One of China’s most famous green teas is Long Jing (translated Dragon Well), and the renowned West Lake variety was just a day trip away. My journey began on a very modern high-speed train that dropped our group off at the Hangzhou rail station.  From there we pilled into a not so modern bus to the YangMeiLing tea village where Mr.Ying and his family welcomed us as honored guests.    We suitted up in our hats and grabbed our bakets and off we went to hike the terraces of the tea plantation.  We were only able to look – we were not skilled enough to pick.  It was interesting to note only the bud is picked from the bush in the spring time.  The season lasts a short 6 weeks or so.  The pickers , all women are paid the equivlatant of $15 a day to pick.  The work is hard and the days are long.

Once the green tea buds are pick, they are lightly dried by a primative looking machine and then finished by hand in something that kind of looks like a big wok.  This work is only done by men in the confort of their garage.  The tea is highly prized for is smooth flavor and medicinal qualities.  We tasted serval green teas that day and I must say this tea was exceptional.