Oriarm Chinese Longjing Green Tea Loose Leaf

Longjing (Dragon Well) is one of China's most celebrated green teas, and what makes it special is its distinctive dry stir-fry processing method. This Oriarm version shows the hallmarks of proper Longjing — a brownish-green color in the dry leaf (indicating correct pan-firing), flat pressed leaves from tender plant tips, and a beautiful light green liquor when brewed. The flavor is mellow and almost sweet, with an authentic Long Jing aroma that reviewers who've bought tea directly from China and Hong Kong recognize as the real deal.

The listing specifies it's a 2025 Pre-Rain (Yuqian) harvest, and reviewers back this up — freshness is one of the most frequently mentioned positives, with six separate reviewers noting the fresh, current-year leaves. Pre-Rain means it was picked before the Guyu (Grain Rain) period in spring, when the leaves are youngest and most tender. The consistent mention of fresh leaf quality and tender tips from plant buds suggests this is genuinely recent harvest tea.

In the interest of being straightforward: a couple of reviewers mentioned inconsistent batch quality, with some batches tasting strange or off. This seems to be a minority experience — the overwhelming majority of reviews praise the quality — but it's worth knowing. The resealable bag helps with freshness preservation, and most batches deliver on the promise of authentic Longjing character. If you do get an off batch, it may be worth contacting the seller.

Reviewers specifically mention using this Oriarm Longjing during work and programming sessions with frequent tea drinking. The moderate caffeine provides steady focus without coffee jitters, and the short steep time (20-45 seconds) means you can quickly prepare a cup without interrupting your flow. The delicate flavor stays pleasant cup after cup — it won't overwhelm you the way stronger teas might when you're drinking several cups through a work session.

The biggest mistake is using boiling water. This Oriarm Longjing is a delicate tea, and water above 185°F will make it bitter and destroy the subtle sweetness that makes it special. The second common mistake is oversteeping — anything beyond 45 seconds on the first brew can overextract the leaves. Start with 20 seconds and work your way up. Also, don't judge the dry leaves by aroma alone; reviewers note this tea has a lighter aroma when dry but really opens up once hot water hits it.

For this loose leaf Longjing, use about 3-4 grams of tea per 6 ounces of water. Heat your water to 180°F — if you don't have a thermometer, bring it to a boil and let it cool for about 3 minutes. Pour over the leaves and steep for 20-45 seconds. The beautiful thing about quality loose leaf like this is you can reinfuse it 3-4 times, and the flavor actually shifts with each steeping — reviewers describe fruity notes that emerge as the tea cools.

Yuqian literally means 'before the rain' — it refers to tea picked before the Grain Rain period in mid-April. This is the second-most prized harvest window for Longjing (after Ming Qian, picked before the Qingming festival). Yuqian leaves are still young and tender but slightly more mature than the earliest pickings, which means you get good complexity at a more accessible price. For this Oriarm version, it means you're getting genuine spring-harvest quality leaves rather than later, less desirable picks.

The 250g resealable bag is practical but not particularly gift-worthy in terms of presentation. If you're buying for someone who already appreciates Chinese tea, they'll recognize the quality and enjoy it. But if you're looking for something impressive to give a casual tea drinker, you might want to consider a tea that comes in more decorative packaging. Where this excels as a gift is for introducing a tea-curious friend to authentic Longjing without a huge investment.

The tea comes in a resealable bag designed for freshness preservation, which is a good start. Keep it sealed tightly between uses and store it in a cool, dark place away from strong odors (tea absorbs smells easily). For the best flavor, try to finish it within a few months of opening. Some reviewers noted the dry tea has a lighter aroma until brewed — proper storage helps maintain what aroma there is in the dry leaf and ensures the full flavor comes through when you steep it.

Most green tea you'll find in grocery stores is Japanese-style (steamed to stop oxidation) or mass-produced tea bag blends. Chinese green teas like this Oriarm Longjing use pan-firing instead of steaming, which gives them a distinctly different character — more mellow and rounded rather than grassy or vegetal. This particular Longjing has a delicate, almost sweet texture with fruity notes when it cools, which is quite different from the sharp, astringent profile you might associate with generic green tea bags.

Cold brewing works nicely with this Longjing and brings out its sweeter, more delicate side. Use about 5 grams of the loose leaves per 16 ounces of cold or room temperature water, place it in the fridge, and let it steep for 4-8 hours (overnight is easiest). Cold brewing extracts less caffeine and bitterness while preserving the subtle sweetness and fruity notes that reviewers appreciate in this tea. The result is a smooth, refreshing drink.

Green tea generally has moderate caffeine — roughly 25-50mg per cup compared to coffee's 95-200mg. This Oriarm Longjing, being made from tender young tips (Yuqian harvest), may sit at the higher end of that range for green tea since younger leaves tend to contain more caffeine. Reviewers who use it for work and programming sessions describe it as providing steady, focused energy without the jitteriness of coffee, which is typical of green tea's combination of caffeine and L-theanine.

Beyond the general antioxidant and L-theanine benefits of green tea, reviewers of this Oriarm Longjing specifically mention daily drinking enjoyment and a calming routine. One particularly notable review reported significant blood pressure improvement with regular consumption — they were able to come off two blood pressure medications (though of course, always consult your doctor before making any changes to medication). For most buyers, the main benefit is simply having a quality, affordable Long Jing for everyday enjoyment.

Green tea is generally very well tolerated, but drinking on an empty stomach can cause nausea for some people due to the tannins. The caffeine content (moderate in this Oriarm Longjing) could affect sleep if consumed late in the day. Very high consumption (many cups daily) can potentially affect iron absorption. None of the reviewers of this specific product reported negative side effects — in fact, the main feedback is overwhelmingly positive about daily enjoyment and even some health benefits.

Loose leaf tea like this Oriarm Longjing is generally considered the healthiest way to drink green tea because you're getting whole, minimally processed leaves rather than the dust and fannings found in most tea bags. Brew it at around 180°F to preserve the beneficial catechins without extracting too much bitterness. Drinking it without sweeteners lets you appreciate the natural almost-sweet texture that reviewers mention. Multiple infusions of the same leaves also give you sustained benefits throughout a sitting.

You have two approaches with this Oriarm Longjing. The quick method: brew a concentrated cup at 180°F using double the normal amount of leaves (about 6-8 grams per 6 ounces), steep for 30-45 seconds, then pour over ice. The slow method: cold brew overnight in the fridge for a smoother, sweeter result. Either way, this tea's naturally delicate, almost sweet flavor means you probably won't need any sweetener — which is one of the things that makes quality Longjing great for iced tea.

It can provide a gentle alertness without the intense stimulation of coffee. Reviewers of this Oriarm Longjing specifically mention using it during work and programming sessions for sustained focus. The caffeine is there, but green tea also contains L-theanine, which promotes calm alertness rather than the wired feeling coffee can give. If you're very sensitive to caffeine, you might want to avoid drinking it late in the evening, but most people find green tea much less disruptive to sleep than coffee.

Based on reviewer experiences with this Oriarm Longjing, daily consumption seems to be the sweet spot. Most reviewers drink it as part of their daily routine — mornings and work sessions being the most popular times. One reviewer specifically noted significant blood pressure improvements after regular daily consumption. You'll likely also develop a better palate for appreciating the delicate, almost sweet flavor and the fruity notes that emerge as the tea cools. It's an easy habit to build since the taste is mellow rather than aggressive.