Many tea enthusiasts have had the pleasure of tasting Dragon Well tea, and if you enjoy tea, not having experienced authentic West Lake Dragon Well tea would be a great loss. So, what does Dragon Well tea taste like?
The Flavor of Dragon Well Tea
Dragon Well tea offers a delightful combination of high, fresh, and clear fragrance, a sweet taste, a refreshing character, a bright, clear green tea soup, and an appealing overall experience. When you savor it, the lingering taste remains on your palate, reaching deep into your heart and lungs. The unique character of Dragon Well tea lies in its aromatic leaves and rich but not overwhelming taste. To fully appreciate its aromatic qualities, you should take your time sipping it, as the tea reveals its fragrance slowly. In the Qing Dynasty, the tea connoisseur Lu Cizhi praised Dragon Well tea, saying, “Dragon Well tea is truly sweet and fragrant without bitterness. Sipping it feels light, as if it has no taste. After drinking it, you’ll sense a harmonious energy that lingers between your teeth and cheeks—this is the taste of no taste, yet the ultimate flavor.” It is known to be beneficial for health, and its rarity is akin to a precious gem. The highest-grade Dragon Well tea uses yellow soybeans as a fertilizer, infusing a rich bean aroma during the initial brew.
Floral Aromas of Dragon Well Tea
- Bean Aroma: The bean aroma, also known as tender bean aroma, is the most common fragrance type. It represents the craftsmanship of the Meijiawu production area, where a labor-intensive, manual process imparts a fresh, greenish, tender bean-like aroma to the tea.
- Chestnut Aroma: Also known as mature chestnut aroma or tender chestnut aroma, it signifies the unique craftsmanship of the Shifeng production area. This type of Dragon Well tea is made by picking fresh tea buds during the Qingming Festival, using the entire Shifeng manual processing technique. The dry tea appears yellowish-green, and the aroma is distinctly reminiscent of chestnuts.
- High-Fired Aroma: The high-fired aroma is somewhat similar to the bean aroma in terms of scent. It is mainly due to the tea leaves being roasted at a high temperature during processing. This results in an aroma with a slightly burnt quality, detectable upon sniffing the tea.
- Clear Aroma: Clear aroma refers to the scent of Dragon Well teas with relatively average quality. For high-quality Dragon Well teas, clear aroma is their most fundamental fragrance. Even without special treatment, you can still experience the clear aroma in these teas.
- Orchid Aroma: Orchid aroma is a unique fragrance type that only a few groups of tea trees produce. Examples include the Dragon Well 43 and third-generation tea tree 108 varieties or young, spring-picked tender tea buds. Orchid aroma is, therefore, representative of premium Dragon Well teas.
In essence, the taste of Dragon Well tea is a delightful journey through various fragrance profiles. Whether it’s the refreshing bean aroma, the comforting chestnut aroma, or the exquisite orchid aroma, Dragon Well tea offers a vast array of sensory experiences, ensuring every cup is a unique and memorable encounter with the world of fine teas.
