Longjing / Long Jing Chinese. Literally, Dragon Well. One of Chinas 10 Most Famous Teas and best-known of all China green teas. First grown around Hangzhou in the West Lake region of Zhejiang, it is praised for its four uniques - jade colour, vegetative aroma, mellow chestnut-like flavour and singular shape. The pan-fired leaf is flat and smooth and slick to the touch---the classic leaf-style for many pan-fired greens. Much Longjing is now produced in Fujian and elsewhere outside the classical area of origin and much of this is very good quality tea. Besides different seasons, there are up to 8 grades of traditional Longjing. Lotus heart connotes the rarest, consisting of bud only; then comes flagged spear, a bud and single leaf; then birds beak, a bud between two leaves. Each grade has a distinctive leaf appearance and varying degrees of flavour. The best infusion of Longjing is made with water from Hupao (Tiger Run) Spring. Visitors to Hangzhou are almost always taken to Tiger Run Spring for a cup of Longjing tea. Names like Lions Peak and the other three or four sub-districts of the classic growing area now represent distinctions where there is no difference, so serious has industrial pollution become in the Greater Hangzhou area. (Pratt 2010)
