A Journey to the Heart of Long Wu: The Secret Garden of Pre-Qing-Ming Xi Hu Long Jing Tea
Nestled in the lush, rolling hills of Hangzhou, the Long Wu tea farm is a hidden gem for tea connoisseurs around the world, only couple kilometers away from the infamous Mei Jia Wu. At our Cha Moods, we pride ourselves on sourcing only the finest teas, and our pre-Qing-Ming Long Jing Tea from Long Wu is no exception. In this blog post, we'll give you an exclusive look at the serene tea garden where this exquisite tea is born and introduce you to the enigmatic tea master who pours his soul into every leaf.
We were fortunate to meet Mr. Chen, thanks to a dear friend and loyal patron of his exceptional tea. In this region, farmers manage their own sales, and over the years, Mr. Chen has cultivated a network of clients built on trust and loyalty. Born into a family with generations of tea farming experience, Lao Chen began learning the art of tea cultivation at a young age. During the harvest season, Lao Chen ingeniously transforms his home into a tea production haven. His side living room serves as a cozy tasting room, while the main living area becomes the perfect space for withering fresh leaves. A separate room houses the fixation machines, and the front porch acts as a sorting station to remove any uneven leaves.
Mr. Chen is a man brimming with energy, and our visit coincided with the most bustling week of the year—the first flush Long Jing harvest season. This highly coveted tea is handpicked during a fleeting window, usually in early April, making time a precious commodity. Despite the urgency, Mr. Chen engaged with us quickly yet attentively, showcasing his unwavering passion for his craft.
We reached the tea fields late in the morning, and Mr. Chen eagerly guided us to his designated area. The meticulous picking process was in full swing, with migrant tea pickers returning every year to hand-pluck the young, tender leaves that had sprouted overnight. The atmosphere here was more relaxed compared to the larger-scale tea farms we've visited, as the pickers were paid on a daily basis to ensure the impeccable quality of this spring treasure.
The Long Wu tea garden is not just a place of production, but also one of preservation. The farmers here practice traditional, sustainable methods of cultivation and harvest, harvesting only in Spring. Lao Chen explains the how during the year the tea farm needs to be maintained: cutting the side stems, adding organic fertilizers, and letting the land rest. When I was asking what's the difference between these two areas, he replied very proudly: they are the same cultivar, although the right side is land from a neighbor, thus it's less well maintained.
Mr. Chen explains nowadays the fixation process is mostly automated by machines, except for impressing tourists. There are several last steps that he still does by hand, which is one of the reasons why Long Jing is so expensive. He showed us his hands. Over the years, Lao Chen honed his skills, becoming a true master of his craft, visible through his hands. Under his watchful eye, the tea bushes in Long Wu flourish, producing leaves with exceptional aroma and flavor. He attributes his success to a deep connection with the land and a respect for the ancient wisdom passed down through his family.
We tasted the 4 harvests of Long Jing(Dragon Well) 43 and Long Jing Tu Cha this year, from the earliest to the current. No need to weigh the tea leaves or measure the temperature, all 4 teas are brewed Grandpa Style and has been steeping in boiling water for 15min. That's the confidence the tea farmers have of their own tea, and they were right.
Conclusion:
The Long Wu tea farm is a testament to the rich history and unparalleled craftsmanship behind pre-Qing-Ming Long Jing Tea. We are honored to share this exquisite tea with our customers, and we hope that each cup brings you closer to the beauty of Long Wu and the wisdom of the enigmatic tea master, Lao Chen.
At last, Lao Chen packed personally the teas that we were bringing back to the Netherland, sticking on the Anti-counterfeit labels that only local farmers are assigned to each year: one label for being the authentic Xi Hu Long Jing, one label for being Pre-Qing-Ming, or Ming Qian.
