Culinary Specialties CooksShopHere- Green Tea: Longjing Shi Feng Dragonwell Grade AAA

Black

Oolong

Longjing Shi Feng
Dragonwell
Grade AAA
2011 Early Spring

Xi Hu Region, Zhejiang Province, China
Pan-fired
Flat leaf style
Soft, rich, toasty flavor
Nutty, full aroma
Golden straw-colored liquor tending toward amber

4 oz	8 oz	16 oz
~~30.00~~ 18.00 Buy	~~60.00~~ 36.00 Buy	~~120.00~~ 72.00 Buy

Our 2011 Longjing Shi Feng Dragonwell Grade AAA is an extremely flavorful version of Longjing. With a bit more subtlety and generally lighter style than our First Grade, our Grade AAA supplies our need for a traditional Asian-style Longjing while offering an accessibility that Westerners appreciate.

Now that the village-specific Longjings are in increasingly tight demand by East Asians and Westerners alike, those mild, subtle, and sophisticated early plucks disappear quickly at the beginning of the tea season. That is as it should be, and this year was no exception – they sold out quickly again - and so now it is time for the easy-drinking, lush growths that everyone can appreciate for their harmonious and rich characteristics – classic Longjings.

Our Grade AAA is comprised of a two-leaves-and-a-bud-pluck, which gives this tea a rich ' juicy' texture and good mouth feel. It is at the same time softer and toastier than our First Grade.

Our 2011 Longjing Shi Feng Dragonwells both have a warm, toasty, slightly yeasty flavor with a hint of chestnut in the after-taste. Fired to a flat leaf configuration, they have the appearance that we expect and steep perfectly in the cup or pot.

Different flavor profiles are available, in specific Longjings, due to the influences particular to the micro-climates that exist in and around the region of West Lake, Zhejiang Province - the origin of authentic Longjing tea.

While we don’t always include two Shi Fengs in our offerings, this 2011 early spring Shi Feng Grade AAA is an excellent example of how teas with the ‘same’ name can be so different. The Grade AAA and the First Grade are quite varied and yet both are delicious.

Given that this is the Year of the Dragon, it felt right to have as many auspicious teas as possible, and certainly as many as possible of the famous ‘dragon’ teas! We are very excited by both of these traditional manufactures, and think that you will enjoy both of them for their uniquely special flavor profiles.

Our Longjing teas are completely hand made and are pan-fired in charcoal-fired tea firing pans by artisans who are masters of their craft.

Update March 2012: As is generally true for pan-fired greens such as Longjing, this Grade AAA is drinking exceptionally well right now. It has reached adolescence and will drink well for a long time yet. Right now you can purchase 4 oz of both for only $6.00 more than one cost earlier in the season.
RJH

Use 1.5 Tablespoons (2-3 grams) per 6 oz of water
Steep 2-3 infusions at 2 minutes each.
Water temperature should be 170˚ - 180˚ F