Orchid

Kaihua Longding Tea is produced in Baisan, Qixi Township, Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province. It is a newly created tea brand that started in 1959. Kaihua County is located at the junction of Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces in western Zhejiang, at the source of the Qiantang River. The mountains in the county run from northwest to southeast, and it has a warm and humid subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, frequent cloud cover, and less sunlight. On average, there are 83 foggy days per year, with some areas having over 120 foggy days annually. The area is perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist, making it one of the cloudiest mountainous regions in Zhejiang province. As the saying goes, "High mountains and cloudy mists produce fine tea," and indeed, Kaihua County is an excellent place for growing green tea. The main types of soil in tea gardens within Kaihua County are red soil and yellow soil. Red soils are mostly found below 650 meters altitude in low hills, with a soil layer thickness of 30 cm to 60 cm, organic matter content of 1.44% to 4.05%, and pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5. Yellow soils are mainly distributed in…

The floral-scented Bai Mudan tea is made from suitable raw materials for white tea production, processed through a combination of withering, shaking the green, stacking after merging sieves, baking, and sorting. The processing of floral-scented Bai Mudan tea mainly includes the following steps: 1. First combined withering: indoor natural withering, indoor heated withering, and sun withering are combined. Sun withering should be done during the morning or evening when the sunlight is weak. 2. Shaking the green: this is done once, shaking 40 to 60 times. 3. Second combined withering: it starts with indoor heated withering at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and relative humidity of 40% to 50%, lasting 3 to 6 hours. If the moisture content of the withered leaves reaches 18% to 22%, they can then be transferred to indoor natural withering, which lasts 2 to 5 hours to complete. 4. Stacking after merging sieves: after the second combined withering, the sieves are merged, and the tea is piled up to a thickness of 15 to 35 cm. The stacking process lasts 1 to 7 days. 5. Initial baking: at a temperature of 50 to 60°C, lasting 60 to 100 minutes. 6. Sorting: after the initial…

Wenshan Baozhong tea is a type of Oolong (or Qing) tea from the Taiwan region and is one of the most lightly oxidized fragrant Oolong teas, with an oxidation level of 8% to 12%. Due to its light baking and fermentation process, it exhibits a fresh and uplifting aroma, hence it's also known as "Qing Cha" or "Clear Tea." This tea is produced in the northern areas of Taipei City and New Taipei City, including Wenshan and Nangang in Taipei City, and Xindian, Pinglin, Shenkeng, Shiding, Pingxi, and Xizhi in New Taipei City. It has a history spanning over two hundred years. As a representative of northern Taiwan Oolong tea, Wenshan Baozhong is renowned alongside Dongding Oolong, enjoying the reputation of "North Wenshan, South Dongding." In 1869, Oolong tea from Taiwan was successfully exported to the United States by British merchant Tod and comprador Li Chunsheng. However, in 1873, due to poor sales, merchants sent unsold stocks of Oolong tea to Fuzhou where they were processed into fragrant Baozhong tea by adding floral scents, which unexpectedly received a positive response. In 1881, Fujianese tea merchant Wu Fuyuan (also known as Wu Fulao) crossed the sea to Taiwan and established the…

Many who drink tea experience stomach upset after trying a new tea they've never had before. Some may also find themselves dealing with heatiness after drinking certain teas. Therefore, it's essential to understand the coolness or warmth of the tea before consuming it, which helps in selecting the right tea for you. A beginner tea drinker once asked me if Tieguanyin tea is cool or warm in nature. Let’s take a brief look at Tieguanyin tea. Tieguanyin is a renowned Chinese tea, and its natural orchid fragrance captivates many tea enthusiasts. Whether Tieguanyin is cool or warm depends on its processing method. There are several types of Tieguanyin available on the market, including Fresh Aroma, Aged Aroma, Rich Aroma, and Charcoal Roasted. Due to differences in processing, Fresh Aroma and Aged Aroma Tieguanyin tend to be cooler, while Rich Aroma and Charcoal Roasted are warmer. When choosing which type of Tieguanyin to drink, it's worth considering the nature of the tea. So, who is suitable for drinking Fresh Aroma and Aged Aroma Tieguanyin? And who should opt for Rich Aroma and Charcoal Roasted? Generally, most men, those prone to heatiness, and those who are overweight are more suited to the…

