Long Jing Tea Poem by Raymond Farrell

Long jing literally translates
Dragon Well
After a well
In Hangzhou
Containing relatively dense water
Which after rain
The lighter rain water
On the surface
Exhibits a sinous
And twisting boundary
With the denser well water
Which locals claim
Resembles the movement of
A traditional Chinese dragon
Long jing tea is often called
The national drink of China
And for its high quality
Has earned the China Famous Tea title
It is frequently served
To visiting Heads of State
Like most Chinese green tea
Its leaves are heated
Shortly after picking
To stop
The natural fermentation
Action of enzymes
In the tea's leaves
Tradition says
The best tea
Is made using water
From the Dreaming of the Tiger spring
I was served this tea
At clinic today
When steeped
It produced a yellow-green color
Had a gentle pure aroma
And a rich flavor
With a mild soothing effect
On the throat
It is easy to see
Why this tea
Hand picked on the mountain slopes
In the Hangzhou region
Is ranked as
The nation's best.