Basic Introduction to Longfeng Tea
Longfeng Tea is produced in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province. Located at the junction of Hubei, Chongqing, and Shaanxi provinces, in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains and on the northern slope of the eastern section of the Daba Mountain Range, the county began combining traditional tea cultivation and processing techniques with modern advanced methods in the early 1950s, leading to the development of Longfeng Tea. The core production area is located around Dragon King Ridge, where the peaks are shrouded in mist like dragons, and it is said that this is where the Dragon King resides. The tea produced here has sharp and upright buds, resembling hundreds of dragons swimming when steeped, hence the name Longfeng Tea. Longfeng Tea is characterized by its tightly rolled and slender shape, bright green luster, uniformity, and absence of tender stems. In November 2006, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for Longfeng Tea.
Nutritional Value
The nitrogen content of Longfeng Tea ranges from 5.47% to 6.65%, phosphorus content from 0.410% to 0.502%, potassium content from 0.966% to 1.129%, calcium content from 0.097% to 0.135%, magnesium content from 603.13 mg/kg to 855.39 mg/kg, iron content from 50.00 mg/kg to 72.00 mg/kg, copper content from 8.45 mg/kg to 10.86 mg/kg, and zinc content from 22.91 mg/kg to 36.51 mg/kg.
Chemical analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to analyze the quality components of Longfeng Tea, indicating that the primary quality components are as follows: tea polyphenols range from 28.43% to 34.23%, amino acids from 2.81% to 3.38%, caffeine from 1.89% to 2.52%, soluble sugars from 2.32% to 3.07%, water-soluble extracts from 21.93% to 44.78%, chlorophyll from 0.0842% to 1.286%, catechins from 150.00 mg/g to 171.88 mg/g, and theanine from 0.715% to 1.193%.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the composition of aroma substances in Longfeng Tea, revealing that alcohols have the highest content, followed by acids and esters, aldehydes and ketones, and then alkanes, alkenes, and aromatic compounds, with nitrogen-containing aroma substances being the least. This composition contributes to the unique quality of Zhuxi Longfeng Tea's aroma, which is described as “fresh and floral.”
Product Characteristics
Longfeng Tea is characterized by its tightly rolled and slender shape, bright green luster, uniformity, and absence of tender stems. Longfeng Tea is a high-aroma tea with fresh, clear, and lasting fragrance, a fresh, pure, and sweet taste, a light green and clear infusion, and delicate leaves that unfold. The internal quality of “Longfeng Tea” is excellent; in 2006, tests conducted by Huazhong Agricultural University showed that the amino acid content reached 2.95%, the tea polyphenol content reached 32.94%—more than 1.4 times that of similar regions—the soluble sugar content was 2.97%, the water-soluble extract content moisture was 4.59%, the total ash content was 4.73%, and the water-soluble extract content was 54%, exceeding the standard requirement by 18%. The crude fiber content, tested by the Hubei Provincial Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute, was 9.5%. All the actual internal quality control indicators of “Longfeng Tea” products exceed the national green tea standards.
Historical Folklore
Zhuxi County is located at the junction of Hubei, Chongqing, and Shaanxi provinces, in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains and on the northern slope of the eastern section of the Daba Mountain Range. It is an important transportation link between the central region and southwestern and northwestern China. The Qinba Mountains are one of the original habitats of the tea plant, and Bashu is considered the cradle of Chinese tea culture. Its special geographical location made Zhuxi an important route for tea merchants in ancient times and a relay station for the spread of tea culture from Bashu to the rest of the country. Today, it is the largest tea distribution center in the Qinba Mountain area and a major tea-producing area in central, southwestern, and northwestern China. Ancient Zhuxi once paid tribute with tea. Zhuxi was part of the “South of the Mountains” tea region mentioned in Lu Yu's “Classic of Tea” during the Tang Dynasty. Zhuxi tea is listed in “The Catalogue of Tea Varieties Originating in China.” Zhuxi has been awarded the titles of “China's Tea Town” and “China's Organic Tea Town” by relevant state departments.
Awards and Honors of Longfeng Tea
Longfeng Tea has consecutively won the gold medal at the first, second, and third China Agriculture Expositions and has been named one of the “Top Ten Teas of Hubei” for four consecutive terms. It passed the A-level certification for national green food in 2000 and was rated among the top 15 organic teas in the province. It has been recognized as a provincial brand product for nine consecutive years.