Kaihua Longding (开化龙顶, Kāi Huà Lóng Dǐng) is a kind of Chinese green tea. It is native to Kaihua County of Zhejiang Province and is a specialty of this place. Kaihua Longding is also a national geographical indication product of China.
The earliest Kaihua Longding tea grew in a place called Longding Pond on the mountain, so the tea is called Kaihua Longding. Long means “dragon” and Ding means “top”.
Kaihua Longding is a kind of Yunwu tea that grows in mountains with more clouds and mists.
Table of Contents
History of Kaihua Longding
Kaihua County has a long history of tea production. Kaihua tea was regarded as a tribute tea in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
In 1877, Kaihua tea began to be exported. In the early 20th century, with the outbreak of the war, many traditional tea-making technologies of Kaihua tea were lost.
After the founding of New China, many tea experts and technicians went to the tea garden around the Longding Pond to dig and sort out the tea trees and develop a new tea combining traditional and modern technology. The new tea was later named Kaihua Longding
In 1982, Kaihua Longding was selected as a famous tea of Zhejiang Province. In 1985, it was selected as the national famous tea in the national famous tea competition.
Characteristics of Kaihua Longding
Kaihua County is rich in mountains and forests, known as China’s “Amazon Rainforest” and “Forest Sea of Zhejiang”, with a forest coverage rate of 80.4%.
The mountain area where the tea garden is located has a large temperature difference day and night. There are more than 100 foggy days throughout the year.
The picking period of Kaihua Longding is generally in the middle of April every year. The picking standard is one bud with one leaf or one bud with two leaves.
The shape of dried Kaihua Longding is straight and flat and its color is green. After brewing, each bud is floating in the cup, which has the reputation of “forest in the cup”. The tea liquid looks clear and light green and it has a long-lasting orchid fragrance.
The glass cup is most suitable for making Kaihua Longding. You can enjoy the visual feeling of tea buds in the cup. The water temperature for making is 80℃-85℃.
Benefits of Kaihua Longding
Kaihua Longding is rich in amino acids, alkaloids, tea polyphenols, vitamins, saccharides, trace elements, etc, which have many pharmacological effects.
Benefits of Kaihua Longding:
- Detox
- Skincare
- Diuretic
- Anti-aging
- Anti-cancer
- Weight loss
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Protect teeth and eyes