Basic Introduction to Longchi Xiangjian Tea
Longchi Xiangjian Tea is a specialty of Huaining County, Anhui Province, and a Chinese national geographical indication product. The tea gardens where the Longchi Xiangjian Tea is produced are located in Zhiting Village, Qinghe Town, Huaining County, Anhui Province. These gardens situate amidst lush vegetation, fertile soil, and numerous streams and springs, shrouded in mist year-round at an altitude of around 400 meters near the scenic area around Longchi Nunnery on Shuangjian Mountain. The superior ecological environment, combined with traditional management practices that rely primarily on organic and compost fertilizers, ensures the robust growth of the tea plants. The natural predators and environmental conditions effectively control pests, so no pesticides have ever been used. The tea leaves are clean and unpolluted, possessing the unique aroma of high-altitude teas, hence the name “Longchi Xiangjian.”
The “Longchi Xiangjian (Longchi Peak Tea)” has a long cultural history and profound regional characteristics, renowned for its flat spear-like shape, bright yellow-green Infusion, elegant fragrance, refreshing taste, and uniform greenish-yellow leaf base.
Manufacturing Process
The tea is harvested around the Qingming Festival. It uses the young shoots of one bud and one leaf or one bud and two initial unfurled leaves as raw materials. The fresh leaves are tender, plump, and covered with fine down. The manufacturing process consists of three steps: fixation, shaping, and drying. Both the fixation and shaping processes are carried out in electric woks. Drying is done using a bamboo tray, with two rounds of initial and final drying. After the final drying, the tea is slightly cooled, sorted, and packaged.
Geographical Protection Area
The production area of Longchi Xiangjian (Longchi Peak Tea) encompasses the current administrative regions of Qinghe Town, Jiangzhen Town, Hongpu Town, Huangdun Town, and Shijing Town in Huaining County, Anhui Province.
Special Mark Usage
Producers within the designated production area of Longchi Xiangjian (Longchi Peak Tea) may apply to the Huaining County Market Supervision and Administration Bureau to use the “Geographical Indication Product Special Mark.” After review by the Anhui Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau and approval by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the application will be announced. The testing institution for Longchi Xiangjian (Longchi Peak Tea) will be selected by the Anhui Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau from among qualified testing institutions.
Historical Folklore
The “Longchi Xiangjian Tea” is produced in the shallow mountainous areas around Longchi Peak Mountain and its surroundings in Qinghe Town. Its production dates back to the Song Dynasty, with a tradition spanning nearly 700 years. According to the Huaining County Annals compiled in 1915 during the Republic of China period, “The products of Longchi Peak are superior, harvested around the Qingming Festival and processed like newly hatched silkworms. When brewed with mountain spring water, their flavor is comparable to that of Mengding tea.” There is a saying that has been passed down through generations, “Yangtze River heart water, Mengding peak top tea,” which speaks volumes about its quality. In recent years, with multiple visits from provincial and municipal experts and strong support from the county's agricultural department, both the picking and processing techniques have been further improved. The new products have been well-received in the market after their launch.
Awards and Honors
In 1998, Longchi Xiangjian Tea received a certificate of famous tea from the Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture.
In 2003, Longchi Xiangjian Tea was awarded the title of Superior Quality Tea by the Chinese Tea Society in the fifth “China Tea Cup.”
In 2004, Longchi Xiangjian was selected as a Chinese tea brand.