This green leaf is perhaps the first number in the Middle Kingdom. And one of the products that Cha Chin mentions is an ancient book about tea (the first millennium AD). Tea "Longjing" - "Well of the dragon" (as the name is translated from Chinese) - known and popular in China, and in other countries around the world. And he has his centuries-old history, even his own philosophy. And according to tradition, during a visit to the Republic of China, celebrities are treated with this particular drink.
A bit of history
The first Chinese Talmud tells about tea: Longjing tea was first cultivated on a site at the foot of two temples: Tien Hu, and Lin Yin. They called it "Well of the Dragon Si Hu" (lake of the same name). Over many years of cultivation, Longjing tea, thanks to its magical taste with aroma, confidently spreads to most of China, deserves fame and honor at the imperial courts of the Ming Dynasty, reaches its “peak of fate” during the Qing Dynasty. Longjing tea was on the list of mandatory tax collection in those ancient times. There was also a ceremony for offering the drink to the emperor. Over more than a millennium, it has spread worldwide. But even today, China remains the only state in the world to export its national pride - this tea. This increases both material value and cultural uniqueness.
"Gong"
In China, there are many varieties of this tea product, but 4 categories are in the lead. And among them - "Gong" (Tribute), and he honorably holds primacy in both quality and value. This is because the most valuable variety is grown only in one, well-protected area, on the plantations of Xi Hu, the western lake. The total area of the fields is 163 kilometers (Hangzhou settlement, Zhejiang province). A “gong” raised in another locality is not considered authentic.
Mao's Favorite Tea
Gong was one of Chairman Mao's favorite drinks. During his visits to Lake Si Hu, he collected some tea buds with his own hands, and they were subsequently brewed in the best water from the Running Tiger stream. The aroma and taste of this tea impressed Mao. He said that there is nothing more beautiful than Longjing Gong tea made on water from a given source. And then, after the death of the Great Chairman, the tea tree from where he collected the buds was planted in the courtyard of the Hangzhou tea company, where it still grows to this day.
Milk oolong
This "Gong" is grown on the western slopes of the hills, near Lake Si Hu. These places are famous for fertile soils, humid climate, dull precipitation, fog and low cloud cover, which densely covers the western hills almost all year round. The selection of shrubs, and timely collection, which should take place from 10.03 to 05.04, as well as the manual roasting method, which lasts as long as 10 hours, affects the characteristics of Gong tea . Approximately 26,000 kidneys are consumed per kilo of tea. Chinese Longjing tea of the Hong brand bears its title of the most famous brand in China and abroad. In 1991, he was awarded the corresponding prize at an international festival, in 1992 - a gold medal and the title "Best Buying Goods for Tourists", in 1994 he was named the most famous food product in China, the standard of agricultural products.
Green tea "Longjing". Other varieties
Depending on the quality of the leaf pairs, as well as the kidneys, according to the collection time, the Chinese manufacturers of Longjing distinguish several subspecies. About the "Gong" has already been mentioned a bit. This is an expensive quality sheet. It consists of the upper buds of the tea bush. Its collection is carried out in the first 2 weeks from the very beginning of the harvest period. "Gong" has a strong, fresh, delicate aroma of flowers, which is more saturated during secondary brewing. The color scheme of the finished drink is dark green.
- Next: Class A. His collections are held on the 3rd and 4th weeks after the start of the harvest period. This tea raw material is from the kidneys plus one leaf beginning to unfold. In this case, the kidney is larger than the leaves themselves. The “A” class also belongs to the categories of high-quality and has a delicate and refined taste, a bitter aftertaste that fills the mouth of the taster. Moreover, which is characteristic: the “A” class does not change the taste and aroma for ten brews! Tea color is dark green.
- "AAA" class. It also belongs to the categories of high-class teas and is collected a week later than "A". The raw material contains unopened buds and a pair of barely unfolded leaves. Its aroma is subtle, with a sweet aftertaste of grass meadows. After five brews, a bitter aftertaste is more pronounced. The color scheme of the drink is yellow-green, jade.
- Jing pin. This tea raw material is harvested in the late harvest period - 7 days before the final.
Falsifications
An exclusive and excellent quality product cannot be cheap: in order to grow it, you need to make quite serious time and financial costs. This is not always combined with the wishes of dishonest manufacturers. Tea "Longjing" also does not bypass the fate of fraud - it is faked immediately outside the district. Frying of cheap varieties is used in such a way as to achieve a signature shade of authentic Longjin, a mixture of a small amount of an authentic variety with others, and cheaper processing of real raw materials.
"Longjing" (tea): properties and use. Reviews
Tea drinking is a whole ritual that includes traditions developed over the years. And many of them are even protected by the tea laws of the country. According to reviews, Longjing tea requires the right attitude during the process. You can not destroy the "spirit of tea", so the preliminary washing is carried out at a temperature of no higher than 70 degrees. Brewing takes place at 85. The quantity of the product should not exceed 5 grams per volume of standard tea leaves. The drink is infused for about ten minutes, after tea you can drain and repeat multiple brewing. The dishes that tea comes into contact with should be made of glass, porcelain, jade, then the risk of changes in the original taste and aromas is excluded. Reviews recommend drinking a divine drink better from small cups. This tea is not recommended to be mixed with anything and not to jam. Have a nice tea party!