Longjing tea is perhaps the most famous and flavourful green tea in China, but beyond its taste, there are also many longjing tea benefits that make it a favourite among health conscious tea drinkers.
In this guide, you will learn how the three unique compounds in the leaf contribute to the well-documented longjing green tea benefits and what to keep in mind when consuming it regularly.
Then, we will explore 8 science based benefits of longjing tea, from immune support and heart health to weight management and digestion.
Without further ado, let’s get brewing 🍵
Benefits of Longjing tea at a glance
Longjing tea is a nutritional powerhouse driven by three key compounds: antioxidants, caffeine, and amino acids.
These bioactive compounds work together to create many of the recognised health benefits of longjing tea.
They provide a sustained energy boost through L-theanine’s calm alert effect, support cardiovascular health by improving blood vessel function, and encourage metabolic activity that may assist with weight loss.
The highpolyphenol content also plays a role in immune defence, skin health, digestion, oral health, and blood sugar regulation.
In the sections below, we will break down the science behind these compounds and explain exactly how they contribute to the full range of longjing tea health benefits.
3 Key Compounds responsible for the benefits of Longjing Tea
The longjing tea benefits are closely linked to how this tea is produced. Because Longjing is made from young tea buds and tender leaves, it contains higher concentrations of antioxidants, caffeine, and amino acids than many other green teas.
Let’s take a closer look at the three compounds most responsible for the benefits of longjing tea.
#1 Antioxidants
Many of the health benefits of longjing tea come from its antioxidant content.
Antioxidants are natural compounds that protect your body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals. These unstable molecules are produced naturally through breathing, digestion, and exercise, as well as from external factors such as pollution, UV exposure, smoking, and stress.
Catechins
The most abundant antioxidants in Longjing tea are catechins, which play a central role in the longjing green tea benefits. Catechins have been studied for their potential impact on weight management, immune health, and inflammation reduction.
By helping to combat oxidative stress and free radical damage, catechins may support overall well-being and reduce the risk of chronic conditions associated with ageing and inflammation.
EGCG, ECG, EGC, and EC
Catechins in Longjing tea include EGCG, ECG, EGC, and EC. These compounds are particularly important when discussing the longjing tea health benefits, as EGCG in particular has been linked to metabolic and cardiovascular support.
Not all teas contain the same antioxidant levels. For a full ranking of the teas highest in EGCG, you can read our guide to teas with the highest EGCG content.
#2 Caffeine
The tea leaf naturally contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. This reduces feelings of fatigue and helps explain why one of the notable longjing tea benefits is improved energy and alertness.
Unlike coffee, the caffeine in Longjing tea is balanced by amino acids, resulting in smoother energy without the sharp spikes and crashes.
#3 Amino Acids
A few of the longjing green tea benefits you will see have to do with the amino acids in the leaf.
But what are amino acids? There are 20 different amino acids that the human body uses to function. They are generally categorized into two main groups:
- Essential Amino Acids (9): your body cannot make these on its own. You must get them from your diet (like from tea, meat, or beans).
- Non-Essential Amino Acids (11): your body is clever enough to manufacture these itself from other materials.
L-theanine: the standout amino acid
The most abundant amino acid in green tea is L-theanine. This compound is especially important when discussing the health benefits of longjing tea, as it influences mood, focus, and mental clarity.
L-theanine can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly affect brain activity, which we will explore further below.
The 8 Health Benefits of Longjing Tea
#1 Energy Boost
Longjing is also relatively high in caffeine, with as much as 48mg of caffeine per serving. Although green tea contains caffeine, the feeling is much different than coffee thanks to the amino acid, l-theanine, which is believed to buffer some of the negative side effects of caffeine.
Similar calm alert effects can also be found in teas like genmaicha with matcha, which combine green tea compounds with roasted rice for a smoother energy profile.
Instead of getting a short burst of energy and then a crash later on in the day, green tea drinkers report having a longer lasting calm alert sensation that lasts throughout the day. If you want to learn more about this phenomenon, you can read our article L Theanine and Caffeine - Your Key to Calm Focus
L-theanine in Longjing tea
The l-theanine also stimulates alpha brainwave activity, the same brainwaves stimulated during meditation, and this is one of the many longjing green tea benefits.
