Three Gorges Longjing Tea

West Lake Longjing holds an unparalleled status among green teas. If you’re wondering where the best Longjing comes from, the answer is undoubtedly West Lake. But have you heard of Three Gorges Longjing Tea? Not the Three Gorges Dam—this one is in the Three Gorges tea region of Taipei.

Taiwan’s Three Gorges Longjing Tea is one of the island’s top ten famous teas. The Three Gorges tea region is located southwest of New Taipei City, adjacent to the Wenshan tea region, and neighbors Xindian, Tucheng, Shulin, Yingge, and Daxi. The tea-growing areas are spread across Ankeng, Zhulun, ChaJiao, and Youmu, where the mountains are often shrouded in mist, the climate is cool, and the soil is rich—ideal conditions for tea cultivation.

This tea region has been cultivated for over two hundred years. When the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan last century, they also brought with them a wealth of tea-making techniques and skilled artisans, propelling Taiwan’s tea industry from the Bronze Age straight into the Industrial Age. As a result, you can find famous mainland teas such as Longjing and Biluochun in Taiwan as well.

The Haishan Longjing from Three Gorges is made from tender buds and one or two leaves of the Qingxin Ganzi variety. It undergoes no fermentation but is directly pan-fired and rolled to produce flat-shaped leaves with white down. The tea has a fresh, vibrant green appearance with an oily sheen, while the liquor is bright yellow-green and clear. Its taste is lively, offering a refreshing and crisp sensation.