Longjing #3

About the tea

Longjing #3 is a high-end early-harvest green tea from 2026. It expresses the classic Longjing character with unusual clarity: the fresh tenderness of young leaf, a fine orchid nuance, sweet chestnut and tender bean notes, and deep umami. This is not an unconventional interpretation but a precise and harmonious example of the traditional style—a tea for discovering the benchmark Longjing profile or comparing other lots against it.

Origin and production

G-5 was picked early in the 2026 season, when the tenderness of the material and precision of processing are especially important for green tea. Longjing’s characteristic flat shape develops as the leaf is fixed and gradually formed in a heated pan. Well-judged heating preserves the tea’s fresh character while creating its recognizable chestnut and tender bean nuances. This lot keeps both sides of the style in balance: pan-fired warmth never obscures the fresh leaf, while its vegetal tones remain clean and delicate.

Taste and aroma

The dry leaf has Longjing’s characteristic flat shape. Once warmed, it releases a fresh, tender fragrance with sweet notes of young beans and roasted chestnut, lifted by a fine orchid nuance. The liquor is clear and light yellow-green.

The first impression is juicy freshness and rich yet delicate umami. Sweet bean, chestnut, and gentle nutty notes then unfold across the palate. The texture is smooth, rounded, and silky rather than thin. Bitterness is almost absent, while very restrained astringency gives the flavour definition. The finish is long and clean, combining cooling freshness, orchid fragrance, and pronounced natural sweetness. Across later infusions, the pan-fired notes soften as freshness, umami, and the leaf’s sweet return become more prominent.

Brewing

Gongfu. Use 4 g per 100 ml in a porcelain gaiwan or glass vessel. Allow boiled water to cool to 75–80 °C. Do not rinse the leaf. Steep the first infusion for 15–20 seconds and add 10–15 seconds each round. Four to six infusions are a useful starting point; if sharp bitterness appears, lower the temperature first.

Simple steeping. Use 3 g per 250 ml at about 80 °C. Steep for 2 minutes and separate the leaf. Brew the second infusion for 2.5–3 minutes. Avoid boiling water, which can suppress delicate aroma and emphasize green-tea bitterness.

Session impression

This is a remarkably precise and composed tea. It does not rely on an unusual flavour to impress; instead, it shows how deep the classic Longjing profile can be. An attentive session reveals a graceful transition from chestnut and tender bean warmth to freshness, umami, and a sweet finish. At the same time, its purity and softness make its quality immediately clear from the first cup.

Storage

Green tea is sensitive to heat, moisture, oxygen, light, and ambient odours. Keep the main package airtight in a cool, dark place. An unopened supply may be refrigerated for longer storage, but the sealed package must warm fully to room temperature before opening so condensation does not form on the leaf.