Beschreibung
Gong Pai Mingqian AAA West Lake Longjing brings a familiar Chinese green tea into an easy-to-keep 50 g tin. The flat leaves and fresh, gentle character make it a tea to enjoy slowly, whether you brew in a clear glass or a small porcelain vessel.
This is a Mingqian tea: picked before the Qingming festival. It is made as pan-fired green tea and comes from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. The tin’s dragon design and green-and-gold finish are shown in the product photographs.
A closer look at the tea
Look for flat, neatly formed leaves and a bright green infusion, with a fresh taste and gentle sweetness. The photographs below let you look at the dry tea, the leaves opening in water and the infused leaf.
About the grade: AAA is Gong Pai’s marked grade for this product. Grades vary between producers, so consider the origin, leaf appearance and picking period alongside the label.
Origin and spring picking
This West Lake Longjing comes from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. The tea-garden, fresh-leaf and Longjing village photographs below introduce the region and Gong Pai’s tea-making background.
Mingqian means the tea was picked before Qingming, a traditional marker of the spring tea season. For more context, see our Mingqian and Yuqian Longjing guide. Check the production date and batch information on the tin when it arrives.
Pan-fired green tea
The tea is made using chaoqing, or pan-fired green tea processing. The craft photograph and short film offer a look at Gong Pai’s tea gardens, picking and tea-making traditions.
Gong Pai and its tea-making background
The brand on the tin is Gong Pai (贡牌). The tea is produced by Hangzhou Xihu Longjing Tea Co., Ltd., in Hangzhou, China. Gong Pai’s brand story is rooted in the Qi family’s tea-making tradition.
Meet Qi Yingjie, featured in Gong Pai’s brand story, alongside a view of the company’s tea-production facilities.
Product specifications
| Brand | Gong Pai (贡牌) |
|---|---|
| Tea type | Green tea |
| Variety | West Lake Longjing / Dragonwell |
| Origin | Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China |
| Picking period | Mingqian (before Qingming) |
| Processing | Pan-fired green tea (chaoqing) |
| Leaf shape | Flat leaves |
| Net weight | 50 g / approx. 1.76 oz |
| Marked grade | AAA (product grade) |
| Packaging | Tin |
| Shelf life | 540 days from production; see pack dates |
| Product standard | Q/HLJ0018S |
| Manufacturer | Hangzhou Xihu Longjing Tea Co., Ltd. |
What is included
One tin containing 50 g (approximately 1.76 oz) of loose-leaf tea. Cups, teaware and other scene props are for presentation.
Real packaging text may be in Chinese. The key product information is presented in English here and in Simplified Chinese on the Chinese-language page.
A starting point for brewing
Try 2.5–3 g of tea with 150–200 mL of water at about 80–85°C (176–185°F). Start with 1–2 minutes, taste, and adjust the next infusion to your preference. A clear glass makes it easy to watch the leaves open; porcelain is a useful choice when you prefer to decant each infusion.
Adjust the leaf-to-water ratio and steeping time to suit your taste. Our Longjing brewing guide explains how to adjust strength and avoid an overly bitter cup.
Keeping the tea fresh
Keep the tea sealed, cool and dry, away from light, moisture and strong odors. If you chill the tin, let it reach room temperature while still closed before opening. The specified shelf life is 540 days from production; check the pack for its actual production and best-before dates.
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