Dragon Well Green Tea - Like An Oolong?
by Julian
(Horsham)
Can the highest grade Dragon Well green tea taste like an oolong tea?
Can you tell which one of above is Wang (King grade), and which one is Jipin grade?
On the left is Wang grade, the leaves are more emerald, more spongy and lively. On the right is Jipin.
Here is my Sunday tea tasting story ...
Spring AdventureSunday morning. I woke up feeling tired. It wasn't until the mid afternoon that I would have time to taste some teas. Today, it will be HQ's Dragon Well green tea. I have been looking forward to this for months!
It will be a straight contest between Wang (King) grade and Jipin (Ultimate) grade. They are harvested just 1 or 2 days apart, but Wang grade costs 3 times as much. Is it worth the money?
Dry LeafMy mind starts to clear up as soon as I smell the chestnutty aroma of the Dragon Well green tea.
There is little discernible difference between the two. On closer inspection, Wang grade's leaves are somehow broader, more symmetrical and emerald.
I started chewing. Both are crispy. Wang grade is pleasant while Jipin grade is more bitter, just as my customer Sigurd has reported.
Brewing Parameters- 2 grams (about 120 tea shoots) at 180 Fahrenheit (80 degree Celsius) in a 8 ounce tall glass.
- 10 minutes soaking with open lid.
- Pour water in 3 distinct, sharp movements to encourage bubbles and oxygen.
Tea LiquorWang grade yielded a delightful green liquor. Vapour is more nutty, like a chicken broth, as my customer Sting likes to call it. The soaked leaves sink one by one to the bottom of the glass. They swell and are more spongy. What a sight to behold.
Jipin grade is more yellowish-green. It is an excellent tea. But it does appear slightly inferior alongside Wang grade.
Tea TasteFirst sip on Wang grade is slightly bitter, but exceeding complex and rich. I can feel the floral aroma travels up my nose after a few sips.
The tea liquor is a rich greenish-yellow. This is not the subtle Dragon Well green tea that I have known. It feels very much like an oolong tea. Very aromatic and rich.
Second infusion becomes very sweet, with a sharper profile that goes (sorry for the term!) "deep throat". The floral aroma travels up to the top of the nose and stays there for a long time. A truly unusual green tea.
In comparison, Jipin grade is sweeter, more fruity, more full-mouth and less nosy. I guess most of my customers will prefer and expect these flavours.
ConclusionI reflect on the startling difference between the 2 grades. The Wang grade has really given me something to think about. A year ago I would have thought the Jipin grade was the best Dragon Well green tea in the world. The Wang grade has a different dimension.
I feel the universe melting into myself. My breathing was relaxed and easy. I feel bright, calm and soothing. I count my blessings. I am happy for who I truly am at this moment in time.
As I get ready for my third infusion, my one-year-old toddler Anni is starting to mess around again. I look at her with a naughty glint in my eyes and think: You little monster, I am ready again.