1. Minbei Narcissus The original name of Narcissus was "Zhuxian," originating from the "Zhuxian Cave" on Yanyi Mountain in Dahan Village, Xiaohu Town, Ouning County (now Dahan Village, Shuigil Township, Jianyang City). It started during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821 AD), and due to the local pronunciation where "Zhu" sounds like "Shui," it gradually became known as "Narcissus" or "Minbei Narcissus." According to "Records of Unusual Fujian Products," "In Ouning County's Liuda Lake, there is a type of tea with coarse, long leaves named Narcissus because its flavor resembles that of the Narcissus flower..." The new chronicles of Chong'an County record: "The mother tree of Narcissus is located beneath the Zhuxian Cave in Taotzigang, Dahan, Shuigil County (now part of Jianyang City). During the Daoguang period, a farmer surnamed Su discovered it and propagated it widely." Additionally, according to the Daoguang "Ouning County Annals," "Narcissus tea comes from Dayi Village (today Xiaohu Town), Dahan. There is a mountain called Yan Cha Shan, with the Zhuxian Cave on top. A man surnamed Xi Gan from Xiqian Factory, who worked in the tea business, occasionally went to the cave and found a tree that resembled tea but had an…

Basic Introduction to Yongan Golden Thread OrchidYongan Golden Thread Orchid, a specialty of Yongan City, Fujian Province, is the central production area for wild golden thread orchids in China. The city is known as the "Golden Thread Orchid Capital of China." The Yongan Golden Thread Orchid plants are small, with oval leaves that come to a point, and veins that are golden-yellow with a purplish-red hue. They have high levels of polysaccharides, flavonoids, and amino acids, and possess strong food, medicinal, and ornamental value. The products are sold in provinces such as Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, as well as in countries and regions like Japan and Hong Kong, with 90% of the products being exported, giving them a high market share. It is a protected product under China's Geographical Indication. Nutritional ValueThe taste is sweet and its nature is neutral. It has functions such as clearing heat and cooling the blood, dispelling wind and dampness, balancing yin and yang, nourishing the body and enhancing beauty, harmonizing qi and blood, and enters the kidney, heart, and lung meridians. It can comprehensively boost the human immune system and enhance the body's resistance to diseases. It is widely used in folk medicine and…

What is good Hubei tea? A seemingly simple question, but it's hard to sum up in a single phrase. Is expensive tea necessarily good tea? Is scarce tea necessarily good tea? Is tea that boasts ancient trees or master craftsmanship necessarily good tea? The answer to all these is “not necessarily.” Image | Hubei tea mountains shrouded in mist and clouds 01 Hubei’s Good Tea: The Three Essential Elements at the Source Must Not Be Missing For truly good tea, the three essential elements at the source must be right. What are the three essential elements at the source of tea? They are: region, variety, and processing method. Region More than a thousand years ago, Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, wrote in Chapter One of "The Classic of Tea," about "the origin of tea"; then, in another chapter titled "where tea comes from," he detailed the various sources of tea production in the Tang Empire that he had researched and that were recorded in historical documents. This shows the importance of the origin of tea, that is, "region." Image | "The Classic of Tea" by Lu Yu Currently, 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in our country produce tea,…

