The Ultimate Guide to Brew Longjing Tea

In this article you will learn about 3 different ways to brew longjing tea covering from Glass Cup brewing, Tea pot Brewing and Gaiwan Brewing.

Brew Longjing Tea with a Glass Cup (The Grandpa Style)

In fact, in China, the most common way people brew Longjing tea is in glass cups.
Longjing tea leaves are straight, flat and well-proportioned, and the process of brewing Longjing tea in straight transparent glass cups allows Longjing tea lovers to appreciate the slow stretching of Longjing tea in the water. The color of the tea soup is a major factor in observing the quality of Longjing tea, and brewing in a glass cup can be a more intuitive observation of the color of the tea soup.

Brewing Longjing tea in a glass cup is a great way to appreciate the visual aspects of the tea, as the leaves gracefully dance in the water. Here’s how you can brew Longjing tea in a glass cup:

Ingredients and Tools:

• Longjing (Dragonwell) tea leaves
• Glass cup
• Hot water (around 175°F or 80°C)
• A timer

Steps:

1. Preheat the Cup: Begin by rinsing your glass cup with hot water to warm it up. Pour hot water into the cup, swirl it around, and then discard the water.
2. Measure the Tea Leaves: Depending on your taste preference, use about 2-3 grams (1-2 teaspoons) of Longjing tea leaves for a standard 6-ounce glass cup. Adjust the quantity to your liking.
3. Add the Tea Leaves: Place the measured tea leaves directly into the bottom of the glass cup.
4. Pour Hot Water: Heat the water to a temperature of about 175°F (80°C). Pour the hot water directly over the tea leaves. Use a gentle, circular pouring motion to ensure that the leaves are evenly saturated.
5. Steep the Tea: Let the tea steep for no more than 3 minutes. You can adjust the steeping time to your preference; shorter times will result in a lighter flavor, while longer times will yield a stronger taste.
6. Observe the Leaves: As the tea leaves steep, watch them unfurl and sink to the bottom of the cup. This visual process is one of the unique and beautiful aspects of brewing Longjing tea in glass.
7. Enjoy: After the desired steeping time, your Longjing tea is ready to enjoy. Sip it directly from the glass cup. The glass allows you to appreciate the color and clarity of the tea, as well as the leaves dancing in the liquid.
8. Re-steep: Longjing tea can typically be steeped multiple times. Simply add more hot water to the cup and extend the steeping time slightly for each subsequent infusion.

Remember that the water temperature and steeping time can be adjusted to suit your personal taste. Experimentation can help you find the perfect balance for your preferred flavor profile. Enjoy the elegant and visual experience of Longjing tea in your glass cup!

Brewing Longjing tea with a Teapot

Brewing Longjing tea with a teapot is a traditional and delightful way to savor this renowned Chinese green tea. Compared to brewing Longjing with glass cup, using a teapot enables you to control the steeping time which is essential for green teas like Longjing tea, the longer the tea is steeped, the more ingredients will be released to tea soup, which will make the tea soup bitter and more astringent.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to brew Longjing tea using a teapot:

Ingredients and Tools:

• Longjing (Dragonwell) tea leaves
• Teapot (ideally a glass or porcelain teapot)
• Hot water (around 175°F or 80°C)
• Tea strainer or infuser (if your teapot doesn’t have one built-in)
• A timer

Steps:

1. Preheat the Teapot: Begin by rinsing your teapot with hot water to warm it up. Pour hot water into the teapot, swirl it around, and then discard the water.
2. Measure the Tea Leaves: Use about 2-3 grams (1-2 teaspoons) of Longjing tea leaves for a standard 6-ounce teapot. Adjust the quantity to your liking, considering the size of your teapot.
3. Add the Tea Leaves: Place the measured tea leaves directly into the teapot.
4. Pour Hot Water: Heat the water to a temperature of about 175°F (80°C). Pour the hot water directly over the tea leaves in the teapot. Allow the tea leaves to float freely in the water.
5. Steep the Tea: Cover the teapot with a lid and let the tea steep for about 2-3 minutes. You can adjust the steeping time to suit your taste, with shorter times resulting in a lighter flavor and longer times yielding a stronger taste.
6. Strain and Serve: After the desired steeping time, use a tea strainer or infuser to strain the tea as you pour it into your teacup. If your teapot has a built-in strainer, you can pour directly into your cup.
7. Enjoy: Sip and savor the delightful flavors of Longjing tea. Take in the aroma and the unique, nutty taste characteristic of this tea.
8. Re-steep: Longjing tea can typically be steeped multiple times. For each subsequent infusion, increase the steeping time slightly. You may notice different nuances in flavor with each infusion.

