Green Tea in Hangzhou

　Archeological evidence suggests that people consumed tea leaves steeped in boiling water as many as 500,000 years ago. Botanical evidence indicates that India and China were among the first countries to cultivate tea. Today, hundreds of millions of people drink tea around the world, and studies are now suggesting that green tea in particular has many health benefits. Green tea has been extensively studied in people, animals, and laboratory experiments. Results from these studies suggest that green tea may be useful for the following health conditions: prevent atherosclerosis, lowers total cholesterol, protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, control blood sugar, develop disorders of the liver, boost metabolism and help burn fat.

　And Green Tea is popular everywhere in China , but few places enjoy Hangzhou 's reputation for Green tea - an undefined element that seems to encompass all things related to tea. On the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year a cup of spring tea is offered to the Goddess of Mercy in wish of yearlong well-being. To confirm marital relations tea is the last betrothal gift to the parents of the would-be bride. As to popular tea culture, nothing is more representative than the teahouses that line West Lake and huddle in the valleys of surrounding hills. Brews of tea are not cheap, but the price of a pot buys hours of lazing around, a favorite activity of locals and visitors as well.

　The very famous Green Tea in Hangzhou or in China , it is West Lake Dragon Well tea, grown on the hills surrounding the city, which is Hangzhou 's specialty. From growing it to writing poetry about it, the green tea is consumed in almost everywhere within it. High-grade Dragon Well is expensive - often displayed in luxury shops like jewelry. Yet many of the poorest local people consider it a necessity. Its leaves, brilliant emerald green spears about three quarter inch long, are renowned throughout China for their beauty.

　Green Tea flourished in Hangzhou when the city was the capital of Southern Song Dynasty, 1127 - 1279. But to the fourteenth century Dragon Well, the city's legendary curative, began to make its mark. In Macropaedia , 1591, it was ranked 21st in 97 selected teas nationwide. What raised Dragon Well to be the best of Chinese teas was the esteem of an eighteenth century emperor who visited its producing location many times and appointed a small patch of 18 tea trees to be his garden.

　Dragon Well, a stone-fenced karst spring on Bamboo Ridge southeast of West Lake , gave its name to the tea. Believing its perennial running water opens to the ocean where sea-dragon lives, the locals used to come to pray for rain in dry years. Today the spring pit is part of Dragon Well Cultural Village , a tourist resort featuring places of historic interest and scenery.

　If you like Green Tea, you should come to Hangzhou , the home town of the best Green Tea in the China , or even in the world. We could make the arrangement a tea culture tour in Hangzhou for you, any detail requirement, please send an email to travelservice@kirintravel.com .