Longjing tea

Longjing tea (simplified Chinese: 龙井茶; traditional Chinese: 龍井茶; pinyin: lóngjǐng chá; Cantonese Yale: lung4 jeng2 cha4; Standard Mandarin pronunciation: [lʊ̌ŋ.tɕìŋ.ʈʂʰǎ]), sometimes known in English as Dragon Well tea, is a pan-roasted green tea. It is traditionally produced in the area surrounding Longjing Village near West Lake in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, and is widely regarded as one of China's Famous Teas. Longjing tea is known for its flat hand-shaped leaves, yellow-green infusion, and flavor, which is often described as sweet, fresh, vegetal, or chestnut-like. The tea is shaped by hand during pan-firing, which halts oxidation. The name "Longjing", meaning "Dragon Well", derives from a historic well near Longjing village. Tea grown within the traditional production area around West Lake is protected under geographical designation systems in China and the European Union. Premium grades are harvested in early spring before the Qingming Festival in early April, particularly the "Pre-Qingming" or Mingqian teas. Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or imperial tea, during the Qing dynasty. According to legend, the Qianlong Emperor granted imperial status to eighteen tea bushes near West Lake after visiting the region in the eighteenth century. Tea produced from those bushes remains highly prized. Due to its commercial value and reputation, Longjing tea is frequently imitated. Tea sold as Longjing is often produced outside the traditional growing region, including in other parts of Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.