DETAILED TASTING NOTES

Dry leaves aroma: candied chestnut, hazelnuts
Wet leaves aroma: lilac and hyacinths, white asparagus
Texture: medium thick, oily
Taste: edamame, madeleine, white asparagus, young bamboo, green bell pepper
Finish: long and hazy, slightly thirst-quenching dryness, mild huigan (returning sweetness), slightly cool
Empty cup aroma: sweet popcorn
Aftertaste: peanut sprouts and flowers
Body sensation: energizing, invigorating

Category: Green Tea
Original Name: 明前钱塘龙井
Harvest: late March 2026
Origin: QianTang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Cultivar: Longjing #43
Altitude: 300-400m

Dragon Well (LongJing) is one of the most famous and most counterfeited teas in the world. True tea from the West Lake (XiHu) core area fetches high prices, and most of what circulates under that name is not authentic. Our Dragon Well 43 comes from QianTang, right next to the core area, offering the full experience at a reasonable price: toasted nuts, beans, flowers, an oily texture, and that delicious refreshing sweet return (HuiGan) that makes a good Dragon Well instantly recognizable. A treat on a beautiful sunny day.

Grandpa style:
85°C
3g / 250ml glass
1st infusion: 90sec, subsequent: +20sec/infusion
6 infusions

In this style, leave about half of the water in the glass with the leaves before adding more for the next infusion.

GongFu style:
85°C
3g /100ml
1st infusion: 20sec, subsequent: +10sec/infusion
7 infusions

Cold brew: Put 3-5g in a one-liter bottle with room temperature water, and let it infuse for a few hours, or overnight in the refrigerator. Enjoy throughout the day.

The Dragon Well 43 - Early Picks comes from QianTang, more precisely from an area neighboring the West Lake (XiHu) core area on the outskirts of Hangzhou. The varietal is the classic Longjing #43, harvested in late March 2026 before the QingMing festival, making it one of the earliest picks of the season. Dragon Wells picked before QingMing are called Mingqian and are generally considered the best. These early teas tend to have a more concentrated yet delicate flavor. We sourced it through a trusted friend based in China, with direct links to some of the best producers in the region.

You might notice white or yellowish fuzz on the dry leaves, sometimes clumped into small fluffy balls. This is not mold. These are tea trichomes (BaiHao), naturally present on early spring buds and leaves. Their presence is a good sign: it generally indicates that you are dealing with a very early harvest with a high proportion of young shoots.