Shiting Green Tea is produced in the town of Fengzhou, Nanshi City, Fujian Province, at Lotus Peak on Jiuri Mountain. The tea at Lotus Peak is not only a beverage but also a scenic feature. On the rocks of Lotus Peak are inscribed the words “Lotus Tea (i.e., tea) bosom,” which means: standing on Lotus Peak and looking down, one sees an expanse of green tea fields. The inscription of “Lotus Tea Bosom” dates to Taiyuan Bingzi (376 AD). This is the earliest known record of tea in Fujian Province, predating Lu Yu's Tcha: A Treatise on Tea by more than 300 years. This suggests that tea production at Lotus Peak dates back to the Jin Dynasty, attesting to the long history of Shiting Green Tea. From the Jin Dynasty through the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the development of Lotus Peak tea was rapid. In a poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Han Wu, he writes: "Seeking the old man among the cliffs for immortality herbs, the local custom is to gather tea songs," indicating that tea picking was already a common practice. By the Northern Song Dynasty, the development of Lotus tea reached unprecedented heights, with scholars visiting the…

Banpen ancient tree tea features:full-bodied dry leaves, with an appearance of glossy, fat, and downy strands. Taste: sweet and fragrant upon entry, with a slight bitterness when swallowed, followed by a lingering sensation of sweetness and comfort throughout the mouth. Qi (energy): restrained, subtle, and not showy. Bitterness and Astringency: the bitterness is mild, and the astringency is weak. Aftertaste: the return to sweetness is slow but more enduring, profound, and enduring. Introduction to Banpen Ancient Tree Tea The Banpen tea mountain is located in Menghai County, Menghun Town, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and is a Laohu ethnic village. It is about 3 kilometers away from the Ban Zhang Village, at an altitude of 1760 meters, just 100 meters lower than Old Ban Zhang. Its ancient tea garden is tightly connected to the Ban Zhang ancient tea garden. Banpen was originally considered only a companion to Ban Zhang. However, in recent years, Banpen has gained a reputation that makes it a sought-after destination for tea lovers, elevating its status significantly! The old Banpen Village sits at an altitude of 1760 meters, with yellow-brown soil, clouds and mist, abundant rainfall, and a dense canopy of primary forest providing moderate…

At 9 a.m. on August 4, Tan Xianglan delved into the lush tea bushes, pinching a tender tea bud between her thumb and index finger, smiling as she demonstrated to over thirty other tea pickers: "Everyone should snap it like I do; you must not pinch it. Only by snapping can the harvested tea maintain its quality!" Tea leaves (file photo) Tan Xianglan, 51 years old, is from Longquan Village, Changchi Town, Nanjiang County, Bazhong City. Due to poverty in her childhood, she dropped out of school at an early age. From the moment she carefully kneaded her first handful of tea, she knew that her life would be inseparable from tea. With sheer determination, Tan Xianglan worked tirelessly for decades, transforming from an obscure peasant woman into a prominent tea grower in Nanjiang. Her life has become increasingly prosperous. While doing tea business, she realized that the high-quality and excellent-tasting Nanjiang tea could indeed lead to prosperity for local residents. She also led her neighbors towards a path of wealth and rural revitalization. She still remembers a day in 2018 when a customer contacted her to order eight pounds of tea. For the then-struggling Tan Xianglan, this was a…

On November 22, it was too cold and there were no customers in the shop. Tea merchant Old Yang had steeped a pot of tea until it lost its flavor and was about to change it when a middle-aged man in his early forties suddenly came in. One look and you could tell he was a seasoned tea drinker with over ten years of experience. There are some people who just give off a vibe that they are tea drinkers. This feeling is hard to describe but is usually accurate. Old Yang set aside the Mangfei tea he had just pried open and instead served single-tree Bingdao Bawai from 2020. Although single-tree Bingdao Bawai is somewhat rare on the market, he makes sure to stay on the mountain every year to make tea and jointly lease the tea garden with a few tea-making friends, trying to negotiate lower prices with the local farmers. Once truly produced, even a single-tree variety yields about twenty kilograms. Drinking 5-8 grams at a time doesn't make it feel particularly scarce. Treating customers with good tea is done wholeheartedly and in the spirit of friendship through tea. Unexpectedly, the middle-aged gentleman turned out to be…

