Believe it or not, both West Lake Longjing Tea and Dahongpao are historic teas in China. Both are part of the top ten famous teas in China, with exceptional quality and unique flavors. Drinking them offers numerous benefits. But which is better: West Lake Longjing or Dahongpao? What are the differences between them? Let's explore further.
Which is better, West Lake Longjing or Dahongpao?
1. West Lake Longjing
Longjing tea is produced in the beautiful region of West Lake, Zhejiang Province. It is renowned for its green color, elegant shape, rich aroma, and mellow taste. Its unique qualities of being light yet far-reaching and fragrant yet clear distinguish it from other famous teas, making it the top among the top ten teas.
The picking of West Lake Longjing has three characteristics: early picking, tender picking, and frequent picking. The tenderness of the tea leaves is the foundation for high-quality Longjing tea. Frequent picking means leaving larger leaves while picking smaller ones, with about 30 pickings per year.
West Lake Longjing tea is traditionally crafted using a variety of techniques such as tossing, shaking, spreading, fanning, pressing, throwing, grabbing, pushing, snapping, and grinding. Different qualities require different handling methods.
Due to differences in natural environment and processing techniques, West Lake Longjing tea is categorized into five types: Lion, Dragon, Cloud, Tiger, and Plum.
2. Dahongpao
Dahongpao is produced in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province. It is a semi-fermented Oolong tea, belonging to the green tea category. With excellent quality, it is also one of the top ten famous teas. Dahongpao has a tightly twisted appearance, produces an orange-yellow and bright infusion, and has red and green leaves. It boasts a natural and rich osmanthus fragrance that is long-lasting, with evident rock character. Dahongpao is very durable; especially the mature aromatic Dahongpao that can be steeped over eight times while still retaining its aroma.
Drinking Dahongpao provides the general effects of tea, such as invigoration, fatigue relief, saliva production, diuretic properties, heat dissipation, antibacterial, detoxification, digestion aid, weight loss, and beauty enhancement. Additionally, it has medicinal benefits like cancer prevention, lipid lowering, anti-aging, and longevity promotion.
When enjoying Dahongpao, it is recommended to use the Gongfu tea method, which emphasizes slow and meticulous tasting. This allows you to appreciate the unique “rock flavor” of rock tea.
Summary: In conclusion, whether West Lake Longjing or Dahongpao is better cannot be definitively answered. Both are premium teas, each with distinct flavors, aromas, and Health benefits. While West Lake Longjing is known for its clarity, Dahongpao is celebrated for its richness. You can choose based on your personal taste preferences.