Review: 1st Picking Dragonwell
Dragonwell tea, also known as Longjing, is one of the oldest and most sought after varieties of green tea. Historically favored by Chinese emperors and on the list of China’s Ten Famous Teas, you can treat yourself like royalty and savor the drinking experience for yourself! Seriously, though, this tea is popular for a reason- an appealing taste that stands the test of time.
How does this tea taste?
When I drink a cup of this tea, I am taken back to one of my favorite childhood memories- the smell of fresh hay. I grew up around horses and other than the glorious smell of freshly cut grass, the fragrance of new hay ranks as a close second-favorite: the smell of autumn. Distinctly different from the energy and vibrance of spring- the fragrance and the body of this tea tends more to a feeling of comfort and warmth. A feeling that it is time to hibernate, snuggle under your favorite blanket, and try to STAY WARM!! This tea is the perfect accompaniment to a winter hibernation… it gives the same feeling as one gets from a cup of chicken soup- warm, hearty, full, and completely satisfying. In this case, although I haven’t tried it yet, I think this tea would also be a great complement to a hot bowl of oatmeal on a wintry morning.
A visual description
… the fragrance of fresh hay
The feeling and fragrance of autumn….A feeling that it is time to hibernate, snuggle under your favorite blanket, and try to STAY WARM!! This tea is the perfect accompaniment to a winter hibernation.
As much as I love tea and drink it every day, I still have (and look forward to) my one cup of coffee every morning. Coffee is a morning ritual that I count on to get my day started. I sometimes joke that the earlier I go to bed, the sooner I can get up and have my early cup of coffee. I said all of that to say this- I LOVE my first and only cup of coffee every day, but 1st picking dragonwell is the tea I will occasionally substitute for that beloved cup of coffee. Trust me, this is no small matter. I have never been willing to change my morning ritual no matter how many kinds of tea I love and consume daily. But this one is it. It is the perfect way to start your day, and a new morning ritual, too!
How to make a cup of this tea
Quantity of tea leaves
The package recommends using 4 grams of tea leaves for each 6-8 oz water. I weighed 4g of these tea leaves on my kitchen scale and then measured them in a tablespoon and 4g= approx 1.5 tablespoons in this case.
Time
The label recommends a 30 second steep, but I find that I prefer around 60 seconds. Either way, it is a quick steep. You can re-use the leaves multiple times, increasing the steep/brew time as needed.
Temperature
As with most green teas, aim for a temperature around 175 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, remember- boiling water left to sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes will usually be around 175 F.