Remember that you can adjust the water temperature, tea quantity, and steeping time to achieve your preferred flavor profile. Using a teapot allows you to appreciate the tea’s aroma and taste while providing an elegant and traditional tea-drinking experience. Enjoy your Longjing tea!

Brewing Longjing tea with Gaiwan

Gaiwan is the most universal way to brew tea， so it is just fine to brew Longjing tea with a Gaiwan Set. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to brew Longjing tea using a Gaiwan:

Ingredients and Tools:

• Longjing (Dragonwell) tea leaves
• Gaiwan (a lidded bowl with a saucer)
• Hot water (around 175°F or 80°C)
• A timer

Steps:

1. Measure the Tea Leaves: Use about 2-3 grams (1-2 teaspoons) of Longjing tea leaves for a standard 6-ounce Gaiwan. Adjust the quantity based on your Gaiwan’s size and your personal preference.
2. Place the Tea Leaves: Put the measured tea leaves into the Gaiwan’s bowl (the bottom part). Make sure the leaves are evenly spread across the bottom.
3. Heat the Gaiwan: Rinse the Gaiwan with hot water to preheat it. This helps maintain the water temperature during brewing. Pour hot water into the Gaiwan, swirl it around, and then pour it out, keeping the tea leaves in the Gaiwan.
4. First Infusion: Pour hot water (about 175°F or 80°C) over the tea leaves in the Gaiwan. Fill the Gaiwan about one-third to one-half full. Allow the tea to steep for about 20-30 seconds. Keep the Gaiwan’s lid slightly ajar during this first infusion.
5. Pour and Enjoy: Hold the Gaiwan by the saucer and lid to prevent burning your fingers. Tilt the lid slightly to create a small opening, allowing the tea to flow into a cup or pitcher while keeping the leaves inside the Gaiwan.
6. Subsequent Infusions: Longjing tea can be steeped multiple times. For each subsequent infusion, gradually increase the steeping time by 5-10 seconds. Continue to enjoy the tea, noting how the flavor evolves with each steeping.
7. Sip and Savor: As you sip the tea, take in the aroma and flavors. Longjing tea is known for its nutty and slightly sweet taste.
8. Final Infusion: When you reach a point where the flavor is no longer satisfying, it’s time for the final infusion. You can extend the steeping time a bit more for this last infusion.

Using a Gaiwan allows you to fully appreciate the nuances of Longjing tea and provides a traditional and elegant tea-drinking experience. Remember to adjust the steeping time, tea quantity, and water temperature to match your taste preferences. Enjoy your Longjing tea!

Conclusion:

In conclusion, brewing Longjing tea can be done in three distinct methods, each offering a unique experience:

1. Brewing Longjing Tea with a Glass Cup (The Grandpa Style): This method, favored in China, allows for an appreciation of the tea’s visual aspects. It showcases the graceful dance of Longjing leaves as they unfurl in the water. The glass cup allows for an intuitive observation of the tea’s color and clarity, enhancing the overall experience.
2. Brewing Longjing Tea with a Teapot: Using a teapot provides a traditional and delightful way to enjoy Longjing tea. It offers precise control over steeping time, which is crucial for green teas like Longjing. This method allows for multiple infusions, with each steep revealing different flavor nuances.
3. Brewing Longjing Tea with Gaiwan: The Gaiwan method offers versatility and a traditional tea-drinking experience. It enables close observation of the tea leaves and provides an opportunity to savor the tea’s evolving flavors over multiple infusions. The Gaiwan’s design allows for a comprehensive appreciation of Longjing tea’s rich taste profile.

Ultimately, the choice of brewing method depends on personal preference, desired flavor intensity, and the level of engagement with the tea’s visual and aromatic qualities. Whichever method you choose, Longjing tea promises a delightful and nuanced tea-drinking experience.