Heritage Green

• Water: Spring water or purified water.

• Temperature: Approximately 190°F (88°C).

• Tea-to-Water Ratio: 1 packet of tea per 1/2 US legal cup of water for each infusion.

• Tea Ware: Lidded bowl, small teapot, or water bottle with a removable filter.

• 1: Add water directly into tea ware first. Float the tea leaves on top and steep for about 10 seconds.

• 2 ~ 6: Steep quickly, for about 10 seconds each.

• 7 ~ 9: Steep for about 30 seconds each.

• > 9: steeps: Adjust steeping time according to personal preference.

*If you are using a larger vessel for infusing tea, it’s better to proportionally increase the steeping time rather than the quantity of tea.

• Servings: For optimal enjoyment, use each packet for 12 infusions throughout the day.

• Duration: Best enjoyed within 1 day.

• When: Avoid on an empty stomach. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, avoid after 5pm. For optimal enjoyment, drink between the Chinese solar terms of Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox.

• Frequency: Limit to 3 packets per week.

Light fare such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and sushi perfectly complements this tea. It also pairs elegantly with Asian pastry.

Only Dragon Well that is grown, produced, and processed within the 41,514-acre West Lake region can be called Dragon Well of West Lake. Dragon Well from other areas in Zhejiang Province is referred to as “Qiantang Longjing” or “Yuezhou Longjing.”

Within the broader West Lake region, the core production area for Dragon Well of West Lake is considered to be the West Lake Scenic Area, which currently has only about 1,318 acres of tea plantations. This area includes Lion Peak, Longjing Village, Wengjiashan Village, Yangmeiling Village, Manjuelong Village, Lingyin Village, Shuangfeng Village, Maojiabu Village, Meijiawu Village, Jiuxi, and Fan Village.

Among these, Lion Peak is considered the finest, with Longjing Village and Wengjiashan Village regarded as exceptional.

THEORÓ Heritage Green is from Wengjiashan Village.

The original variety of Dragon Well of West Lake is the Lion Peak Camellia sinensis var. Longjing, which, as the name suggests, only existed on Lion Peak within the West Lake Scenic Area. It is extremely rare and highly prized.

Another exceptional cultivar is Longjing No. 43, a nationally recognized superior variety developed by the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It is currently being promoted in core production areas where the original wild species are scarce, ensuring a consistent and high-quality supply of Dragon Well of West Lake.

Other commonly used tree varieties include Camellia sinensis var. Yingshuang and Camellia sinensis var. Wuniuzao, as well as other Camellia sinensis var. Sinensis grown outside the West Lake Scenic Area. However, tea produced from these varieties cannot withstand close scrutiny, as they tend to have a stronger grassy note and do not hold up well to multiple infusions.

THEORÓ Heritage Green uses leaves from Longjing No. 43.

All Longjing No. 43 tea is cultivated, managed, and harvested according to strict national standards, with no distinction based on the age of the trees.

The term "mingqian" (before "Clear and Bright") is often misunderstood and can be misleading. While many teas are labeled as "mingqian," this term covers several plucking periods, leading consumers to believe that any tea with this label is of the highest quality. While "mingqian" teas are good, they are not necessarily the best. For Dragon Well of West Lake, the Longjing No. 43 cultivar is an early-harvest variety, traditionally harvested before the Spring Equinox, about two weeks before Clear and Bright. As a result, the term "mingqian" is often used loosely for marketing, especially since most Dragon Well of West Lake teas are harvested before Clear and Bright. Discerning tea drinkers, however, focus on more specific terms such as "first flush," "second flush," or "third flush" rather than relying solely on the "mingqian" label.

THEORÓ Heritage Green is made from leaves that are the very first pluck of each year, harvested Before Spring Equinox, around March 15th of each year.

All green teas, including Dragon Well of West Lake are best enjoyed within the same year of their harvest, ideally before winter.

THEORÓ Heritage Green is available by pre-order only. From now until April 6th, 2025, you can reserve the 2025 vintage.

After fresh tea leaves are picked, they need to be spread and aired promptly. In the past, this process was not given much attention, but through practice and research, it was discovered that using bamboo baskets or flat surfaces to air the leaves can lower their quality. Therefore, specially designed airing racks are now used, which are not only cleaner and more ventilated but also help the leaves retain their fresh and vibrant color after heating, preventing them from clumping together.

The fixation of Dragon Well of West Lake involves mainly pan-roasting. This technique uses high temperatures to stop oxidation and stabilize the quality of the tea. At the same time, the high temperature helps further eliminate the low-boiling-point grassy odors from the original aromatic components, allowing the higher-boiling-point floral and fruity aromas to become more prominent. Under these heat conditions, new aromatic compounds may also form.

After the initial heating, these leaves must be spread in a clean environment with the right temperature and humidity to cool down. Once re-moistened, they are covered with a clean cloth. The leaves are then sifted through tea sieves to remove fragments and dust, which helps in shaping the leaves during the final step.

The final pan-roasting process is the key step in the entire roasting process. Its purpose is to further shape the leaves, fix the color, and dry them until they meet the desired qualities of being flat, smooth, bright, straight, and glossy. Although the roasting motions may appear simple, mastering the technique requires a high level of skill from the tea maker, blending artistry and precision to achieve perfection.