Dragon Well - also known under the name Longjing - is green tea that is roasted in a pan, by hand and in small volumes at a time. What is special about Dragon well is that the leaves have the shape of a sword and they get that by "flat-frying" tea leaves in a hot pan before they are dried. The heat and tossing that is done initiates a reaction in the leaves, resulting in a pleasant roasted aroma and a nutty sweetness.

What distinguishes green tea from white tea is that the leaves are roasted or steamed (most common for Japanese tea). Green tea can also be twisted, shaped or rolled during processing. The finest green teas are shaped and fried in a wok with just a few hundred grams at a time.