Pre Rain Organic Dragon Well Supreme Green Tea | Long Jing

JING lists this as their highest grade Dragon Well. It consists of long, light green leaves and is apparently picked on the first of April. The leaves offer minimal aroma. The flavor is broad and the texture is warm and round. Each element is instantly identifiable. The bold, broad taste is lively, bright, and complex all at the same time. Only a small hint of bitter finds way into the mix. It tastes both yellow and green, rolling about smoothly and leaving speckles of the delightful taste after it disappears. With a texture that is ideal for a green tea and an aftermath that is soothing, this is something special. The key for this experience is to find the ideal tea:water ratio. I found that the result was strongest using 2 1/2 tsp for 8 ounces of water, which significantly impoved my opinion of this blend versus some alternative ratios previously attempted. This green really thrives on its balance of flavor, texture, and emotion. They blend together so well here that it's difficult to properly describe. The flavor ranges from nutty to earthy with small spikes of spice. The texture is consistent, easing the flavors along their paths, and the sensation after a single cup is that of tranquility. This is a wonderful tea.

All teas have their own aesthetic—the way they look and smell, the way they are brewed and imbibed. Dragon Well is one of my favorite combinations of all these factors. I warmed a tall glass with 80C water, added a rounded tablespoon of leaves, filled the glass about a quarter full and swirled it to wet the leaves. When they were thoroughly moistened, I filled the glass three quarters full and swirled it again, then sat back and enjoyed the view. For a few moments the leaves floated in a thick mat at the top, then one by one, began to fall lazily to the bottom of the glass like jungle foliage. The fragrance was sweet and nutty, the liquor a clear golden green. When enough of the leaves had cleared I took my first sip. The flavor lived up to the fragrance perfectly—smooth, nutty, sweet, mildly astringent. In a word, delightful. One of the advantages of drinking it from a tall glass is that it concentrates the fragrance as you sip, heightening the experience. You don’t need to pour this tea off the leaves, but savor it slowly it as it continues to steep and mature. I drank mine over the course of an hour. The flavor remained sweet and smooth to the very end, never going bitter but taking on a bit of vegetal depth. It left a very sweet taste and fragrance on the tongue. A second steeping is possible, but not recommended with this tea, as it tends to have a sharper tasted, more like black tea. At a little over $20 per 50gm (1.8oz) it is pricey, but for hardcore dragon well enthusiasts, it’s probably worth it. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable tea experience. Highly recommended.