This year, my boy, he come back from the big city, Hangzhou. He bring me some tea. Say it’s fancy tea, Dragon Well Long Jing green tea. I say, tea is tea, what’s so fancy?

But this tea, it look different. The leaves, they long and flat, like little green swords. Not like the tea we got here. Color is bright, like jade stone from old Ma’s ring. He say it from Longjing Village. Fancy place, I guess.

What’s so good about Dragon Well Long Jing green tea?

My boy, he say this Long Jing green tea is good for you. Help you stay healthy, he say. I don’t know about all that. But I drink it anyway.

He say it got these things, anti-what’s-it-called… antioxidants. Sound like army fighting in your belly. Keep you from getting sick. Stop fat from piling up. That I can understand. I don’t want no more fat on these old bones.

• Good for health, my boy say.
• Stop you from getting sick.
• Keep you slim, maybe.
• Taste good, that’s for sure.

He say it even stop tumors. That’s what he say. Big word, tumor. Sound scary. He say this tea can help with that. I don’t know, but I believe him. He’s a good boy. Studied in the city. He know these things.

He boil the water, but not too hot. Say too hot, it burn the tea. He put the leaves in a glass. I see them dance in the water, like little green fish. Smell good, like fresh cut grass after the rain.

How to make Dragon Well Long Jing green tea?

Don’t use boiling water, my boy say. You gotta let it cool down a bit. This tea is gentle, like a newborn baby. You don’t want to hurt it. Just hot enough water.

Then you put the Dragon Well Long Jing green tea leaves in, and watch ’em swim. He like to use a glass, so you can see. I just use my old mug. Don’t matter much to me.

You let it sit for a bit. Not too long, or it get bitter. My boy, he watch the clock. Me, I just know when it’s ready. You can tell by the color. It turn a light green, like the rice paddies in spring.

• Don’t boil the water too much.
• Put leaves in, watch them swim.
• Don’t let it sit too long.
• Look for the pretty green color.

This Dragon Well Long Jing green tea is famous stuff!

My boy, he say this tea is famous. Dragon Well Long Jing green tea, the best in China, he say. People all over want to drink it. Even the big shots in Beijing, they drink this tea. I think it’s just green tea, though the leaves are pretty, I will say that. And it is good to drink.

They make it in this place, Longjing Village, near Hangzhou. All made by hand, he say. No machines. Just people picking the leaves, one by one. Must take a long time. Hard work, I bet.

I never been to Longjing Village. Too far for me. But I can picture it in my head. Green hills, tea leaves everywhere. People working hard, making this special tea. It is emerald green, my son said. Pretty to look at.

He say it’s the best tea in China. Long Jing green tea. Number one. I don’t know about all that. But it’s good tea. I drink it every day now. Make me feel good. Maybe it is special, after all.

Just drink the Dragon Well Long Jing green tea!

So, if you get a chance, try this Dragon Well Long Jing green tea. It’s good for you, they say. And it taste good, too. Not like that bitter stuff some folks drink.

I’m just an old woman. I don’t know much about fancy things. But I know good tea when I taste it. And this Long Jing green tea, it’s good tea. Maybe that EGCG stuff does help fight fat. I dunno for sure, but I like drinking it anyway.

It is from China. You know, where those pandas live. Those are cute, black and white like that. My son went to see them once. He said they eat bamboo, just sleep all day.

Anyways, this tea is good. You should try it sometime. Maybe you will like it. Maybe it will help you be healthy too. If my boy says it is healthy, then it must be. He never lies to his old mama.

• It’s good tea, just try it.
• Good for you, maybe.
• Taste good, that’s a fact.
• Just drink it, and see for yourself.

I’m gonna have another cup now. My bones are feeling a bit achy today. Maybe this tea will help. It better, for the price my son paid for it! I told him, tea is tea. But, he insisted. Said it was for my health. Bless his heart.