China's Flora Tour: The imperial brew from the dragon's well

Many people have a habit of drinking tea, as a cup of the brew will help them to relax when they are tired. Green tea originated from China, and has a long cultivation history with flourishing cultural meanings here. Among different kinds of green tea, the Longjing tea, sometimes called by its literally translated name, Dragon Well Tea, is renowned for its quality and remarkable history.

The famous Longjing tea. /VCG Photo

Longjing tea comes from the Longjing Village of West Lake area, in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province. It was granted the title of Gong Cha (imperial tea) during the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644 - 1911), by the Kangxi Emperor, and then the Qianlong Emperor, who fell in love with this sweet tea during a visit to the West Lake in Zhejiang. The Chinese leader Mao Zedong also contributed to its fame, as he offered the tea as a state gift to foreign visitors during his tour to tea farms in Longjing Village in 1963.

Beautiful scenery of Longjing tea trees in Zhejiang Province, east China. /VCG Photo

The Longjing tea can be very expensive, depending on the quality. Usually the teas that are picked before the Qingming Festival is considered the best, as these teas are produced from the first spring shoots with the best taste. After the picking, the tea leaves will go through the process of withering, pan-roasting and hand-frying to get their spear shape and fragrance.

Hand-frying the Longjing tea leaves. /VCG Photo

Influenced by tea culture, Chinese people consider Longjing tea to be one of the most famous Chinese teas. Therefore, it has become a popular gift and drink during important meetings and conventions. In 2001, Longjing tea was listed under the original designation protection, and the processing method was rated a state-level intangible cultural heritage in 2009.

The Longjing prawns is a famous cuisine in east China, made by prawns stir-fried with Longjing tea. /VCG Photo

Now, with more connections between China and other countries, this famous tea gets more opportunities to travel around the world and bring its beautiful taste and fragrance to tea lovers.

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast an array of plant species. In this series, CGTN will go on a tour to learn about some of the most iconic flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local climate and topography.

(Cover photo via VCG, designed by CGTN's Jia Jieqiong)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)