West Lake Longjing

Longjing tea, also known as West Lake Longjing tea, gets its name from its place of origin — Longjing Village in the West Lake area of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province.


West Lake Longjing tea ranks among China's top ten famous teas and is known for its green color, strong aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape.

The five main producing areas are Shifeng Mountain, Longjing Village, Wuyun Mountain, Hupao Temple, and Meijiawu.

The superior geographical environment and high-quality water resources around West Lake have greatly contributed to the growth of Longjing tea, confirming the saying that “Longjing tea is the best tea in the world, and the best Longjing tea comes from Lion Peak.”

Thanks to Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), Shifeng Longjing tea gained a high reputation.
The Legend of Longjing Tea — Admiration from the Royal Family

Its history can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907), became well-known in China starting from the Song Dynasty (960–1279), and flourished during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing Dynasties.

Legend has it that during his trip to Hangzhou, Emperor Qianlong visited Shifeng Mountain and saw some women picking tea at the foot of the mountain. Intrigued by their movements, he decided to try picking tea himself.

While picking tea, he received news that his mother was ill. In a hurry, he accidentally put some tea leaves into his right sleeve and left Hangzhou for Beijing. As soon as he arrived in Beijing, he went to visit his mother. The Empress Dowager Ci'an detected the fragrance of the tea leaves from his sleeve and wanted to try it.

Emperor Qianlong brewed some tea for her. After drinking a cup, she felt refreshed and even praised it as a panacea. From then on, Shifeng Longjing tea was designated as a tribute tea exclusively for the Empress Dowager.