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Dragonwell Sips by Easthill Tea Co
Green Tea Leaves from Hangzhou, China
Medium Caffeine
How to Make This Tea
- 2 tsp per 10 oz. water
- Heat water to 176° F or faint steam
- Steep for 1-4 min
Why You'll Love This Tea
The most prestigious green tea in the world, Dragonwell is cultivated in Keqi's hometown, Hangzhou. According to legend, around the year 250, a monk came across a dragon hiding in a well. He told the villagers what he found, and they saw it as good luck, naming the well “Dragon’s Well”. It turned out the monk had actually only found swirling water in the well due to a storm. Later, the village near the well and the tea grown there were named Dragonwell.
Dragonwell gained its fame when the Chinese emperor, Qianlong, visited Hangzhou in the 1700s and fell in love with the tea. Since then, Dragonwell has become the most popular green tea in China.
The best quality Dragonwell is picked in March and early April. Dragonwell is pan-fried to prevent oxidation, so it has a flat shape and toasted taste.
Why You'll Love This Brand
We love that Keqi was motivated by his upbringing and dedication to tea to take a risk and set out on a mission to provide people with high quality, directly-sourced tea. Easthill Tea Co’s teas are top-notch in terms of quality and freshness. We enjoyed visiting their tea bar in Chicago this past winter and warming up with some delicious tea served gongfu-style. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area!
Easthill Tea Co is a Chicago-based company specializing in small batch, premium loose leaf tea. Founder Keqi Meng travels directly to farms in China, Taiwan and Japan to curate his teas and believes each one is best enjoyed in its natural state, straight-up. Keqi was born and raised in Hangzhou, China (a city famous for its Dragonwell tea). After graduating, he moved to Chicago in 2015 for an accounting position. While studying for his CPA, he searched with no avail to find a place to drink “real” tea. He thought of a childhood in China spent at his grandparents’ home on Easthill Road, the street filled with the scent of green tea during harvest season. He decided to take a risk and build a tea business! In 2017, Kate Wille joined the founding team after moving from NYC, bringing a passion for culture, branding and entrepreneurial life that matches Keqi’s passion for quality tea.
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Tag @easthill.tea.co, using hashtag #sipsbyeasthillteaco