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West Lake Longjing is the only green tea in China with a protected designation of origin, meaning authentic Xihu Longjing can only come from the villages around West Lake in Hangzhou. What sets it apart from other green teas is the hand pan-firing technique, which halts oxidation and gives the leaves their signature flat shape and a distinctive roasted warmth. The 2025 spring harvest, picked before the Qingming Festival, brews a clean, pale cup with notes of fresh vegetables, roasted chestnut, and a soft, lingering sweetness.
Estimated delivery Tuesday, 3 Mar
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Longjing is China's most celebrated green tea, and West Lake is the only region where it holds a protected designation of origin. This matters: the name "Longjing" is widely used across China, but only tea grown in the villages around West Lake in Hangzhou can carry the full Xihu designation. The microclimate here is unlike anywhere else, with low rolling hills, persistent mist, and the lake itself moderating temperatures throughout the year. This keeps the growing season slow and the flavor development high.
What also sets Longjing apart from other green teas is its processing. After picking, the leaves are pressed and shaped by hand in a hot wok in a technique called "sha qing," or kill-green. This step halts oxidation and simultaneously gives the leaves their signature flat, spear-like shape and a distinctive roasted warmth that grassy green teas simply do not have.
The 2025 spring harvest was picked before the Qingming Festival in early April, when the leaves are at their youngest and most flavorful. In the cup, the liquor is pale and clear, with fresh vegetal notes, roasted chestnut, a soft buttery quality, and a clean, lingering sweetness.
Oxidation
Stimulation
Fermentation
Body
Amount
3-5 g / 200 ml
Temperature
80°C / 176°F
Infusions
Up to 4
Infusion Time
30 sec (+5 sec every new infusion)
Needs Rinsing
No
Origin
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Cultivar
West Lake
Elevation
300 meters
West Lake, known in Chinese as Xihu, lies in Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, and is the only tea region in China with a protected designation of origin for Longjing. This means that authentic Xihu Longjing can only come from the villages within this specific area, among them Shifeng, Meijiawu, Yunxi, Hupao, and Longjing village itself. The region's geography is defined by low rolling hills rather than towering mountains, which creates a humid, misty microclimate with minimal temperature swings throughout the year. The lake itself plays an active role in this, keeping the area cooler in summer and warmer in the colder months, slowing the growth of the tea plants and allowing the leaves to develop a fuller concentration of flavor. Tea has been cultivated here for over a thousand years, and West Lake Longjing was historically served as tribute tea to Chinese emperors. It remains one of the most recognized and respected teas in the world today.
Green Tea
2025
Pure and refined, with a soft chestnut warmth, tender vegetal sweetness, and a clean, lingering finish true to its West Lake origins.
Store in a cool, dry, airtight container away from light and strong smells
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