Legends of Longjing Tea

Its history can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and it has been famous in China since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), prevailing in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties.

The legend went that Emperor Qianlong visited Lion Peak Mountain during his Hangzhou travels, and he saw some ladies picking the tea at the foot of the mountain. He was so interested in their movements that he decided to have a go himself.

While picking the tea, he received the news of his mother's illness, so he carelessly put the leaves in his right sleeve and left Hangzhou for Beijing. He visited his mother immediately upon his arrival in Beijing, and Empress Dowager smelt the fragrance of the leaves from his sleeves and wanted to have a taste.

Emperor Qianlong ordered some tea to be brewed for her, and she found herself completely refreshed after drinking a cup of tea, and she even praised it as a remedy for all ills. From then on, Shi Feng Longjing tea was listed as the tribute tea especially for Empress Dowager.