In Hangzhou, China, there is a lake called the West Lake (西湖). Near this lake, there are many farmers who make a living growing and selling Longjing/Dragon well green tea (龍井), which is known by many as the best kind of green tea. The tea leaves are required to be hand-fried (that is, use the bare hands to fry the green tea leaves) with a hot wok before packaging. Below is a picture of a master who has been doing this for over 60 years:
In addition to drinking the tea, these tea leaves can be eaten as well. Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher came to Hangzhou and tried the green tea. She was told by the Chinese president Deng Xiaoping to eat the tea leaves. Hesitated at first, Ms. Thatcher eventually ate the tea leaves and found them to be quite tasty.
Green tea leaves can help clean the intestines, thus having the effect of detoxification of the human body. Therefore in addition to drinking green tea, eating the leaves is also recommended.
Making green tea is quite easy. Just grab the green tea leaves with 3 fingers into a glass. Pour hot water at around 50 degree Celcius into the glass. The first glass is the best with the most powerful taste. 2 additional glasses of green tea can be made with the same tea leaves. Afterwards, throw away the tea leaves and make another glass with new green tea leaves if desired.
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