Spring returns to Qiantang, and mist shrouds the Crane Peak. As the first wisp of spring breeze brushes over the hills around West Lake, Tongxin She Teahouse officially launches the exclusive pre-sale of its 2026 top-grade West Lake Longjing — Baihefeng · Yuantoumen — after long anticipation. We do not chase the empty reputation of Shifeng, but seek out the secluded and lesser-known terroir, bringing the fresh and mellow taste of this time-honored mountain land to the tea tables of true connoisseurs in advance.
When most tea lovers talk about West Lake Longjing, they only know the fame of Shifeng. Few realize that the real top-tier flavor hides in the obscure small tea mountains of Baihefeng. Yuantoumen stands out among nearly 200 mu of tea gardens in Baihefeng, a "treasure mountain plot" privately treasured by seasoned tea drinkers, and the ultimate expression of the authentic terroir of West Lake Longjing. This secluded small mountain plot holds extraordinary gifts from heaven and earth: to the northeast, it overlooks the blue waves of West Lake, embracing the elegant Jiangnan charm that "the lakes and hills are gentle and charming, yet this place is uniquely deep and quiet"; to the southeast, it embraces the moist air of the Qiantang River. Surrounded by mountains and water, it forms a unique misty microclimate with abundant diffused light, allowing tea leaves to accumulate richer aromatic substances and amino acids. The soil beneath is white sandy loam — loose, fertile, and high in phosphorus. Coupled with rich and diverse vegetation, the entire micro-ecosystem is integrated and complete. Every inch of soil nourishes the original flavor of the tea trees, creating the unique deep charm and mellow texture of Yuantoumen Longjing. Its quality is comparable to that of Shifeng Longjing, yet it carries an extra crispness and vitality unique to this secluded mountain plot.
In this pre-sale, Tongxin She selects two core varieties from the Yuantoumen mountain plot, balancing classic and fresh flavors to meet the preferences of different tea lovers. One is the Qunti Zhong, the ancient native variety of West Lake Longjing, naturally propagated from tea seeds, known as "old tea bushes". It features plump and sturdy buds, dark green color, and a profound sense of time deposition — an irreplaceable classic in the hearts of veteran tea drinkers. It boasts a rich layered aroma and excellent infusion endurance, with every sip holding the gentle and lasting warmth of years. The other is Longjing 43#, an excellent variety bred by asexual cutting. It sprouts evenly and neatly, with elegant and upright buds and a signature faint red at the junction of stems and leaves. Free from the slight astringency of traditional Longjing, it highlights a brighter freshness, with a crisp and elegant aroma — an ideal choice for new tea lovers to enter the world of premium Longjing, and the perfect pick to taste the freshness of spring.
Fine tea depends three parts on terroir and seven parts on craftsmanship. Every batch of Yuantoumen West Lake Longjing is made following the full intangible cultural heritage handcraft of West Lake Longjing. From fresh leaf picking to ash storage, ten processes are refined layer by layer, rejecting mechanical intervention. The warmth of the palm locks in the freshness of spring, interpreting the craftsmanship belief of "harmony between man and tea". Fresh leaves are picked at dawn with dew, then spread precisely to remove grassy smell and lay the foundation for aroma transformation. During the first roasting, craftsmen use over 200°C high temperature and apply ten classic hand techniques to quickly lock freshness and shape the tea initially. The leaves are then left to regain moisture, balancing the water inside and out to avoid breaking during subsequent roasting. In the final roasting, the tea is slowly stir-fried with precise temperature control, shaped repeatedly by grasping, buckling, grinding and pressing to form an elegant and neat nail-like handmade form, while stimulating multiple layers of aroma. After further processes of sieving, trimming, blending and ash storage, fragments and impurities are removed, making the dry tea more even in color and more lasting in fragrance. Every step embodies decades of skill and dedication of tea makers. It takes 4 to 4.5 catties of fresh leaves to produce one catty of dry tea. With an extremely low yield, every single tea leaf is a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
This top-grade Yuantoumen West Lake Longjing holds the ultimate character of Jiangnan spring tea, with every detail showing top-level quality. In color, it presents a natural precious luster and matte yellowish green, the signature colors of hand-roasted tea, with fine tea hairs hidden inside and a warm texture, free of artificial coloring. In aroma, it is uniquely layered: crisp orchid fragrance, sweet gardenia fragrance, elegant magnolia fragrance, mixed with a touch of thick camphor wood and cool mint. The fragrance lasts long even in a cold cup, and you can smell the fresh and moist scent of mountain plants as soon as you open the package. In shape, the hand-roasted nail-like form is elegant and neat, flat and smooth, with intact buds and leaves, fully showing the charm of "beautiful shape". In taste, it is mellow and delicate, smooth and moist, with no astringency at all, and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. After swallowing, the sweet fragrance still lingers on the tip of the tongue. The tea soup is clear and bright, with soft and complete infused leaves. Every sip is a gift of mountain breeze, mist and time, integrating all the grace of Jiangnan’s spring mountains into a cup.
True tea connoisseurs know that the finest spring tea is precious for its "earliness" and "scarcity". The yield of Yuantoumen mountain plot is extremely limited, and handmade roasting is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making every batch of tea extremely precious. To let more tea lovers experience the fresh and mellow taste of this top-grade mountain plot, Tongxin She specially launches a 6-gram tasting set, containing 2 small independent sachets of 3 grams each, with precise tea dosage. It is convenient and worry-free for personal drinking at home, casual tasting in the office, or carrying around. It allows you to unlock the authentic flavor of top-grade West Lake Longjing in a light way, tasting the full charm of spring mountains in Baihefeng Yuantoumen without stocking up in large quantities.
Spring waits for no one, and fine tea waits for no time. The 2026 top-grade West Lake Longjing · Baihefeng Yuantoumen is a limited spring gift carefully selected by Tongxin She for discerning tea lovers. It is the favor of terroir, the persistence of craftsmanship, and an unmissable top-grade freshness of the year. Join the pre-sale now to lock in the first sip of freshness of Jiangnan spring tea in advance. Whether you drink it alone to appreciate spring, feel the Jiangnan charm on the tip of your tongue, or give it as a gift to relatives and friends to convey elegance and sincerity, it is the most stylish choice in spring.
Tongxin She Teahouse takes tea as the medium, upholds craftsmanship and pursues authentic flavor. We invite you to a spring tea appointment, to share this cup of premium Longjing infused with the spirit of lakes and mountains and the warmth of craftsmanship, living up to the spring light and the fine tea.
Customer Reviews
The taste is flowering!
