Longjing prawns

Longjing prawns, also known as shrimp stir-fried with Dragon Well tea, is a delightful specialty from Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province, China. To prepare this dish, chefs begin with fresh river prawns. The prawn meat is then coated in egg white and a touch of moistened starch before being briefly fried in lard at a medium-low temperature. Once the prawns take on a beautiful jade-white color, they are lifted from the oil and quickly stir-fried over high heat with a mixture of boiling water infused with Longjing tea, tea leaves, and a splash of Shaoxing wine.

The result is a dish that impresses with its elegant white and green hues and a light, fragrant flavor. According to legend, Longjing prawns were created when the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty made a visit to southern China. Today, you can savor this historic and flavorful dish at Hangzhou's renowned Louwailou restaurant, which is celebrated for its exceptional Longjing prawns.