Where this calm alert feeling is most prevalent is in a green tea like gyokuro, which has the highest caffeine and theanine content in the world of tea. This calm alert effect is especially pronounced in high-quality gyokuro, such as our gyokuro karigane, which is naturally rich in caffeine and L-theanine.
#2 Heart health
You may love the flavor of this tea, but the longjing tea health benefits are what love you back! The catechins in Longjing tea may have a positive impact on blood vessel function and inflammation, which can support healthy blood pressure and cardiovascular function.
There is some research that suggests regular green tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of heart disease due to these vascular benefits.
#3 Weight Loss
When it comes to the health benefits of longjing tea or any green tea for that matter, the most popular ones usually have to do with weight loss. Catechins combined with caffeine in Longjing tea have been shown to enhance fat oxidation and increase metabolic rate.
If you prefer a more concentrated green tea option, latte-grade matcha can also support metabolism when enjoyed regularly.
Studies have shown that green tea consumption before exercise can significantly increase fat burning, making weight management one of the most well-known longjing green tea benefits.
If you want to explore the fascinating link between green tea and weight loss, you can read our in-depth guide on how green tea supports weight loss.
#4 Immune Support
Because Longjing tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, it may help strengthen the body’s natural defences and reduce susceptibility to common illnesses.
Antioxidants support immune function by protecting immune cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. A study in the Nutrition Journal found that healthcare workers who took green tea catechin capsules daily were significantly less likely to develop cold and flu symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.
If you feel a cold or flu coming on, you may want to read our guide on the best teas for cold and flu.
#5 Vitamin C
In addition to catechins, green tea, like longjing, also contains other antioxidants like vitamin C.
These antioxidant properties also play an important role in skin health, which we explore further in our guide to green tea benefits for skin.
While some vitamin C is reduced during processing and brewing, gentle pan-firing and lower-temperature brewing help preserve more of it compared to heavily oxidized teas. This is one of the longjing tea health benefits that you won’t find in black teas.
For a complete guide on which teas have the highest content of Vitamin C, you can read our article, The Best Vitamin C tea.
#6 Improved digestion
Got some tummy troubles? The longjing tea benefits may be able to help you out! Green tea polyphenols, like those in Longjing, may help promote digestive health by reducing inflammation in the gut and supporting beneficial gut bacteria.
Some research indicates these compounds can have a positive influence on digestion and gut wellbeing if they are consumed regularly.
For those seeking a lighter green tea that is gentle on digestion, genmaicha made with roasted rice can be a comforting option.
#7 Oral Health
This tea may just give you another reason to smile, as there are some benefits of longjing tea for teeth. The catechins found in Longjing tea can help suppress harmful bacteria in the mouth and reduce acid production.
This may help protect tooth enamel and support overall oral health. Green tea’s antimicrobial properties can also be helpful for the gum and mouth as well.
#8 Blood sugar
If you need help managing your blood sugar levels throughout the day, the longjing tea benefits may just be able to help you out! Regular green tea drinking may help moderate blood sugar levels after meals and support overall metabolic health.
This is important for preventing metabolic disorders, and the antioxidant and catechin content helps improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
For those looking for a more concentrated source of green tea compounds, matcha offers its own set of benefits due to the consumption of the whole leaf.
Longjing tea side effects
There are many benefits of longjing tea and only a few minor side effects.
The only Longjing tea side effects have to do with the caffeine content in the tea. While longjing tea is relatively low in caffeine, it is not recommended to consume more than 6 servings of this tea per day, otherwise you will hit the threshold for caffeine intake.
This shouldn’t be a problem, even for the most avid tea drinkers, but if you want to learn more about the risks you can read our article on avoiding green tea side effects.
The final verdict
With so many proven longjing tea benefits and very few side effects, it is easy to see why this tea has remained popular for centuries.
If you want to pick up some of the best green teas we’ve found during our travels around Japan, you can browse our Japanese green tea collection.
