When selecting Longjing tea, "color" is the most crucial factor. Generally, the more vibrant green and glossy the Longjing tea is, the stronger its aroma and the sweeter its taste.
Thus, when choosing Longjing, the first step is to examine its appearance, which is referred to in professional terms as "dry inspection." High-grade Longjing tea has a flat, straight, and sharp shape, uniform in size, with a tender green and glossy color. For individual buds and leaves, the standard requires the bud to be longer than the leaf or parallel to the leaf, without white fuzz. Secondly, selecting Longjing also involves observing its condition after brewing, known as "wet inspection." Good Longjing tea, after brewing, should have a tender green, clear, and bright liquor, with leaves that are relatively uniform in shape and floating at the bottom of the cup in clusters. Additionally, the taste of the tea leaves is an important criterion for distinguishing the quality of the tea. Good Longjing tea has a fresh and elegant fragrance, subtle yet not overpowering, with a refreshing, mellow, and sweet taste, without any bitterness or astringency.
Longjing tea is typically enjoyed in a glass cup, brewed with water at around 85°C. The tea-to-water ratio should be appropriate, usually 1:50 (1 gram of tea leaves to 50 milliliters of water). When brewing, first pour one-third of the water into the cup to allow the tea leaves to soak and release their delicate fragrance. Then, slowly add water along the side of the cup until it is 70-80% full. This brewing method ensures a well-balanced, refreshing, and mellow taste with tender green leaves. Avoid using boiling water to brew Longjing, as it will destroy the chlorophyll in the tea, turning it yellow; the tea polyphenols and other nutrients in the leaves will also oxidize at high temperatures, causing the tea liquor to turn yellow; many aromatic compounds are prone to evaporate at high temperatures, reducing the tea's fragrance.
Furthermore, when drinking Longjing tea, do not wait until the water is completely consumed before refilling. When two-thirds of the first cup has been drunk, water should be added to enjoy the second cup. This ensures the tea liquor maintains a consistent concentration.
