West Lake Dragonwell - Old Tree Grade B

Tea type
Green Tea
Ingredients
Green Tea
Flavors
Chestnut, Nutty, Savory, Smooth, Snow Peas, Sweet, Vegetal, Violet
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Caffeine
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Certification
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Edit tea info Last updated by Daylon R Thomas
Average preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 0 min, 15 sec 4 g 4 oz / 118 ml

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From Trident Booksellers and Cafe Boulder Colorado

Easily one of the most renowned teas in China, Dragonwell (Pre-Qing Ming Longjing 明前龍井) from the West Lake (Xi Hu) protected area has a recorded history going back over a thousand years. The unique microclimate and pure spring water running into the tea fields help to create one of the richest and cleanest brews available in the tea world. We were lucky to get our hands on a very small amount of this premium and highly sought after tea. The Qunti cultivar is the original cultivar from which Dragonwell was historically made. It is said to have more body and feeling, while newer cultivars, particularly Longjing #43, emphasize aroma and smoothness.

The brewed tea is thick and especially sweet, with a classically robust nutty and vegetal character. Compared the A grade Dragonwell from this year, the B lot is actually sweeter but with slightly less complexity. It is full bodied and has a subtle but distinct mineral texture, and highly potent energy. The flavor itself is all candied nuts, tender spring veggies, and soft florals. All Dragonwell is pan-fried in order to halt oxidation, giving it its distinct flattened leaves and uniquely nutty character.

Origin – Xi Hu, Zhejiang, China

Location – Skywell Mountain, Dongmuwu Village

Harvest – March 30th – April 5th, 2022

Cultivar- Lao Chashu Quntizhong

Tea Maker – Jin GuanQuan

Tastes Like – Candied Chestnuts, Snow Peas, Violets

About Trident Booksellers and Cafe Boulder Colorado View company

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2 Tasting Notes

88
1705 tasting notes

Thank you Trident for the sample! I got this with the Red Plum Dragonwell Black I purchased. I only purchased an oz of that one because I really wanted to try a Black Dragonwell, and they generously sent an 8 gram sample of this.

It’s been a while since I had a dragonwell, or since I reviewed a straight green tea. Going gong fu, 120 ml, 10, 13, 16, 20, 15, 10, 25 before getting vegetal bitter and astringent. Earlier steeps were incredibly flavorful and well balanced. I couldn’t smell the dryleaf too much, but the brewed tea was nutty. Chestnuts are prominent in every steep in this tea starting of lighter, then ramping up into steep three. Like they describe, the tea is really clean and sweet. I’m impressed how balanced the snow pea notes are with the violet notes. Two and four gave me the most violet notes.

I was really happy with this one. I wouldn’t drink this one often, given it’s around $20 an oz, though honestly worth it if you are into good quality greens. I usually think Dragonwells are too vegetal, but this one is closer to an oolong in how smooth and sweet it is. It made think again how close to green teas the oolong I get are. I’m excited to finish this one off, and more excited to try the black tea.

Flavors: Chestnut, Nutty, Savory, Smooth, Snow Peas, Sweet, Vegetal, Violet

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 0 min, 15 sec 4 g 4 OZ / 118 ML

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