Introduction to Chinese Dragon Well Green Tea
What is Dragon Well Tea | Dragon Well Tea Cultivation | Properties of Dragon Well Tea | How to Prepare Dragon Well Tea Where to buy dragon well tea
Dragon Well tea, also known as Lung Ching, is a roasted green tea from the Zhejiang province of China. This tea is known as one of the highest quality teas in the world and for having an antioxidant content similar to that of matcha tea . In this post, we'll delve into the history, cultivation, and flavor of this delicious tea.
What is dragon well tea?
Dragon Well green tea is China's most prestigious green tea , grown near Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, famous for its beautiful Xi Hu Lake. Authentic Dragon Well or Lung Ching is made entirely by hand, from harvesting to sifting.
According to legend, around 250 AD, a Taoist monk came across a dragon hiding in a well not far from Hangzhou. The peasants prayed day and night for the return of rain, as a terrible drought was ravaging the region. The monk told the villagers of his discovery, and they implored the dragon in the well to come to their aid. As soon as they began to pray, clouds gathered and it began to pour. To commemorate the event, the tea and an ancient nearby temple were named Dragon Well.
Flavor
Dragon Well tea has beautiful, bright green leaves. The infusion offers generous fragrances reminiscent of nuts (chestnuts), iodine, and spring flowers. Its velvety liquor combines its aromatic richness with sweet and slightly bitter flavors. It is a balanced, potent, and delicate green tea that lives up to its great reputation.
Dragon Well Green Tea Cultivation
Zhejiang province is characterized by high mountains, heavy rainfall, mild temperatures, and numerous foggy days. Due to these climatic conditions, Dragon Well tea is considered a shade-grown tea, along with matcha and sencha teas. Shade-grown teas have the highest concentrations of antioxidants, chlorophyll, and theine.
To ensure the quality and flavor of dragon well or lung ching teas, they are harvested in early spring, specifically before April 5th, the Qingming Festival. This early harvest ensures that dragon well tea is made exclusively from the youngest and freshest leaves.
Once the tea leaves are harvested, they are heated in large woks , just like the Japanese Genmaicha green tea. The highest quality leaves are hand-roasted. Once dried, the leaves are gently crushed and folded.
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Properties of dragon well green tea
As I mentioned earlier, dragon well tea contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants and caffeine , similar to those of matcha tea. For this reason, in addition to its delicious flavor and aroma, this tea is considered one of the green teas with the most health benefits.
1. Antioxidant power
The catechins in dragon well green tea help fight free radicals . Free radicals are responsible for oxidative damage to healthy cells. This cellular damage has been linked to many health problems, from premature aging to heart disease.
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2. Helps you lose weight
Green tea is known for aiding weight loss , being a common ingredient in numerous weight-loss concentrates and supplements. This is due to studies that have shown that green tea accelerates weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
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3. Very energizing
Dragon well green tea contains a similar level of caffeine to matcha tea, and, like matcha, is also rich in an amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine slows the absorption of caffeine in the body, making the energizing effect last longer and last longer , without the typical highs and lows associated with coffee and other energy drinks.
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4. Prevents cardiovascular diseases
Dragon well green tea helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels by increasing the antioxidant capacity of the blood, which protects LDL particles from oxidation. Several studies have shown that people who regularly drink green tea have up to a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
How to prepare dragon well green tea?
Like most green teas, dragon well tea should be steeped at a lower temperature than black teas or oolong teas , which tolerate a higher temperature. This green tea, being more delicate, should be prepared with even cooler water, specifically around 80°C . For optimal results, we recommend using a tea thermometer . If you don't have a thermometer, you can bring the water to a boil and wait 2 minutes before adding it to the teapot.
Add a small spoonful per cup of tea and infuse the leaves at 80ºC for about 2-3 minutes .
Dragon well tea leaves can be steeped up to three times before losing their flavor. Therefore, we recommend letting them dry after steeping before using them again. For best results, increase the steeping time by 30 seconds each time.
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