Core Highlights • Taste the Essence of Jiangnan Spring
· Authentic Origin, Core Growing Area: Selected from premium tea gardens within the core first-grade protected zone of Hangzhou's West Lake Longjing region (such as Shifeng Mountain, Meijiawu, Longjing Village). Every leaf is infused with the spirit of the West Lake landscape and a millennium of tea culture.
· Pre-Qingming Grade, A Seasonal Treasure: Strictly harvested during the golden "Pre-Qingming" period. We select the first flush, featuring one bud with one or two just-unfurled leaves. Each leaf is uniform, with plump buds, rich in compounds that deliver a peak flavor profile of fresh briskness and sweet mellowness.
· Intangible Cultural Heritage Craft, Artisan Handmade: Inheriting the traditional "Ten Techniques" manual frying skill, recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The entire process is masterfully controlled by experienced tea masters, recreating the classic "Four Uniques": jade green color, rich aroma, sweet taste, and beautiful flat shape.
· Freshness-Locked Packaging, Quality Assured: Packaged in professional food-grade aluminum foil bags inside light-proof canisters. This double-sealed method locks in the tea's freshness and aroma, ensuring you receive the first taste of spring.
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Sensory Experience • The Four Uniques
· Beautiful Shape: The dry leaves are flat, smooth, and uniform, resembling "bowl nails" in shape. Their color is a tender green with a light, rice-husk hue. The clear distinction between buds and leaves is a testament to precise picking and processing.
· Rich Aroma: The dry leaves offer an elegant, beany fragrance. Upon brewing, the aroma unfolds in layers: first, a high, roasted bean and tender chestnut scent, followed by a subtle, refreshing orchid fragrance that delights the senses.
· Sweet Taste: The liquor is clear and bright, showing a tender green or apricot-green hue. The sip is brisk, sweet, and mellow with a full, smooth body. The sweet aftertaste is long and lingering, with a cool throat feel and no astringency—perfectly capturing the essence of "Xian" (freshness/umami).
· Jade Green Color: The brewed leaves slowly unfurl in the cup, revealing a vibrant, even, tender green, resembling newly born sprouts—a pleasure to behold.
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Origin & Craftsmanship • The Convergence of Nature and Skill
1. Nurtured by Terroir: The tea gardens are situated on mist-shrouded hills with excellent drainage. The mineral-rich, acidic red soil, combined with the mild, humid subtropical climate, gives the leaves their unique and superior intrinsic quality.
2. Stringent Harvesting Standards: Hand-picked only during the precious window of approximately 20 days before the Qingming Festival each year. This ensures the leaves retain the abundant nutrients accumulated over winter, with high amino acid content and a harmonious balance of polyphenols.
3. Artisan Frying: The leaves undergo multiple steps including "withering, first frying ('Qing Guo'), resting, and final frying ('Hui Guo')." They are entirely hand-fired in special iron woks using the "Ten Techniques" (grasping, tossing, laying, pressing, pushing, kneading, throwing, grinding, etc.). Temperature and pressure are precisely judged by masters with decades of experience, forging the tea's superb character.
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Brewing Guide • Awaken the Essence of Spring
· Recommended Vessel: A transparent glass cup or a white porcelain gaiwan is ideal for observing the "dance" of the leaves and the changing liquor color.
· Water Temperature: Avoid boiling water. Let boiled water rest for a moment to cool to 85°C - 90°C (185°F - 194°F). This maximizes freshness and prevents scalding the tender leaves, which can cause a dull, stewed flavor.
· Tea-to-Water Ratio: Approximately 3g of dry leaves per 150ml of water (adjustable to personal taste).
· Brewing Methods:
· Top-Drop Method (Recommended): Fill the cup 70% with hot water first, then gently sprinkle the leaves on the surface. Watch them gracefully descend like falling petals—a beautiful display that allows for a softer, more layered aroma release.
· Middle-Drop Method: First, pour a small amount of hot water to warm the cup. Add the leaves and gently swirl to appreciate the aroma. Then, slowly pour water along the cup's wall up to 70% full.
· Timing: After pouring, wait 1-2 minutes for the leaves to begin unfurling before enjoying the first, most vibrant infusion. High-quality leaves can typically be brewed 3-4 times, with subtle variations in each steep.
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Specifications & Storage
· Product Name: Hangzhou West Lake Longjing Tea (Pre-Qingming Premium Grade)
· Net Weight: 400g (Packaged for freshness, e.g., 2x200g tins
· Origin: Core Production Area of West Lake Longjing, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
· Production Date: Pre-Qingming Spring Tea 2024 (Specific date to be marked)
· Shelf Life: 18 months (For optimal flavor, consumption within the year of production is recommended)
· **Storage Method: ** Airtight, Light-proof, Dry, Odor-free, Cool. After opening, consume promptly or reseal tightly and store in the refrigerator at around 5°C (41°F). Keep away from strong-smelling foods.
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Perfect For
· Connoisseurs and tea enthusiasts who pursue quality of life and appreciate the fresh delicacy of spring tea.
· A premium, healthy gift for business relations, honoring elders during festivals, or thanking important partners.
· Urban professionals needing mental clarity and stress relief during long office hours.
· Friends who love traditional Chinese culture and wish to savor the authentic taste of spring in Jiangnan.
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An Invitation from Spring
This is more than 400g of tea; it is an entire West Lake spring, preserved for you. From the morning mist on Shifeng Mountain to the warmth of the frying wok, from the tea picker's fingers to the cup before you, we adhere to tradition solely to deliver this timeless, fresh, and mellow essence.
Savor a cup of Longjing, appreciate a season of Jiangnan. May this touch of green bring freshness and tranquility to your life.
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Note: As a pure natural agricultural product, slight variations in color and shape may occur between batches, which is part of its unique charm. Product images may vary slightly due to photography lighting and monitor settings. Please refer to the physical product.
