DETAILED TASTING NOTES

Warm Leaf Smell: marron glacé, hazelnuts
Wet Leaf Smell: lilacs and hyacinths, white asparagus
Texture Feel: medium-thick, oily
Taste: edamame, madeleine, white asparagus, young bamboo, green bell pepper
Finish Feel: long and vaporous, quenching thirst light dryness, a little cooling huigan (returning sweetness)
Empty Cup Smell: sweet popcorn
Aftertaste: peanut sprouts and flowers
Body Feel: energised, excited

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

Longjing (Dragon Well) is one of the most famous and most faked teas in the world. Genuine Xihu (West Lake) core area tea commands very high prices, and most of what circulates under that name isn't the real thing. Our Dragon Well 43 comes from Qiantang, right next to the core zone, delivering the full experience at a middle price: roasted nuts, beans, flowers, oily texture, and that lovely cooling huigan (returning sweetness) that makes a good Dragon Well instantly recognisable. It's a treat on a nice sunny day.

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

In grandpa style brewing, leave roughly half the water in the glass with the leaves before adding more water for the next infusion.
 
Gongfu brewing:
85°C
3g /100ml
1st infusion: 20sec, next: +10sec/infusion
7 infusions
 
Cold brew: 
Throw 3-5g into a litre bottle with room temperature water, and let it infuse for a couple of hours, or overnight in the fridge. Enjoy throughout the day.

Dragon Well 43 — Early PIcks comes from Qiantang, specifically an area adjacent to the Xihu (West Lake) core zone on the outskirts of Hangzhou. The cultivar is the classic Longjing #43, harvested in late March 2026 before the Qingming festival, making it one of the first flushes of the season. Dragon Wells picked before Qingming are called Mingqian and are generally considered the finest. These early teas tend to have a more concentrated yet still delicate flavour. We sourced it through a trusted friend based in China, with direct ties to some of the best producers in the region.

You may notice white or yellowish fuzz on the dry leaves, sometimes clumping into small furry balls. This is not mold. These are baihao (tea trichomes), naturally occurring on young buds and early spring leaves. Their presence is a good sign: it usually means you're looking at a very early harvest with a high proportion of young growth.