It was with anticipation, and more than a slight hint of trepidation, that I approached Longjing Village, home to the green tea of the same name. Winding my way into the hills high above sprawling Hangzhou, I worried that my utter distaste for a classic British brew would expose me as a tea virgin, hampering my chances of matching the exquisite tea-drinking etiquette of China.
Longjing eats, breathes and lives tea, especially in spring. Greeted by weather-worn tea farmer Mr Wang, insatiably chatty and eager to test his English, I was led through the village, verdant with new growth.
We reached one of the many tea plantations; a carpet of green, broken only by the intermittent bobbing of pickers, fuelled by enthusiasm for the new crop. My attempt at mimicking the precise art of picking was met only by despairing head shakes from Mr Wang, his accompanying chuckles confirming that I’d never cut it at Longjing.
Putting me out of my misery, my new acquaintance invited me to his home for a ‘cuppa’. Producing a tea set crafted from bone thin pottery, Mr Wang worked his magic, carefully concocting his elixir in a lengthy process of brewing, transferring, straining and stirring.
Finally pouring his creation into the tiniest of cups that looked as though they should belong in a dolls house, I took a deep gulp and swallowed my pride. The steaming brew engulfed me with its heady scent, watery yet dense with aroma and layers of flavour. My first sip was cautious, but within seconds I’d drunk it down and was coming back for more. I was drinking tea, and enjoying it. Not enjoying it – loving it. I left Mr Wang’s house reluctantly, and beaming with the revelation of how much more there is to tea than I had previously imagined.
Known for its beneficial health properties, Longjing tea is not only the reserve of tea parties. Returning to the Amanfayun Spa, tea treatments were more than appropriate. My feet were revived with a green tea foot bath and scrub, flooding me with the sweet scent I’d left at Mr Wang’s. My therapist treated me to a signature aromatherapy and body wrap, infusing my bones with the green stuff, and leaving me a veritable picture of health.
Hungry with the fruits of my tea-fuelled day, I turned to the second most important spring crop here: bamboo shoots – a staple and markedly rewarding. Choosing the specially prepared tasting menu, I was stunned at the versatility and deliciousness of the humble shoot, delicately fresh, lovingly prepared, and outstandingly showcased as a stalwart of Chinese cuisine. The perfect accompaniment to my dish? A steaming pot of Longjing tea – what a difference a day makes.