The He Kai ancient tea mountain is located in the Menghai County, Menghun Town, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, with an overall altitude ranging from 1,400 to 1,700 meters. The most distinctive feature of He Kai is that “the tea grows among the trees, and the villages are nestled within the tea gardens.” It is the largest contiguous area of ancient tea gardens in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, covering over 16,000 mu (approximately 1,067 hectares) with more than 2.3 million individual ancient tea trees. There are many villages under the jurisdiction of the He Kai Village Committee, including Manmai, Manlongxin and Manlong old village, Mantuan, Guanggang, and others. Among these, Manmai is at the highest elevation in the He Kai ancient tea garden and is considered to have the best quality and be the most representative village. The He Kai ancient tree tea is characterized by its sweet, rich, and full-bodied flavor upon entry into the mouth, strong tea essence, and powerful wild mountain notes. Overall, the taste of He Kai ancient tree tea is more balanced—it is not as bitter as Laoman'e nor as dominant as Lao Banzhang, making it highly acceptable and cost-effective. He Kai literally means “the place where the sun is…

Lincang, a treasure house of ancient tea trees, has seen the rise of the Mengku tea region in the past and the Ice Island (Bingdao) Old Village at the top in recent years. In recent years, many first-class famous villages such as Xigui and the Five Villages of Bingdao have emerged. Besides these, there are still many lesser-known but equally high-quality tea villages. In this feature article, Lu Li will introduce two rising stars - Nahan tea, the king of teas, and Mangfei tea from Yongde. The King of Teas: Nahan Tea Apart from Xigui, which can rival Bingdao, the most famous tea in Bangdong is Nahan. Nahan is located near Xigui, not far away, with similar taste and texture, but much more affordable prices. Many tea merchants sell Nahan tea under the guise of Xigui, making it difficult to distinguish between the two without a direct comparison. Therefore, it's worth learning more about this tea village. Nahan, also known as NaHan, is located in the eastern part of Lincang District, bordering Xiaoman Gang to the north and Manglu Mountain to the south. It belongs to the Manggang Village Committee of Bangdong Township. The entire village can be divided into…

Distribution of the Mengsong Tea Region Yunnan is a wondrous and beautiful place known and prospering due to tea. Pu'er tea can be considered one of Yunnan's most distinctive calling cards. Within these tea-producing regions, each famous mountain and village has its own unique ancient tree teas, each with a distinct flavor, truly embodying the saying that every mountain has its own taste and every village its own fragrance. Let’s take a look at the quality characteristics of the four tea regions in Mengsong Town, Menghai County. #01 Naka Ancient Tree Tea "Naka" means "a place with tea," also written as Naka, Lakar, or Nakar. The Naka Village Group belongs to Manlu Village in Mengsong Town, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and is located in a mountainous area. It is situated in the northwest of Mengsong Town, 6 kilometers from the Manlu Village Committee, and 30 kilometers from the Mengsong Town government. The elevation of Naka Village is 1,660 meters, with an average annual temperature of 16°C and an annual rainfall of 1,900 millimeters. Forest coverage reaches 85%, making it suitable for planting crops like tea. Naka ancient tea is one of Yunnan’s famous teas. Naka bamboo tube tea was renowned…

Green tea, as a significant category of Chinese teas, is beloved for its fresh aroma, crisp taste, and diverse shapes. The shape of the tea leaves is not only an aesthetic feature but also a reflection of the production techniques and quality. Among the many varieties of green tea, there are several common forms that each have their own unique characteristics, showcasing the distinct charm of green tea.I. Needle-shaped Green Tea Needle-shaped green tea features slender and straight tea leaves, resembling pine needles. This unique shape is formed during the drying process after the fresh leaves are pan-fired and rolled. Teas like Nanjing Yuhua, Yangxian Xueya, and Anhua Pine Needles are representative examples of needle-shaped green teas. Crafting this type requires skilled craftsmanship and strict control over the production process to ensure the uniformity of the long and slender shape. When brewed, needle-shaped green tea often sinks vertically in the cup with a graceful appearance, producing a clear and bright infusion with a delicate and lingering fragrance. II. Flat-shaped Green Tea Flat-shaped green teas, such as West Lake Longjing, Qiqiang, Dinggu Dafang, Maoshan Qingfeng, Qiandao Yuye, and Que She, are classic shapes in green tea. During production, the fresh leaves…

