Basic Introduction to Qifo Tribute Tea
Qifo tea is produced in the Qifo Township of Qingchuan County. The lowest altitude in the tea area is 580 meters, and the highest is 2,100 meters, with an average altitude of around 800 meters. The climate is mild, with abundant rainfall, lush forests, and mist shrouding the mountains throughout the year. At the foot of the mountains, there are clear streams all four seasons. The soil is fertile, and it remains warm in winter and cool in summer. There are no industrial pollution sources, making it an ideal environment for organic tea production.
Nutritional Value
With the development of the Qingchuan tea industry, Qifo Tribute Tea culture has rapidly risen. Tea has become the top of the world's three major health beverages. Not only is its flavor unique, but it also has special Health benefits. It has the functions of enhancing intelligence, stimulating and relieving fatigue, eliminating phlegm, detoxifying, quenching thirst, sterilizing, preventing aging, boosting the body's immune system, resisting radiation, fighting cancer, anti-thrombotic, and lowering Blood sugar levels.
Product Features
The amino acid content of Qifo Tribute Tea ranges from 3.5% to 4.5%; the tea polyphenol content is between 19.0% and 24.0%; and the selenium content is from 0.31mg/kg to 0.33mg/kg. The external shape is flat, smooth, straight, and glossy, with a lustrous dark green color. The aroma is highly fragrant and lasting, with a spring orchid-like scent. The taste is fresh and sweet aftertaste, the soup color is yellow-green and bright, and the infused leaves are uniform and bright.
Historical Folklore
The history of tea production in Qifo is long-standing. According to historical records, as early as 1066 BC, when King Wu of Zhou led eight southern minor states to successfully overthrow the Shang dynasty, the Marquis of Ju (Ju, today's Guangyuan area, the state capital was located in present-day old Zhaohua, known as Jiameng Pass) offered local products such as mulberry, silk, cinnabar, lacquer, and tea to King Wu of Zhou. This is the earliest written record of tea being presented as a tribute. In particular, during Empress Wu Zetian's reign, she had a particular fondness for Qifo Tribute Tea, setting up a dedicated tea official to manage the tribute tea garden in Qifo, which was required to make annual tributes. This has been passed down through generations in the saying, “Without Empress having tasted the Qifo tea, not a single herb would dare to blossom first.”
Manufacturing Method of Qifo Tribute Tea
1. Process flow:
(1) Mechanized: spreading → fixation → shaping → flattening → drying → packaging → storage.
(2) Handmade: spreading → initial fixation → cooling → sieving → secondary fixation → sieving → re-fixation → packaging → storage.
2. Processing Requirements: Fresh tea leaves must be cooled, with a thickness of generally around 4cm to 6cm. The water loss rate of fresh leaves should be controlled between 15% and 20%.
Awards and Honors
In 2010, “Qifo Tribute Tea” was awarded the title of “Cultural Famous Tea of China” by the Chinese Tea Culture Research Association.