Discover the Heritage and Craft of West Lake Longjing Green Tea
At Roytea, we take pride in bringing you not just a tea, but a story steeped in tradition, culture, and taste. One of the shining jewels of Chinese green tea is none other than West Lake Longjing (Dragonwell) — and there's so much more to it than just its delicate flavor.
What Is West Lake Longjing?
West Lake Longjing tea, or 西湖龙井茶, is a type of green tea primarily grown in Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The tea is named after the scenic West Lake region, where the unique terroir of misty hills, soft rainfall, and mineral-rich soil produces some of the finest green tea in the world.
The core areas for authentic Longjing production include:
Shifeng Mountain (Lion Peak)
Longjing Village
Meijiawu
Shuangfeng
Longwu
Wengjiashan
Yangmeiling
Jiuxi
These are the true homes of West Lake Longjing, especially the five traditional core producing areas known as "Shi (Shifeng), Long (Longjing), Yun (Yunqi), Hu (Hupao), and Mei (Meijiawu). Tea from these areas is often referred to as first-class production zones, while others are known as second-class production zones.
Recognizing True Longjing: Characteristics & Grades
Authentic West Lake Longjing is known for:
Dry Leaf: Flat, smooth, uniform appearance; green with a slight yellow hue
Liquor: Yellow-green and bright
Aroma: Fresh, long-lasting with notable "bean fragrance"
Taste: Refreshing, light, slightly nutty, with little to no bitterness
Leaf Base: Tender buds and leaves that stand upright, full of vitality
Harvest Seasons:
Longjing can be harvested in spring, summer, and autumn, but spring tea is the highest quality, especially:
Mingqian Tea (明前茶): Picked before Qingming Festival (April 4–6), rare and premium, known for tender taste and elegance
Yuqian Tea (雨前茶): Picked before Grain Rain Festival (April 19–20), more common and affordable, but still of good quality
Grades of Longjing:
Special Grade: One bud, one leaf – plump, delicate, elegant
Grade 1: One bud with 1–2 leaves – slightly larger, still uniform
Grade 2: Bud and leaf roughly equal in size
Grade 3–4: One bud with 2–3 leaves, more mature, sometimes mixed with twin leaves
A Thousand-Year Legacy
West Lake Longjing has over 1,200 years of history, first recorded in the Tang Dynasty in Lu Yu's The Classic of Tea (茶经). In it, he mentions: "Hangzhou Qiantang Tianzhu, Lingyin Temple produces tea" — an early reference to what would become one of China's most famous teas.
During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong famously visited Longjing Village and was so impressed by the tea that he named it "Imperial Tribute Tea". Since then, it has remained a national treasure.
Taste Spring With Roytea
At Roytea, our 2025 Spring Longjing Green Tea is freshly harvested from the core Longjing producing regions in Xihu, Hangzhou. Picked just after Qingming Festival and hand-fired by experienced tea masters, each leaf carries centuries of tea culture and unmatched freshness.
Experience the taste of tradition in every sip. Explore our 2025 Spring collection now and celebrate the arrival of the new tea season.
Shop now at Roytea.com
