First, judge from the color and shape of the tea leaves. The color of genuine Longjing Tea is yellowish-green and it is strip-shaped and flat. If the color is aquamarine, there is no doubt that it is fake West Lake Longjing Tea.
Second, judge from fragrance. Authentic West Lake Longjing Tea has a peculiar fragrance (known as the fragrance of beans), which is unique to Dradon well Tea.
Third, judge from the color of the tea-water. After brewed with water, the color of genuine Longjing tea-water is close to the color of brown rice. It is clear and bright rather than aquamarine.
Fourth, judge from the taste. Longjing Tea has an unique mellow sweet and aftertaste. Generally, the tea-leaves picked before the Tomb-Sweeping Festival is quite tender, so that the taste will become mild after brewed two or three times.
