Hainan

"Traditional Chinese tea processing techniques and associated customs" have made a splash in the industry and academia since being listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. In the past month, numerous reports have appeared in the media, and there have also been many posts and videos in new media. As China's southernmost tea-producing area and the only tropical island tea region, Hainan possesses a unique native tea variety – the Hainan Large-leaf tea. With the boost from its 'World Heritage' status, Hainan has every chance to reach the pinnacle of its tea products. Experts believe that for a good cup of tea, the processing technique is as important as the tea leaves themselves. Let us first review the development of tea processing in Hainan. Many Li tea farmers in Shuiman Town, Wuzhishan City still insist on handcrafting tea. (Photo by Li Tianping) From historical records, we can see that tea activities began in Hainan as early as the Song Dynasty. Su Dongpo's poem line "After burning the tea spear, there is some left" could very well describe the tender shoots of wild tea trees in Hainan. However, Hainan's tea processing technology was relatively backward historically. Records show that tea…

Accompanied by the morning mist, Wang Wanguo and his fellow villagers weed and pick tea in the tea garden, with the verdant and towering Wuzhishan not far away, its main peak appearing and disappearing in the clouds and fog. The ecologically friendly organic tea garden in Wuzhishan's Shuiman Township. Photo by Niu Liangyu, People's Daily Online High mountains and cloud-covered mist produce fine tea. The Wuzhishan large-leaf tea hidden in Hainan's tropical rainforest has long been a local calling card and a vivid testament to Wuzhishan's practice of "industrialization of ecology" and "ecologization of industry." Focusing on ecology to grow good tea, how is the quality of this "ecological tea" from Wuzhishan? Recently, reporters went "into the mountains" to investigate. Core Competitiveness Lies in Ecology Following the winding mountain road, the reporters arrived at the Wu Zhai Organic Ecological Tea Garden in Wuzhishan's Shuiman Township. What caught the eye were tea plants, ground cover film on the soil, and insect traps between the tea plants. Tea farmers picking tea in an organic tea garden in Wuzhishan. Photo by Niu Liangyu, People's Daily Online "We are going 'organic.'" Wang Wanguo is a resident of Fanghao Village, Shuiman Township, Wuzhishan City, Hainan…

The Qing Dynasty saw the emergence of black tea, oolong tea, white tea, dark tea, and yellow tea in addition to green tea, forming the six major categories of tea. Regardless of the type of tea, the brewing method from the Ming Dynasty of directly infusing tea leaves was still used. Under these circumstances, the types and forms of tea wares in the Qing Dynasty did not significantly deviate from the standards set during the Ming Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, teacups and teapots were typically made of clay or porcelain, with the Kangxi and Qianlong periods being particularly prosperous times for their production, especially those known as “Jingdezhen porcelain and Yixing clay.” Premium porcelain tea wares of the Qing Dynasty were mostly produced in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, while production in Dehua, Fujian; Liling, Hunan; Tangshan, Hebei; Zibo, Shandong; and Yaozhou, Shaanxi also thrived but did not match Jingdezhen in terms of quality and quantity. During this period, in addition to continuing the production of blue-and-white porcelain and polychrome porcelain tea wares, new types such as pink-ground enamel and cloisonné enamel tea wares were created. Yixing purple clay tea wares of the Qing Dynasty developed further while preserving traditional techniques. During…

According to Hainan Duty-Free, with the summer vacation and the traditional Qixi Festival coinciding, Hainan Duty-Free has joined hands with Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Royal Tea, Hainan Wildlife Park, and other businesses from various sectors to plan and launch the “Joyful Takeoff, Cute Pets in Summer” theme event, injecting more vitality and excitement into the duty-free market during the summer. Customers shopping at Hainan Duty-Free. Photo provided by Hainan Duty-Free. As the “Golden Brand” of Hainan’s Free Trade Port, offshore duty-free shopping has become a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Hainan. To further attract off-island visitors, during this summer vacation, Hainan Duty-Free has teamed up with Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines to launch the “Use Your Air Ticket as Money” campaign, effectively linking the aviation and duty-free industries. Customers can redeem a 50 RMB discount voucher at Hainan Duty-Free stores using their Hainan Airlines or China Southern Airlines tickets. This promotion will continue until the end of 2024, and travelers can also enjoy special offers from the airlines when they visit the store. Since its launch, the “Use Your Air Ticket as Money” campaign has been well-received by tourists and customers alike. "This initiative adds value to our…