Tea quality is relative, different people have different preferences; some prefer strong flavors while others like it fresh and light. For Qimen Black Tea, in terms of taste alone, the liquor is a tender, clear red with a fresh, soft mouthfeel and a hint of subtle sweetness. Some describe it as having a unique Qimen aroma. Good black tea has golden tips on its shape, whether it’s in the form of Golden Needle or Fragrant Snail, the leaf shape is fine. Three grams of Qimen black tea steeped in 150 milliliters of water at 90 degrees Celsius for about five seconds produces a tea liquor from which an intense, penetrating fragrance greets you. To the tea enthusiast, aroma and flavor are the basic standards for judging authentic Qimen Black Tea. The high and persistent Qimen aroma remains stable in quality even after the test of time. The formation of this unique aroma is inseparable from the natural charm of its gifted growing region. Whether the Qimen aroma is authentic or not directly relates to the tea's growth area, which is a crucial factor in determining its aroma. The definition of the authentic Qimen origin is still a subject of much…

Jingmai Mountain is located at the junction of Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar.The morning mist and sea of clouds, the winter cherry blossoms across the mountainous tea forests, the ancient tea forests that have remained green for millennia, and the pristine ancient villages where multiple ethnic groups such as the Dai, Bulang, Hani, and Lahu coexist, make up this hidden paradise in the enchanting southern Yunnan. Jingmai Mountain is renowned for its "thousand-year, ten-thousand-mu ancient tea garden," one of China's six major tea mountains. Its area of thousand-year-old ancient tea forests is unparalleled. It is verified that tea has been cultivated here for nearly 2,000 years, yet these distinctions have not brought it much attention. Behind its low profile lies a long history and rich ethnic culture. Ethnic minorities like the Bulang, Dai, Wa, Lahu, and Hani have lived here for generations. For centuries, tea has become a faith to the indigenous people, who guard their revered ancient tea trees silently. Here, you will find the world's oldest, largest contiguous, and still-harvested ancient tea forests. The ancient tea forests on Jingmai Mountain are mainly comprised of artificially cultivated thousand-year-old tea trees, coexisting with the primary forest. The scale of this cultural…

Raw Pu'er tea exhibits various aromas such as orchid, floral, and fruity scents, while ripe Pu'er tea has distinct aromas like aged wood and camphor. These two types of tea have significant differences in both aroma and taste. If stored together, the inherent adsorbent properties of the teas can cause the aromas to mix, which not only alters the original aroma of the teas but may also introduce unwanted flavors. In a single storage container, even if storing only one type of tea (either raw or ripe), it is best to keep teas with similar aromas together. Why Can't Raw and Ripe Teas Be Stored Together? 1. Firstly, raw and ripe Pu'er teas have different aroma profiles. Raw Pu'er tea typically features fresh aromas like downy fragrance, lotus, and flowers, whereas ripe Pu'er tea often has more mature aromas such as ginseng, medicinal herbs, aged wood, dates, and camphor. Due to these differing aroma types, if raw and ripe teas are stored together, their aroma compounds can cross-advertise, masking or altering each other's natural aromas. The result would be a blend that doesn’t truly represent either the raw or ripe tea, and such mixed-flavored teas are generally not well-received in…

