Dragon Well

[debunix]

Just discovered some aged Long Jing, stored in an airtight cabinet but not in the best location (cupboard over a stove), aged likely at least 20 years, and it was not a happy tea. It was reportedly a very high quality tea when it was bought, but it's brown and aged self retained only a mild fruitiness but little sweetness, nuttiness, or vegetal flavor. I am repatriating a more recent sample of very high quality Dragon Well to ensure it does not meet the same sad fate. I have had a sample of Imperial Shih Feng from Jing Tea Shop, and while it was certainly nuttier with more lasting flavor, the one I drank today (the top grade available from Wing Hop Fung, but 2/3 the price of the one I got from Jing) was more than adequate.

As my tea preferences become clearer, I am discovering that by sheer luck my taste preferences are not always for the fancier or most expensive grade of some teas, e.g., prefer lighter senchas to deep gyokuros or matcha, and maybe my preferences in Dragon Well are the same thing expressing itself.

[qaymar23]

What is the price for the Hojo Shi Feng Long Jing? Is is really some of the better quality Long Jing tea?

[brlarson]

What is the price for the Hojo Shi Feng Long Jing? Is is really some of the better quality Long Jing tea?

Here is a URL to Hojo's tea list. Prices are in yen:
http://hojotea.com/img/tealineup.pdf

At about $2.50 US per gram Hojo's Shi Feng is one of the priciest around. I haven't tried this one but his teas are usually wonderful.

[qaymar23]

What is the price for the Hojo Shi Feng Long Jing? Is is really some of the better quality Long Jing tea?

Here is a URL to Hojo's tea list. Prices are in yen:
http://hojotea.com/img/tealineup.pdf

At about $2.50 US per gram Hojo's Shi Feng is one of the priciest around. I haven't tried this one but his teas are usually wonderful.

Thank you for the price list as well. Conversion for U.S dollars for 25 grams is $65.21, it must be amazing Long Jing. I don't see myself purchasing it at this point, but certainly on my list of teas to purchase one day in the not to distant future. What vendor would be a close 2nd but maybe half the price? I have read that Jing tea shop is good and Seven Cups?

[brlarson]

... What vendor would be a close 2nd but maybe half the price? I have read that Jing tea shop is good and Seven Cups?

I can tell you if you can wait about a month

After reading this thread and the Shi Feng thread I ordered six long jing from four different vendors: Tea Gallery's Lion's Peak, three from Jing Tea Shop, Master Luo's from Postcard Tea, and the 2010 Long Jing from Red Circle Tea. I expect that every tea in this group will be excellent quality.

So far I've only tasted Tea Gallery's offering. It is very good and it's in a reasonable price range for dragonwell (~%0.50/gram), but it took me three tries before I was happy with the resulting brew. The instructions on Tea Gallery's Tea Blog were very helpful http://theteagallery.blogspot.com/2010/ ... eview.html. For me, 2grams of leaf for each ounce of water produced the best results. This tea is very delicate. Its nut-like sweetness starting to coat my tongue during the fourth infusion and continued through the sixth, and the taste lingered for at least two or three hours.

Tomorrow I plan to taste Tea Gallery's Lion's Peak beside Jing's Shi Feng, and on Sunday I might compare Jing's Shi Feng and Weng Jia Shan. I can't plan ahead any further than that.

I'll check in with this thread again over the weekend.

[qaymar23]

Yes if I can wait a month before I order it

Please let me know how your taste comparsion goes as I would like to order from Jing. How you tried the Shi Feng 2010 from Seven cups? The write up on from their web site sounds very appealing and I am tempted to order from them.

[qaymar23]

Has any one had any Long Jing from the vendor Tea Hub, out of China. They claim they purchase their tea from West Lake from the Tea Research Center. They also have several articles that show one how to tell fake long jing, but I have had limited long jing's so I would not know if what they are showing is 'real' or 'fake'. thanks

[bagua7]

I got here my order from JTS (shi feng). Will have it tonight as I am at work now.

2010 wasn't a good year from what I read/heard.

Its nut-like sweetness starting to coat my tongue during the fourth infusion

Real LJ tastes like green beans having their aroma mixed with that of roasted peanuts . Last month I had a brew out of a cheap batch purchased at Guangzhou and it was like that. Very nice tea and it was surprisingly cheap.

Looking forward to compare that with LTS batch.

[qaymar23]

I got here my order from JTS (shi feng). Will have it tonight as I am at work now.

