Longjing 43 – The noble cultivar for your own garden tea

If you're more interested in tea plants and perhaps have already gained some experience in the garden, sooner or later you'll come across a name that has a very special resonance in the world of green tea: Longjing . Literally translated, it means "Dragon Well." A name that sounds almost poetic – and reflects exactly what many associate with this type of tea: depth, elegance, and tradition.

At Growing Karma, we're especially pleased to offer you plants of the Longjing 43 cultivar—a selection that not only impresses with its flavor, but is also surprisingly well-suited to our climate. So, if you're looking to buy a tea plant that will allow you to cultivate a true classic tea variety in your garden, read on—because Longjing 43 is a real treat.

What exactly is Longjing 43 – and where does it come from?

Longjing 43 is a selected cultivar of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, the classic Chinese tea plant. Its origins lie—as the name suggests—in the area around Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province. This is the traditional growing region of the famous Longjing tea, considered one of China's finest green teas. Longjing 43 was specially selected from wild plants in the 1980s to produce particularly fine leaves and a mild, nutty aroma—while maintaining high yields and good resilience.

The cultivar quickly gained popularity – not only because of its distinctive aroma, but also because of its uniform leaf structure, which is perfectly suited to manual or mechanical processing. And although Longjing 43 was originally bred for Chinese climatic conditions, it adapts remarkably well to Central European conditions – a true gift for anyone who wants to grow their own tea.

The taste – fine, sweet, slightly roasted

What sets Longjing 43 apart in terms of taste is its subtle elegance. The tea has a natural sweetness, a slightly nutty note, sometimes with a hint of chestnut or toasted rice – without ever being heavy. Its smoothness is particularly striking: Longjing tea has hardly any bitterness, yet is still aromatic and long-lasting in flavor. This makes it ideal for people who like to drink their tea neat, without additives – and who appreciate every leaf.

Longjing 43 also unfolds its potential in your own garden or on your balcony. Sure, you'll need a bit of patience and practice in processing it, but even the first homemade attempts will show how much depth this plant contains. And: Even from the fresh leaves, just steamed or lightly roasted, you can conjure up a wonderful tea.

Cultivation here – noble, but not sensitive

One might think such a delicate plant would be fussy – but it isn't. Longjing 43 is much more robust in the German climate than one would expect. The plant grows upright, forms beautifully shaped, medium-sized leaves with a delicate texture, and has quite dense foliage. It likes sun but also tolerates partial shade. A well-drained, slightly acidic soil (e.g., amended with rhododendron soil) provides optimal conditions.

It thrives equally well in a pot as it does in the garden. As with all tea plants, good drainage is essential – waterlogging is its worst enemy. However, it is quite cold-resistant, especially when planted in the ground. In our Brandenburg trials, our Longjing 43 plants survived even colder nights surprisingly well – a layer of mulch or light frost protection is a safe bet.

Our plants – strong from the ground up

All Longjing 43 plants at Growing Karma come from hand-picked seeds sourced from small organic farms in China, Nepal, and the Himalayas. Why did we opt for the more laborious sowing method instead of cuttings? It's simple: Seed propagation preserves genetic diversity, makes the plants more robust, and ensures they can better adapt to their environment. It takes a little longer, but the results are worth it.

When you buy a tea plant from us, you're getting a living, individually grown specimen that has been carefully cultivated – with a lot of manual labor, organically inspired care, and completely without artificial additives. Our cultivation methods are based on organic standards, even though we deliberately forgo an official seal – because for us, it's not the label that counts, but the attitude.

Why Longjing 43 is a good choice

Perhaps you're looking for a special tea plant that not only looks beautiful but also brings a bit of history and culture with it. Perhaps you want to make your own teas, experiment, and discover new flavors. Or you simply enjoy having something special in your garden—something that grows, lives, and eventually ends up in your teacup.

In all these cases, Longjing 43 is exactly the right choice. Not too sophisticated, but full of character. A plant with style – not overbred, but honest. And: you are part of something bigger. With every Longjing plant that takes root in your home, the idea of growing tea locally grows a little further.

Conclusion – Longjing 43 brings elegance to your tea garden

If you want to buy a tea plant that will be a real highlight in your garden or on your balcony—aromatic, robust, and with a provenance—then try Longjing 43. This variety stands for quality, tradition, and the desire to take things into your own hands.

And us? We'll accompany you along the way. Whether you're just starting out or already in the thick of it: At Growing Karma, you'll get more than just a plant, but support, knowledge, and genuine interest in your project. Write to us, call us, or drop by – we look forward to seeing your tea garden!