A box set of our 3 Long Jings grown, hand-picked and handmade in Yun Qi one of the famous areas within the tiny 1km by 5km Xi Hu (West Lake) area famous for Long Jing production. These teas have been grown and hand-fired by Master Luo, three time winner of the Long Jing Firing King title.
Long Jing – No.43 Cultivar 26/03/2024
This tea is made from Master Luo’s No. 43 cultivar bushes, which comprises four fifths of his total production. No. 43 is now the dominant tea cultivar in Xi Hu, surpassing the traditional cultivars due to its early budding and tolerance to cold weather. Because the price of Long Jing falls almost exponentially as the season goes on, it makes a lot of financial sense for farmers to grow No. 43 as it gives them over a week extra to pick premium tea before the start of Qingming festival in early April. This tea has a rich and luxurious texture, and coats the mouth and throat with a lingering vibrant green sweetness ending with a subtle, more vegetal note, reminiscent of fresh asparagus. The astringency, even when brewed with boiling water, is gentle and with a delicate nutty bitterness.
Long Jing – Qing Dynasty 05/04/2024
This tea has been made with the traditional Jiu Keng Group cultivars that have been in decline since the emergence of the earlier-budding No.43 cultivar. Although generally less aromatic and sweet than teas made with No.43, the slower growth and longer roots of Master Luo’s 150-200 year old trees lend a deeper taste and thicker texture. This tea was picked and hand fired on April the 5th, the day after Qingming festival. Whether you prefer this to the No.43 teas is a matter of taste, but this Long Jing has a stronger body and is much rounder, with a fresh jasmine flower quality and a little astringency. More so than the No.43 this tea has a longevity in the mouth and creamy nut butter like finish.
Long Jing – Qing Dynasty 07/04/2024
This tea has been made with the traditional Jiu Keng Group cultivars that have been in decline since the emergence of the earlier-budding No.43 cultivar. Although generally less aromatic and sweet than teas made with No.43, the slower growth and longer roots of Master Luo’s 150-200 year old trees lend a deeper taste and thicker texture. This tea was picked and hand fired on April the 7th, a few days after the Qingming festival. Whether you prefer this to the No.43 teas is a matter of taste, but this Long Jing has a stronger body and is much rounder, with a little astringency. It is a little more vegetal than the version picked two days prior. Initially this tea has a hint of fresh asparagus, which then finishes with a more citrusy, bitter orange type profile. More so than the No.43 this tea has a longevity in the mouth.
ORIGIN
Master Luo, Yun Qi, Xi Hu, Hangzhou, China.
SIZE OF FARM
5 acres
PLANTS AND PROCESSING
– Camellia Sinensis Sinensis, No. 43 cultivar. Pan-fired. Harvested and fired March 26th 2024.
– Camellia Sinensis Sinensis, Da Zhong Pin (Jiu Keng Group) cultivar, 150-200 year old trees. Pan-fired. Harvested and fired April 5th 2024.
– Camellia Sinensis Sinensis, Da Zhong Pin (Jiu Keng Group) cultivar, 150-200 year old trees. Pan-fired. Harvested and fired April 7th 2024.
BREWING GUIDELINE
90°C, 3-4g per 150ml. 4 infusions.
BOX SET CONTENTS
3x 10g boxes of Master Luo’s 2024 Long Jing
