Every spring, tea lovers around the world eagerly look forward to the first harvest of Dragon Well Tea—also known as Longjing—which is one of China’s most treasured green teas.The 2025 harvest is something truly special: vibrant, aromatic, and deeply rooted in centuries of tradition. As the 2025 World Tea Expo Championship Tea Winner, our Dragon Well stands out for its unmatched quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship.
Grown in Hangzhou – The Legendary Birthplace of Longjing
Our tea comes from Hangzhou, the historic heartland of Dragon Well Tea. Nestled in the misty hills, this region offers the perfect growing conditions: mild temperatures, high humidity, and mineral-rich soil. These natural advantages give Dragon Well its signature smoothness, delicate umami, and clean, refreshing taste. For centuries, this tea has been cherished by emperors, poets, and tea connoisseurs alike.
Picked Before Qingming – The Peak of Freshness
We pick the leaves during the prized pre-Qingming window. This short early-spring window yields the most tender, nutrient-rich tea buds, ensuring exceptional freshness and flavor, retaining its top-quality taste. Tea connoisseurs prize these young buds for their vibrant green hue, gentle chestnut aroma, and silky-smooth flavor.
Producing just one pound of finished tea requires over 36,000 handpicked buds. This labor of love follows a full year of careful cultivation.
In addition, we harvest only the youngest and most uniform buds, carefully sorting each batch by hand. It takes 2 to 4 hours to remove any leaves that don’t meet our rigorous standards. This dedication ensures that every cup delivers the refined, consistent quality that makes Longjing one of the world’s most celebrated green teas.
Handcrafted with Precision – The Art of Traditional Tea Making
To preserve this freshness, we pan-fire the leaves within 12 hours of harvest, locking in their bright, vegetal flavor and preventing oxidation. The result? A cup of tea that is incredibly crisp, fresh, and umami-rich.
Our tea artisans guide every batch of Longjing through 10 traditional handcrafting steps, including tossing, pressing, and rubbing—techniques passed down through generations. With over 30 years of experience, the tea master personally oversees each stage. He fine-tunes the process based on the leaves’ appearance, feel, and scent. This intuitive method is known as “watching the tea to make the tea.”
A Full Sensory Experience – Dry Leaves, Tea Aroma, and Wet Leaves
Dry Leaves: Flat, spear-like, and smooth to the touch. They boast a vibrant green color and a slight sheen, with a subtle chestnut fragrance that hints at the freshness inside.
Tea Aroma: A beautiful clear jade-green hue. Light, bright, and inviting, it signals both quality and freshness. The aroma is complex—nutty, floral, and slightly vegetal.
Wet Leaves: After brewing, the leaves open into tender, intact buds and leaves, soft and supple to the touch. Their lingering aroma and vibrant texture reflect expert processing and handcrafting.
Flavor Profile – Fresh, Smooth, and Comforting
This year’s Dragon Well features a lively jade-green liquor with notes of roasted chestnut, delicate floral undertones, along with a rich, smooth finish. The flavor is clean and layered, with a lingering sweet aftertaste and a silky mouthfeel that makes it both refreshing and comforting.
Brewing Guide – How to Brew the Perfect Cup
To bring out the best in this tea, we recommend:
Hot Brew:
- Water Temperature:85–90°C (185–195°F)
- Tea-to-Water Ratio:4 grams per 500 ml of water
- Steeping Time:2–3 minutes for the first infusion; increase time slightly for each additional brew
Cold Brew:
- Tea-to-Water Ratio:2 grams per 400 ml of water
- Steeping Time:6 hours in the refrigerator
Cold brewing brings out a smooth, refreshing flavor. Its delicate sweetness makes it perfect for a chilled, relaxing experience.
*Use a glass to watch the flat leaves gracefully unfold and ‘dance’ in the water—a calming ritual that enriches the tea-drinking experience.
A Tea Fit for an Emperor
Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong visited the Dragon Well region and personally picked eighteen tea trees near Lion Peak (Shifeng), declaring them imperial trees. Today, we honor that legacy by offering authentic, hand-crafted Longjing from Hangzhou, faithful to its royal roots and timeless flavor.
Conclusion – A Rare and Limited Treasure
Our Imperial Dragon Well Tea is available in limited quantities—a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s finest green teas at its absolute peak. As the official 2025 Championship Tea Winner, this tea is more than just a drink—it’s a celebration of spring, tradition, and artisanal excellence.
Savor the spirit of spring in every sip.