Osmanthus West Lake Longjing

Osmanthus Dragon Well brings together spring tea and autumn blossom — the freshness of newly picked Longjing and the sweetness of golden osmanthus. Hangzhou is famously home to both, and the Manjuelong region is especially known for its scenic “Manlong Guiyu,” where osmanthus trees bloom richly each year. It is here that the craft of osmanthus-scented Longjing became an iconic local tradition, now listed as intangible cultural heritage.

True Osmanthus Dragon Well is not simply mixed with flowers. Instead, it undergoes traditional yin hua scenting, in which layers of fresh osmanthus are combined with finished Longjing tea over several rounds. The blossoms are refreshed continuously until the tea fully absorbs the floral molecules — allowing the fragrance to enter the leaf rather than sit on the surface. This gives the tea depth, clarity, and a sweetness that persists through multiple infusions.

The dry leaves are flat and smooth, green with touches of yellow and speckled with fine flower petals. When brewed, the liquor appears pale yellow-green and crystal bright, releasing a gentle floral aroma woven with Longjing’s signature bean-like freshness. Each sip is light, clean, and refreshing, followed by a soft honeyed aftertaste. The floral note rises naturally — never overwhelming — while the tea itself remains the core.

A cup of Osmanthus Dragon Well feels like Jiangnan in two seasons:
spring in the leaf, autumn in the fragrance — subtle, elegant, and quietly poetic.