences in tea-making techniques result in varying qualities. Therefore, it’s essential for ordinary tea drinkers to know some tips for buying tea. 1. When buying loose tea, use two fingers to grind a few tea strips or granules. If they turn into powder, it indicates the tea is dry. If they only break into small pieces, it suggests the tea has absorbed moisture and should not be purchased. 2. Take a pinch of tea and place it in your palm. Blow gently on it to warm the leaves slightly, releasing their aroma. Smell carefully to evaluate if the scent is pure and lasting. Repeat several times to discern the strength and persistence of the aroma. Also, check for any abnormal odors such as smoke, burnt, sour, or other off smells. 3. If the dry tea emits a strong, lingering fragrance, there's a high chance it has been artificially scented. The tea may smell very fragrant but lacks taste… -
The Market Price of Green Tea per Pound
Green tea is one of the most common types of tea on the market, and there are many varieties. The price of different types and qualities of green tea varies slightly. Cheaper green teas can be bought for several dozen yuan per pound, while more expensive ones can reach several thousand yuan per pound. In addition, the price of green tea can also vary slightly depending on location and season. Actual prices should be based on local market conditions. Different Market Prices of Green Teas 1. Longjing Tea: 800 to 8,000 yuan Longjing tea has a prominent reputation among green teas. When the first batches of West Lake Longjing hit the market, they can sell for around 3,000 to 5,000 yuan per pound. This price maintains for about four or five days before gradually decreasing. By the time of Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day), the price may fall to as low as 800 yuan per pound. Some extremely high-quality West Lake Longjing can sell for 5,000 to 8,000 yuan per pound. If there is any speculation, the price might even reach 10,000 yuan per pound. 2. Biluochun: 400 to 5,000 yuan The price of authentic Biluochun generally ranges from 400 yuan… -
West Lake Longjing
Basic Introduction to West Lake LongjingWest Lake Longjing, named after the Longjing tea area in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It is one of China's Top Ten Famous Teas. If we compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Shi, then the best tea is like a beautiful lady. Longjing is both a place name, a spring name, and a tea name. The tea is characterized by "four unique qualities": green color, rich aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape. Top-grade West Lake Longjing is flat, smooth, and straight, with a tender green luster, fresh and high aroma, fresh and sweet taste, and delicate leaves that resemble flowers. Pre-Qingming Longjing, picked before the Qingming Festival, is also known as "Daughter Red." "The courtyards outside laugh at the wind and lotus; pre-Qingming Longjing is like daughter red." This poetic sentence vividly captures the essence of West Lake Longjing. It combines famous mountains, temples, lakes, springs, and tea, and drinking a cup of Longjing reveals the unique and remarkable tea culture of Longjing.The West Lake Longjing is grown in the hills around Lion Peak, Wengjiashan, Hupao, Meijiawu, Yunqi, and Lingyin in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Here, the climate is mild, with abundant rainfall and diffuse light. The… -
Longjing (Dragon Well) Green Tea
Southwest of West Lake in Hangzhou, China’s Zhejiang province, Longjing (Dragon Well) Village has taken credit for having a premium Chinese green tea and Chinese tea culture, named Longjing tea or West Lake Dragon Well tea (Chinese: 西湖龙井; Chinese Pinyin: Xihu Longjin) for approximately 1200 years. This Chinese tea is produced mostly by hand and with a reputation as the first among the ten famous teas in China. Longjing Tea was the royal tea in Qing Dynasty and has long been hailed as the "Queen of Green Tea Chinese" for its four outstanding features: emerald green color, rich fragrance, sweet taste and beautiful shape. The Plantation Areas of Longjing (Dragon Well) Green Tea Longjing Village abounds with the best Chinese green tea by enjoying favorable geographical, climate and water conditions. With the West Lake to the east, Mt. Wuyunshan to the west, Qiantang River to the south and several high mountains to the north, the village is protected from the cold front from the north and ensured with a warm and humid climate in spring and summer. Most of the Longjing green tea plantation fields distribute around Longjing mountain area including Lingyin, Hupao, Shifeng Peak, Longjing Village, and Meijiawu Village, where the… -
New Advances in the Application of Intelligent Control Technology for Tea Processing Equipment
With continuous technological advancements and growing market demands, the application of intelligent control technology has become a key factor in driving the development of the tea industry. Therefore, studying intelligent control technology for tea processing equipment is of great significance to the production and development of China's tea. This review summarizes the latest research progress on intelligent control technology in green tea, black tea (red tea in China), and dark tea primary production lines, exploring innovative applications of intelligent withering equipment and intelligent pan-firing machines in the refinement process of tea. This can provide insights for future research on intelligent control technology for tea processing equipment. I. Research on the Application of Intelligent Control Technology in Primary Production Lines for Tea 1. Green Tea Production Line Green tea, the most common and widely consumed type of tea in China, has seen the introduction of smart production lines by many companies. These production lines are equipped with data collection and management capabilities to achieve digitalized processing. Photographed by the Editorial Department of China Tea The automated production line system for stir-fried green tea is precise and highly automated, enabling fully automatic continuous production of green tea. Advanced energy-saving production equipment and…- 2
- 0
-
The Dilemma of Brewing Tea: Should You Leave the Lid Off to “Vent Aroma”? Or On to “Stew the Tea”?
