Longjing Tea is a famous green tea. Produced in the Zhejiang region, Longjing tea has a bright green color, rich aroma, sweet and refreshing taste, and a shape resembling a sparrow's tongue. It is characterized by its “four unique qualities”: color, aroma, taste, and appearance. Furthermore, the amino acids, catechins, Vitamin C, and other components found in Longjing tea are more abundant than in other teas, making it nutritionally rich and having many benefits. Below, I will explain the numerous benefits and effects of Longjing tea.
Ingredients
Benefits of Longjing Tea
1. Quenches thirst, boosts alertness, aids digestion, and has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties.
2. Antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anticarcinogenic, reduces cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in the blood, inhibits blood pressure rise, prevents platelet aggregation, antibacterial, and antiallergenic.
Effects of Longjing Tea
1. Longjing tea has an invigorating effect:
The caffeine in tea can stimulate the central nervous system, helping to refresh the mind, improve thinking, relieve fatigue, and increase work efficiency.
2. Longjing tea has a diuretic effect:
The caffeine and theophylline in tea have a diuretic effect, used for treating edema and water retention. Using black tea with sugar for its detoxifying and diuretic effects can treat acute jaundice hepatitis.
3. Longjing tea has a cardioactive and antispasmodic effect:
Caffeine has cardioactive, antispasmodic, and muscle-relaxing effects, capable of alleviating bronchospasm, promoting circulation, and being a good adjuvant treatment for bronchial asthma, cough relief, and myocardial infarction.
4. Longjing tea inhibits atherosclerosis:
The polyphenols and Vitamin C in tea have blood circulation improvement and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Therefore, those who regularly drink tea tend to have lower incidences of hypertension and coronary heart disease.
5. Longjing tea has antibacterial and antifungal effects:
The polyphenols and tannins in tea act on bacteria, coagulating bacterial proteins and killing them. They can be used to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and enteritis. Skin ulcers, abscesses, and wounds can be treated with concentrated tea, which has antibacterial and antiseptic effects. Oral inflammation, ulcers, and sore throats can also be treated with tea to some extent.
6. Longjing tea aids weight loss:
Compounds such as caffeine, inositol, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and aromatic substances in tea can regulate fat metabolism, especially Oolong Tea has excellent protein and fat breakdown effects. The polyphenols and Vitamin C can reduce cholesterol and lipids, so Drinking Tea can aid in weight loss.
7. Longjing tea prevents tooth decay:
Fluoride in tea has high affinity with tooth enamel, forming a less soluble compound called “fluorapatite,” like adding a protective layer to teeth, enhancing their resistance to acid and cavities.
8. Longjing tea inhibits cancer cells:
According to reports, flavonoids in tea have varying degrees of in vitro anticancer effects, with strong effects seen in compounds such as chrysin, morin, and catechins. Thus, they have some degree of inhibitory effect on cancer.
brewing Longjing Tea
1. The mid-infusion method for Longjing tea: First pour a small amount of hot water into the cup, then add the Longjing tea leaves, and fill the cup to about seven-tenths full with water; or add the tea leaves first, then pour a small amount of hot water to warm the leaves, wait until the buds have expanded, and then fill the cup to seven-tenths full.
2. When brewing high-grade green tea in a covered bowl, do not tightly seal the lid after pouring water. Leave it slightly ajar to avoid steaming the green tea buds, which could affect the flavor of the tea infusion.
Drink the tea after removing the lid. If tea leaves are swallowed, it is best to spit them out.
Steps:
1. Prepare utensils:
Prepare the tea leaves and teaware.
2. Warm the covered bowl:
Warm the covered bowl with boiling water.
3. Warm the lid:
Warm the lid and discard the rinse water.
4. Add an appropriate amount of West Lake Longjing gently into the covered bowl.
5. Initial steeping:
Pour a small amount of boiling water at around 80 degrees Celsius into the cup, just enough to cover the tea leaves. Watch as the tea gradually absorbs water and begins to unfold, taking approximately 10 seconds.
6. Pour water:
Highly pour water to fill the cup to about seven-tenths full.
7. Main steeping:
Leave the lid slightly ajar to prevent steaming the buds.
8. Savor the tea:
The brewed Longjing tea fully expands, and you can directly taste it from the covered bowl, or pour it into a sharing pitcher for serving.
9. Smell the aroma of the tea liquor in the covered bowl.