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 within the boundaries of Hupao, Maojiabu to the east, Yangfusi Temple, Longmenkan, and Hejiacun to the west, Shejing and Fushan to the south, and Laodongyue and Jinyujing to the north, as recognized by the municipal government as tea-producing land.”
The biggest highlight of these regulations is the clear stipulation of management measures for the exclusive identification labels for West Lake Longjing tea. The exclusive label acts like an “ID card” for West Lake Longjing tea, containing information such as the authorized user, vintage, specifications, serial number, and anti-counterfeiting details. Through this label, the traceability management of the fresh leaves' origin of West Lake Longjing tea can be realized. Therefore, when purchasing West Lake Longjing, remember to check for the label!
If you're still worried about your ability to discern authenticity, consider purchasing from official West Lake Longjing tea stores. “West Lake Longjing Tea Specialty Stores” have been officially certified by the Hangzhou Municipal Government since 2001. Certified “West Lake Longjing Tea Specialty Stores” all display green plaques with gold lettering issued by the West Lake District Longjing Tea Industry Association of Hangzhou City. In addition, specialty counters in major malls and supermarkets, as well as flagship stores of authorized companies on e-commerce platforms like Taobao and JD.com, are the most secure channels for purchasing.
02 Each Has Its Own Characteristics in Shape, Aroma, Flavor, and Color
Seasonally speaking, West Lake Longjing tea picked before Qingming Festival is considered the best, known as “Pre-Qingming Tea”; that picked before Grain Rain is slightly inferior, called “Pre-Grain Rain Tea”; while tea harvested after Grain Rain is not considered top-quality.
The sensory quality of West Lake Longjing tea is primarily evaluated through the examination of its dry appearance and wet internal quality, specifically focusing on shape, aroma, taste, liquor color, and leaf base.
Shape Characteristics
The dry appearance of the tea leaves helps identify the weight and quality of the processing, including factors such as tenderness, consistency, color, and purity.
In general, high-quality West Lake Longjing tea is characterized by flat and smooth leaves, sharp and neat, uniformly shaped, and with a vibrant green color. Conversely, loose and rough leaves, light and airy, with exposed veins and a dull yellow color indicate lower quality.
Aroma Characteristics
The aroma is the scent that emanates from the tea leaves when infused with hot water, composed of various aromatic substances.
High-grade West Lake Longjing tea has a fresh and pure fragrance that is clear and long-lasting.
Taste Characteristics
The taste of West Lake Longjing tea is best when fresh, mellow, and sweet. Taste is often closely related to aroma.
Tea with a good aroma typically has a fresher and more refreshing taste, while those with poor aroma usually have a bitter or coarse flavor.
Liquor Color Characteristics
The liquor color is the color produced by the pigments in the tea leaves when infused with boiling water, mainly assessed for hue, brightness, and clarity.
The liquor color of West Lake Longjing tea should be clear and bright, with deep yellow indicating lower quality.
Leaf Base Characteristics
The leaf base refers to the residue left after brewing. It is measured by the ratio of buds and tender leaves and the overall tenderness.
High-quality West Lake Longjing tea should have fine and intact buds and leaves, uniformly arranged, and bright green. Poor-quality leaf bases appear dull, coarse, and thin.
03 Touch, Look, Smell, and Taste Are All Essential
When selecting West Lake Longjing tea, first determine your needs based on purpose, budget, and preferences, then follow these steps for sensory evaluation.
Touch
Judge the dryness of the tea.
Select a single dry tea leaf at random, place it between your thumb and index finger, and crush it with force. If it turns into powder, it indicates sufficient dryness; if it breaks into small pieces, it suggests insufficient dryness or that the tea has absorbed moisture. Insufficiently dried tea is difficult to store and lacks aroma.
Look
Examine whether the dry tea conforms to the basic characteristics of Longjing tea, including shape, color, and uniformity.
Smell
Assess the aroma of the dry tea for its intensity and type, checking for any smoky, burnt, sour, stale, or moldy odors and other undesirable smells.
Taste
Once the moisture content, appearance, color, and aroma of the dry tea meet the criteria, proceed to Brew and taste.
Generally, place 3 grams of Longjing tea in a cup or bowl, pour in 150 milliliters of boiling water. After 5 minutes, smell the aroma, observe the liquor color, savor the taste, and evaluate the leaf base. This step is particularly crucial.