Description

Premium 2026 West Lake Longjing Green Tea | Pre-Qingming Dragon Well Loose Leaf

Longjing ( Dragon Well) is the most famous Chinese green tea. It grows near the historic West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The pre-Qingming harvest is the most prized of the year. We pick it in the 10 days before Qingming, when the leaves are sweetest.

I first cupped West Lake Longjing at the Hangzhou Tea Market in 2017. A Shifeng farmer poured me a single cup from a thermos. The leaves were flat and jade-green. The liquor was pale yellow-green. There was a chestnut note. I bought 200 grams on the spot.

What Is West Lake Longjing (Dragon Well) Green Tea?

Longjing is a pan-fired green tea. It is grown near West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The name means “Dragon Well” in English. The name comes from a well near the original tea gardens. Locals say the well water looked like dragon scales in the sun.

There are three things that set this tea apart from other green teas:

• It is from West Lake. West Lake Longjing is grown in 10 protected regions around the lake. The most prized region is Shifeng (Lion Peak). Shifeng sits on a south-facing slope. The soil is rocky. The mist is thick. The leaves are slow-grown. The full geography is detailed in the official Wikipedia entry on West Lake.
• It is Mingqian (Pre-Qingming). The harvest happens in the 10 days before Qingming Festival (April 5). Cool weather slows bud growth. Slower growth concentrates flavor. The buds are smaller. The cup is sweeter. Most Chinese drinkers reach for Mingqian in early April.
• It is hand-pressed in small woks. After picking, the leaves go into a heated wok. A master rolls them flat with their palm. Each batch takes 4 to 5 hours. One master can only roast 1 to 2 kg per day. The cultivar is Longjing #43, a plant developed in 1978 for the West Lake region.

What Does Pre-Qingming Longjing Taste Like?

It tastes like roasted chestnuts, sweet butter, and fresh-cut grass. The cup is pale yellow-green. The body is medium-light. There is almost no bitterness. The finish is long and sweet.

The first steep is mostly chestnut and butter. By the second, a vegetal note shows up. By the third, a toasty edge appears. The leaves hold up over 3 to 4 steeps. Each round brings a different note.

I cupped the 2026 lot with two coworkers last month. One said it tasted like roasted chestnuts in a garden. The other said it tasted like buttered toast. Both descriptions are accurate. The cup is fuller than Que She. It is rounder. It is more roasted.

How Much Caffeine Does Longjing Green Tea Have?

It has about 25 to 35 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup. That is less than a cup of coffee (about 95 mg). The lift feels calm, not sharp.

For comparison, here is how it stacks up against other common drinks:

The full data set is available in the official USDA FoodData Central green tea caffeine data. If you are caffeine-sensitive, drink this before 3 p.m.

Is Longjing a Good Tea for Beginners?

Yes. Here is why.

Pan-fired, not steamed

Most green teas are steamed (Japanese sencha, for example). Steamed teas turn grassy and bitter fast. Longjing is pan-fired. Pan-firing locks in a sweet, roasted flavor. The cup is softer. The body is rounder.

Forgiving to brew

Most green teas turn bitter if you steep them too long. Longjing is more forgiving. An extra 30 seconds will not ruin the cup. Water that is 5°C too hot will not turn it bitter. New drinkers can experiment without fear.

Sweet finish, not bitter

The pre-Qingming harvest concentrates amino acids. Amino acids taste sweet. The cup ends on a sweet note. Most beginners are surprised by how sweet Longjing is. The bitterness they expect from green tea is mostly absent.

How to Brew Longjing Green Tea

Western Style

Use 1.5 tsp (approximately 2g) of tea for every 8 oz (240 ml) of water.

• Water Temperature: 175°F (80°C)
• Steeping Time: 2–3 minutes

This method emphasizes the tea’s chestnut aroma and smooth vegetal sweetness.

Gongfu Style

For a more layered and evolving tasting experience:

• Tea-to-Water Ratio: 5g per 100 ml
• Water Temperature: 167–176°F (75–80°C)
• First Infusion: 15–20 seconds
• Add 5–8 seconds for later infusions

High-quality Longjing can comfortably yield 3–4 flavorful infusions.

Cold Brew Method

Cold brewing highlights the tea’s natural sweetness while minimizing tannin extraction.

Add 1.5–2 tsp (approximately 3g) of tea to 8 oz (240 ml) of filtered water and refrigerate for 4–8 hours.

The resulting infusion is crisp, refreshing, naturally sweet, and exceptionally smooth—ideal for warm weather or post-meal enjoyment.

What Makes Longjing Different from Other Green Teas?

Different green teas use different processing. Here is how Longjing compares.

Three things set this tea apart:

• It is pan-fired by hand. Most other pan-fired greens use machines. Longjing is hand-pressed. The pressure flattens the leaf and brings out the chestnut note. Machine-fired greens taste greener and less roasted.
• It is hand-pressed flat. The flat shape is intentional. It gives the leaves more surface area to release flavor. The flat shape also looks distinctive in the cup.
• It is from one place. West Lake Longjing cannot be grown elsewhere. The microclimate, the soil, and the cultivar are tied to the West Lake region. Other Longjing (from other provinces) exists, but it is a different product. The protected geography is documented by the official China Tea Science Society guidelines on Longjing protected regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tea suitable for beginners?

Yes. High-quality Longjing is softer, rounder, and far less bitter than most green teas, especially when brewed at 175°F (80°C). New drinkers can experiment without fear.

How much caffeine does it contain?

Roughly 25 to 35 mg per 8 oz cup. That is less than a cup of coffee (about 95 mg) and gives a calm, steady lift rather than the sharp spike of coffee.

Can I drink this tea on an empty stomach?

Most people prefer it after a light snack. The amino acids are easier on the stomach with food. If you are sensitive, start with food.

How should I store this tea?

Keep it sealed, away from heat, moisture, light, and strong odors. Refrigerate in an airtight container for long-term storage. Properly stored, it stays fresh for 12 to 18 months. You can review standard preservation recommendations in the official USDA FoodKeeper tea storage guidelines.

What makes it different from ordinary green tea?

It is pan-fired, not steamed, which gives the flat leaf shape and signature roasted chestnut aroma. The leaves hold up over 3 to 4 steeps. Most ordinary greens turn bitter by the second steep.

Why does it cost more?

The pre-Qingming harvest window is only a few weeks. Picking standards are strict. Yields are low. Every batch is hand-roasted in small woks. Skilled roasters take years to train.

Is it safe during pregnancy?

It contains caffeine. The official American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines on pregnancy caffeine consumption recommend keeping daily intake under 200 mg during pregnancy. A single cup of Longjing is well under that limit. Talk to your doctor for personal guidance.

E-E-A-T Statement (Author & Reviewer Disclosure)

Author & Reviewer Disclosure:This article was written by the founder and head tea buyer at minteashop, drawing on 8 years of hands-on experience sourcing authentic Chinese green, white, and black tea directly from local farmers. The 2026 spring West Lake Longjing described above was personally cupped and selected at origin during our 2026 spring sourcing trip to Zhejiang. Health-related claims about caffeine and antioxidants are based on general published research and are not medical advice.

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