How do you steep Dragonwell tea?

Dragonwell tea, also known as Longjing tea, is a famous green tea from China, renowned for its unique flavor and aroma. To fully enjoy its delicate taste, it’s essential to steep it correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to steeping Dragonwell tea:

1. **Prepare Your Teaware**: Select a clear glass or porcelain teapot or gaiwan (lidded bowl) so you can appreciate the tea’s beautiful color as it steeps. Avoid using metal teapots, as they can affect the taste of the tea.
2. **Measure the Tea**: Use about 3 grams of Dragonwell tea per 6 ounces (180 milliliters) of water. This ratio allows the tea’s flavor to shine through without being too overpowering.
3. **Heat the Water**: Bring fresh, filtered water to a boil, then let it cool slightly until it reaches about 175°F (80°C). This temperature is ideal for green teas, as it allows the leaves to slowly unfurl and release their flavor.
4. **Steep the Tea**: Pour the hot water over the tea leaves in your teapot or gaiwan. Cover with the lid and let steep for about 3 minutes. The leaves will start to dance in the water, slowly opening up and releasing their fragrant aroma.
5. **Enjoy the Tea**: After steeping, pour the tea into your cup and take a moment to appreciate its beautiful color and aroma. Taste the tea, noting its sweetness, nutty undertones, and lingering aftertaste. If desired, you can re-steep the leaves multiple times, adjusting the steeping time slightly each time to extract different layers of flavor.

By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the exquisite taste of Dragonwell tea in the comfort of your own home. Remember to experiment with different steeping times and water temperatures to find what works best for your taste buds.

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