2010 wasn't a good year from what I read/heard.

Its nut-like sweetness starting to coat my tongue during the fourth infusion

Real LJ tastes like green beans having their aroma mixed with that of roasted peanuts . Last month I had a brew out of a cheap batch purchased at Guangzhou and it was like that. Very nice tea and it was surprisingly cheap.

Looking forward to compare that with LTS batch.

Please let me know how the LJ from Jing Tea Shop tastes as I ordered my sample of shi feng today along with a sample of Weng Jia Shan LJ, and probably will not get to taste for a couple of weeks. I almost ordered LJ from Postcard Teas but I have not read any reviews on the shops LJ and the cost was a little much. Have you tried from Postcard or Seven Cups LJ before?

[bagua7]

Sure.

Btw, could you give us an opinion about the weng jia shan sample you will get?

[qaymar23]

Sure.

Btw, could you give us an opinion about the weng jia shan sample you will get?

Of course.

[Alex]

Just discovered some aged Long Jing, stored in an airtight cabinet but not in the best location (cupboard over a stove), aged likely at least 20 years, and it was not a happy tea.

That's some really long jing.


*crickets*



*gets coat*

[brlarson]

I tasted Jing's Shi Feng and Weng Jia Shan on Sunday with my son and one of his friends. Here's what we got.

Review of 2010 Shi Feng LJ and Weng Jia Shan LJ from Jing Tea Shop.

I placed 6.5 grams of leaf in a preheated 120ml porcelain gaiwan and flash rinsed at 180F. 1st infusion was at 155F for 15secs, with 5secs and 5F added for each additional infusion.

Shi Feng:
Flash rinse: produced some roasted flavors and scents: light asparagus sautéed in oil, perhaps green walnut and oil-popped popcorn.
1. 155F for 15secs. Light astringency across tip and edge of tongue. Vegetal flavor is delicate yet full and sweet. One suggestion was steamed broccoli stalks with sautéed almonds and walnuts.
2. 160F for 20secs. Astringency is developing into a more pronounced but loosely defined bitterness. Some roasted flavors and some bean flavors developing, One suggestion was peapod stalks. A higher-toned creaminess was also starting to develop along with the bean flavors. One suggestion was wax/yellow beans.
3. 165F for 25secs. Fuller nose this time, and bitterness has dissipated. Flavor is fuller and sweeter, still there are tannins emerging that dry the sides of the mouth. More of a hint of creaminess on the front of the tongue only.
4. 170F for 30secs. Full, sweet flavor. Starting to thin.
5. 175F for 35secs. Same as last time but thinner. Last brew.

Weng Jia Shan
Flash rinse: full, sweet and deep aromas and flavors, roasted but without any drying quality (tannins). Very savory; like sautéed rabi with the savoriness of soy sauce, perhaps a hint of dark chocolate (in the nose).
1. 155F for 15secs. Wow! Full sweet tender green leaf scent with light toasted nut element. Toasted green aromas are starting to fill my nasal cavities. Flavor is sautéed green beans with almonds.
2. 160F for 20secs. Still has full rich nose with toasted nut. Mouth is full and sweet, starting to show loose astringency. Hints of creaminess. I wonder how many steeps this will produce as it seems to be developing more quickly than the Shi Feng?
3. 165F for 25secs. Same full nose, lovely toasted nut scent. Another full, sweet mouthful. Gentle astringency is starting to show as slight bitterness.
4. 170F for 30secs. Nose is diminished, more roasted than toasted. Flavor is receding from the center of the palate but it is still sweet light and delicious and slightly astringent.
5. 175F for 35secs. Lighter nose with less sweetness in the mouth, but still pronounced green leaf/bean taste with nuts (almonds) coming through.
6. 180F for 40secs. Strong steamed green bean taste. (Note: creaminess never really developed.)
7. 180F for 50secs. Tastes like water that green beans were boiled in. Final.

End of review.

Both of these teas were delicious, but the Weng Jia Shan really had us reaching deeply into our cups to enjoy its complex flavors and scents.

With some luck, next weekend I will be compare Jing's Imperial LJ with Master's Luo's LJ from Postcard Teas.

[Chip]

Fantastic review brlarson. I am looking forward to the next comparison!

[TokyoB]

With some luck, next weekend I will be compare Jing's Imperial LJ with Master's Luo's LJ from Postcard Teas.

Master Luo's is good stuff! subtle but deep, not so sweet. Curious to see what you think.