Many tea lovers may wonder when brewing tea, "Should I leave the lid on or off after pouring the infusion from a teapot or gaiwan?" In fact, whether it's a gaiwan or a teapot, whenever the question arises about leaving the lid off or on, there are typically two schools of thought: the "Lid-Off School" and the "Lid-On School." Members of each school often have strong opinions and can get into heated debates. 1. Reasons for Keeping the Lid On To Prevent Loss of Aroma Putting the lid on is to prevent the excessive dispersion of the tea's aroma. With the lid and gaiwan in a relatively closed state, it helps to gather the tea's aroma within the gaiwan, making it easier to appreciate the lid's aroma. 2. As the Saying Goes, "Good Tea Can Withstand Stewing" If the quality of the tea is good enough, covering it with a lid won't affect it. This can also be a way to test the quality of the tea. If the taste isn't affected, it suggests that it's a good tea. 3. Facilitates Faster Release of Inner Substances When brewing aged teas or coarser leaves, keeping the lid on helps maintain the…- 2
- 0
-
Changdian Village: Village-level Consultations Yield Tea Industry Growth
"The Xihu District of Hangzhou City should earnestly implement the important concept of 'two mountains' put forward by President Xi Jinping and accelerate the industrialization work of Xihu White Tea. Further efforts should be made to speed up the construction of 'Hangzhou standards,' incorporating Xihu White Tea into a high-standard system, achieving precise management of production data and online digital management of labels; realize high-level management by including Xihu White Tea in a sound institutional protection system, strengthening administrative law enforcement and collaborative protection; particularly strengthen high-quality promotion by establishing and improving inspection, testing, and quality management systems, formulating a series of standards for 'one green, one red, and one white.'” This is the suggestion from Li Hong, a member of the CPPCC Xihu District Committee. Tea is the national drink, and Hangzhou is its capital. As one of Hangzhou's 'golden business cards,' the Zhuantang Subdistrict, known as the birthplace of West Lake Longjing tea, has long been referred to as a 'century-old tea town with a myriad-tan tea country.' Tea has become an important carrier for the high-quality development of local agriculture. On the afternoon of August 1st, a thematic consultation activity titled "Promoting the exploration and extension of…- 3
- 0
-
The Tea Processing of Xinyang Maojian
The Aroma Achieved Through Baking The tea processing of Xinyang Maojian not only preserves the tenderness of the buds but also enhances their aroma to a certain extent, creating a fresh, smooth, and mellow taste for Maojian tea. The production process of Xinyang Maojian is very meticulous. Before stir-frying, the fresh leaves are sorted according to variety, weather at the time of picking (rainy or sunny), time of day (morning or afternoon), and freshness. They are then graded using bamboo sieves and kept separately. The sorted tea leaves are spread out on a tray; those picked on rainy days should be spread thinly, while those picked on sunny days can be spread more thickly. Once the leaves become soft and have lost some moisture, they are ready for stir-frying. The stir-frying directly determines the quality of Xinyang Maojian, as it is the process that enhances its aroma and also makes the tea suitable for long-term storage. Its technique is also unique, consisting of three steps: raw pan, mature pan, and baking. Although this sounds simple, the actual process is particularly complex. Furthermore, the stir-frying and baking techniques of Xinyang Maojian combine elements from the production methods of Lu'an Guapian and…
❯
Search
Scan to open current page
Top
Checking in, please wait...
Click for today's check-in bonus!
You have earned {{mission.data.mission.credit}} points today
My Coupons
-
$CouponsLimitation of use:Expired and UnavailableLimitation of use:
before
Limitation of use:Permanently validCoupon ID:×Available for the following products: Available for the following products categories: Unrestricted use:Available for all products and product types
No coupons available!
Daily tasks completed