Due to the influence of multiple low-temperature cold waves last winter and this spring, there is a trend toward increased occurrence of diseases such as tea blister blight. The main diseases and pests occurring in tea gardens across the country include the tea green leafhopper, gray tea looper, tea looper, tea hairy caterpillar, tea thrips, pest mites, black tea scale, angular tea leaf beetle, tea lace bug, green plant bug, tea blister blight, and anthracnose. To effectively control the major tea tree diseases and pests in 2024 and ensure tea production and quality safety, the National Agricultural Technical Extension Center has developed this plan. Control Objectives Achieve a treatment rate of over 90% for major diseases and pests, an overall control efficacy of over 80%, keep the loss due to disease and pest damage under 8%, and reach a green control coverage rate of over 60%. Control Strategy Implement a green control strategy for tea tree diseases and pests based on ecological regulation and agronomic measures, with a focus on physical and chemical luring control and biological control, supplemented by scientific use of pesticides. Prioritize fitness cultivation, immunological induction, sex pheromone trapping, light trapping, color board trapping, biopesticides, and protection…

In recent years, more and more people have heard of Liubao tea, come to understand it, and started drinking or even collecting it. This is certainly related to the unique qualities of Liubao tea – its red, rich, aged, and mellow flavor, as well as its distinctive aroma and taste. It is also closely tied to Liubao tea's ability to improve over time. However, we cannot overlook the health benefits of Liubao tea. Many consumers feel refreshed after drinking Liubao tea. Some find themselves more energetic during the day, others find their digestion improved, and some even notice significant changes in their health check-up reports. The unique and remarkable health benefits of Liubao tea have made it a favorite among many people. As Liubao tea belongs to the category of dark teas, when discussing its health benefits, we often refer to the experiences with other dark teas or Pu'er ripe tea. Yet, what we fail to realize is that Liubao tea's unique processing techniques give it distinct health benefits not found in any other type of tea. Throughout history, there have been records of the health benefits of Liubao tea at different stages. Originating from Wuzhou, Guangxi, Liubao tea was…

The Ming Dynasty was a period of innovation in tea processing and the creation of loose leaf teas, setting new trends for tea drinking. In the 24th year of Hongwu reign under Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1391), the production of compressed tea bricks was abolished, promoting the development of loose leaf teas. Many famous teas emerged as the method of brewing changed from whisking to steeping. The process of tea preparation became simpler, and fewer tea wares were needed. 1. Simplification and Reduction of Tea Wares The older tea cakes of the Tang Dynasty required the "boiled tea method." The finely processed dragon and phoenix compressed teas of the Song Dynasty necessitated the "whisked tea method." Both the "boiled tea method" and the "whisked tea method" involved complex procedures and a multitude of tea wares. The brewing of loose leaf teas in the Ming Dynasty was much simpler: a small amount of tea would be placed in a cup (or pot), and hot water poured over it, ready to drink. This method was also known as the "pinch tea method" during the Song Dynasty. At this point, only a kettle for boiling water and a cup (or pot) for brewing were…

When it comes to Ku Ding tea, most people are familiar with it. When suffering from heatiness, a dry mouth, or a sore throat, many will brew a cup of Ku Ding tea to alleviate their discomfort. However, while Ku Ding tea is called tea, it is not made from traditional tea leaves. The large-leaf Ku Ding, found in southern China, belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. The raw material for Ku Ding tea is the leaves of Ilex latifolia, which were first processed during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is mainly produced in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces, and has a bitter taste. The small-leaf Ku Ding, grown in central and western China, belongs to the Oleaceae family (Ligustrum). It is primarily cultivated in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces. The tea made from its leaves has the fresh sweetness of green tea and is less bitter than the large-leaf variety. The Eastern Han text "Tong Jun Record" describes: “In the south, there is a plant called Gualu, similar to tea, but very bitter. When ground into powder and drunk as tea, it keeps one awake all night.” This Gualu refers to what we now know as Ku Ding (the…