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Brewing up something wonderful at the West Lake
By Wang Jie |
April 2, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE beautiful and peaceful scenery of the West Lake has fascinated and inspired many people over thousands of years.
The Two Wonders of the West Lake is an event beginning on April 11 that brings together two of the lake's most famous elements - Longjing tea, which grows on the hills in the area, and Hupao Spring.
It is said that if a cup of Longjing tea is made with water from the spring, then the fragrance and taste would linger on one's tongue and in one's mind for many days.
Hupao Spring is at the foot of Daci (Great Compassion) Hill, 5 kilometers outside the city and stretching between the West Lake and the Qiantang River.
Legend has it that a monk named Xingkong lived at Daci Temple. Coincidentally, he dreamed one night that an immortal told him that two mighty tigers would move a fountain there, just after he had made plans to leave the temple, due to lack of water. To his surprise, two mighty tigers came the following day and dug a hole, where the spring immediately gushed forth.
Today Hupao Spring is ranked as the country's third best in terms of water quality. Only Leng Spring, also in Zhejiang Province, and Hui Spring in Wuxi, Jiangxu Province, have better water.
Some residents in Hangzhou still collect water from the spring every day.
Longjing tea flourishes in the mountains due to the mild climate and plentiful rainfall. It is famous for "four elements" - its emerald green color, aromatic flavor, sweet taste and beautiful appearance.
The tea has an elaborate production process and the picking of the leaves emphasizes the importance of timeliness. As a famous saying among tea growers goes, "Tea leaves are a treasure if picked early while they are as useless as grass if picked too late."
Longjing tea leaves are picked at different times. The best is picked before the Qingming Festival, which is usually in early to mid April, and is called Mingqian tea.
A strict process is used to select the tea leaves. Only delicate and complete leaves are picked. After the fresh leaves have been picked, the makers grade them, as different qualities of leaves need different temperatures and techniques for drying. The masters will bake the tea by hand using specially made iron pans.
"Usually 2.1 kilograms of fresh tea leaves produces 500 grams of dried leaves," said Zhang Juanjuan, director of Longjing scenic spot. "There are about 466 hectares of tea gardens in Longjing Village, among which 13.3 are rated as Shifeng Longjing, the first-class of Longjing tea planted on the upper part of the mountains."
The price for Shifeng Longjing tea can reach 6,000 yuan (US$965) per 500 grams. With such profits to be made some fake Shifeng Longjing tea has been found in the area.
Supported by the Hangzhou government, the fair aims to spread the Two wonders of West Lake to more people.
The fair will run through the end of May at both teahouses inside Hupao Spring and Longjing Tea.
? Longjing Tea Plantation's Teahouse
Address: 389 Longjing Road
Tel: (0571)-87971497
? Hupao Spring
Address: Hupao Park, 39 Hupao Road
Tel: (0571) 8798-5768
Each cup of "The Two Wonders of the West Lake" tea is 80 yuan (US$13). Visitors to the teahouse at Hupao Spring will receive a ticket to the scenic spot, while Longjing Tea Plantation visitors will be given 30 yuan for taxi fare during the event.
The Two Wonders of the West Lake is an event beginning on April 11 that brings together two of the lake's most famous elements - Longjing tea, which grows on the hills in the area, and Hupao Spring.
It is said that if a cup of Longjing tea is made with water from the spring, then the fragrance and taste would linger on one's tongue and in one's mind for many days.
Hupao Spring is at the foot of Daci (Great Compassion) Hill, 5 kilometers outside the city and stretching between the West Lake and the Qiantang River.
Legend has it that a monk named Xingkong lived at Daci Temple. Coincidentally, he dreamed one night that an immortal told him that two mighty tigers would move a fountain there, just after he had made plans to leave the temple, due to lack of water. To his surprise, two mighty tigers came the following day and dug a hole, where the spring immediately gushed forth.
Today Hupao Spring is ranked as the country's third best in terms of water quality. Only Leng Spring, also in Zhejiang Province, and Hui Spring in Wuxi, Jiangxu Province, have better water.
Some residents in Hangzhou still collect water from the spring every day.
Longjing tea flourishes in the mountains due to the mild climate and plentiful rainfall. It is famous for "four elements" - its emerald green color, aromatic flavor, sweet taste and beautiful appearance.
The tea has an elaborate production process and the picking of the leaves emphasizes the importance of timeliness. As a famous saying among tea growers goes, "Tea leaves are a treasure if picked early while they are as useless as grass if picked too late."
Longjing tea leaves are picked at different times. The best is picked before the Qingming Festival, which is usually in early to mid April, and is called Mingqian tea.
A strict process is used to select the tea leaves. Only delicate and complete leaves are picked. After the fresh leaves have been picked, the makers grade them, as different qualities of leaves need different temperatures and techniques for drying. The masters will bake the tea by hand using specially made iron pans.
"Usually 2.1 kilograms of fresh tea leaves produces 500 grams of dried leaves," said Zhang Juanjuan, director of Longjing scenic spot. "There are about 466 hectares of tea gardens in Longjing Village, among which 13.3 are rated as Shifeng Longjing, the first-class of Longjing tea planted on the upper part of the mountains."
The price for Shifeng Longjing tea can reach 6,000 yuan (US$965) per 500 grams. With such profits to be made some fake Shifeng Longjing tea has been found in the area.
Supported by the Hangzhou government, the fair aims to spread the Two wonders of West Lake to more people.
The fair will run through the end of May at both teahouses inside Hupao Spring and Longjing Tea.
? Longjing Tea Plantation's Teahouse
Address: 389 Longjing Road
Tel: (0571)-87971497
? Hupao Spring
Address: Hupao Park, 39 Hupao Road
Tel: (0571) 8798-5768
Each cup of "The Two Wonders of the West Lake" tea is 80 yuan (US$13). Visitors to the teahouse at Hupao Spring will receive a ticket to the scenic spot, while Longjing Tea Plantation visitors will be given 30 yuan for taxi fare during the event.
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