Description

Please note: This listing is for pre-sale only. Each grade will be sent out as it becomes available, with the highest grades available in the 2nd half of March. If other items are ordered together, they will be held and sent out together once the tea is ready. If you wish to have other items sent first, please purchase them in a separate order.

We are pleased to again be able to offer several tiers of Shifeng Longjing for 2024. Shifeng Longjing of this quality is typically not easily accessible through shops or conventional sources, and authentic pickings can even be difficult to acquire even within China due to limited production quantity and status.

These teas come from a registered distributor in Hangzhou who has long term leases of land in Shifeng, therefore each tea comes with an authentication code associated with it (per 250g). Having worked with this source each year since 2017, we confidently offer these teas on a private/pre-order basis for those who want to experience arguably one of the most famous and coveted teas in China.

Pre-ming Shifeng Longjing teas are quite expensive and as such we do not recommend them for beginners or those looking for qualities similar to lower grade Zhejiang Longjing. Just as with other types of tea, the quality difference with these teas can be nuanced and subtle, expressed through clarity of flavour and mouthfeel. If you’re looking for an overwhelming nuttiness, obvious fragrance, or a daily drinking green, then we recommend sticking with more affordable versions of Longjing or having a look at our Ganlu offering for this year.

Please see the “description of grades” tab for more information about the differences between each tier. All grades (except Niubeiji) are available in #43 varietal, as well as the traditional/older Quntizhong/群体种 for the highest grades only. Compared to the newer #43 varietal, Quntizhong tends to have a deeper flavour, more complexity, and is often described as the “original taste of Longjing”. However, many trees were cut down in the 80s to make room for #43 varietal bushes, which offer a higher yield, more uniform and attractive leaves, as well as an earlier picking time.

Bear in mind that teas of this caliber are not cheap. Minimum quantity for each grade is dictated by our supplier, which is 100g, although 200g sizes are available too.

Each purchase has an authentication code with its own authentication sticker. These authentication stickers are regulated by the Chinese government and issued to producers in Longjing village according to their production output. Each purchase will have an associated authentication code and QR code per 100g that can be used to verify the origin.