Joe Tham, the struggling feng shui consultant in my Geomancer's Apprentice series, drinks Longjing green tea whenever he meets clients at the Laughing Buddha Cafe.
Longjing tea is also known as Dragon Well tea (a direct translation from its Chinese name). The tea is from the area of Longjing Village in Hangzhou, located in China’s Zhejiang Province.
The taste of the tea is sweet and mellow, with nutty undertones.
Longjing was designated an imperial tea during China’s Qing dynasty. According to the legend, the Qianlong Emperor was on holiday in the area. He was offered a cup of Longjing tea while visiting the Hu Gong Temple at Lion Peak Mountain. He was told the tea was made from 18 bushes that grew in front of the temple. He loved the tea so much that he gave the 18 bushes imperial status.
It is said these bushes are still alive, and their tea leaves can fetch more than their weight in gold.