What is blended Dahongpao?Pure Dahongpao comes from the asexual propagation of cuttings from the mother tree, processed separately. Blended Dahongpao is a commercial product different from pure Dahongpao, created to meet market demand for Dahongpao by blending different varieties from Wuyi Mountain in certain proportions. It has distinct quality characteristics that differ from its blending ingredients. The Origin of Blended Dahongpao The blending of Dahongpao has ancient roots. The six mother trees growing above the Nine Dragon Gullies are not of a single variety but come from different lineages, with differing leaf shapes and budding periods, as well as different picking times. During the harvest period, they are picked in two to three batches, then refined and roasted together to produce the final product known as "Mother Tree Dahongpao." In 1985, technology personnel at the Wuyi Mountain Tea Research Institute blended "Dahongpao" using high-quality Wuyi rock teas like Rougui and Shuixian along with pure Dahongpao. The resulting tea had excellent aroma, liquor color, and taste, with a strong rock tea character, quickly gaining consumer approval. With advances in technology and increased innovation, various high-quality blends of Dahongpao have emerged according to market demand, and blended Dahongpao has become an important…

Zhangjia Third Team is affiliated with Zhangjia Village Committee in Bulang Mountain Township and is located in a mountainous area. It is situated to the south of Bulang Mountain Township at an altitude of 1,100 meters, characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate. The average annual temperature ranges from 18-21°C, with an annual precipitation of 1,374 millimeters, making it suitable for growing crops such as rice and tea. In the bustling market for ancient tree Pu'er tea, ecological tea gardens are often labeled as "inferior tea." However, thanks to its superior geographical environment and ancient tea-making techniques, Zhangjia Third Team's high-mountain ecological tea garden model stands out as an exception. The tea trees in Zhangjia Third Team grow on mountains without any barriers or obstructions, enjoying long hours of sunlight and ample cloud mist nourishment. The soil is rich and fertile. Due to the excellent environment, the local residents do not excessively prune the tea leaves but allow them to grow naturally, resulting in a tea quality that can compete with ancient tree teas. As a result, the tea garden has earned the reputation as the "King of Ecological Teas." "Little Lao Banzhang" in Bulang Mountain Zhangjia Third Team is only…

Basic Introduction to Mingxi Golden Thread OrchidThe official name of the Golden Thread Orchid in Chinese medicine is Jin Xian Lan. It is the whole plant of Liparis and Saccoglottis plants from the Orchidaceae family. In folk terms, it is also known as Golden Thread, Golden Earring, Bird Ginseng, Golden Thread Tiger Banana, Golden Thread Bone Remedy, Golden Coin Grass, and Golden Thread Lycopodium.Public Notice No. 3 for the Registration of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products of the People's Republic of China implements the protection of the geographical indication for the product "Mingxi Golden Thread Orchid." Nutritional ValueThe entire plant of the Golden Thread Orchid can be used medicinally, with a neutral taste and sweet flavor. The Golden Thread Orchid has cooling and blood-purifying properties, as well as benefits for expelling wind and dampness, detoxification, pain relief, cough suppression, and more. It is used to treat difficult conditions such as hemoptysis, bronchitis, nephritis, cystitis, diabetes, hematuria, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, and others. History and FolkloreAccording to legend, a long time ago, a fairy bird with an injured leg hobbled into a valley to find medicine. By a mountain spring, it saw the shiny leaves of the Golden Thread Orchid and pecked…

"Yunnan Rock Tea" is a precious variety that has recently emerged in the world of Pu'er tea in the 21st century. "Yunnan Rock Tea" refers to tea produced from tea plantations and tea trees located in the core area of Bangdong Township and Matai Township in the Linxiang District, as well as Dazhaoxi Town in Yun County (formerly Dashixiang). These areas are at an altitude ranging from about 800 to 2,000 meters and radiate outwards to surrounding regions. It is well known that the renowned Wuyi Rock Tea is highly valued for its irreplicable growing environment. Wuyi Rock Tea is a small-leaf variety; can we find rock tea in the large-leaf tea region of Yunnan? After extensive searches by tea enthusiasts, large-leaf "Yunnan Rock Tea" was found in the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River, in Bangdong Township and Matai Township of the Linxiang District, as well as Dazhaoxi Town in Yun County. In fact, for thousands of years, locals have coexisted with tea and rocks, with tea sprouting between the crevices of stones. Upon being "rediscovered," "Yunnan Rock Tea" immediately garnered widespread attention and became popular among tea lovers. What makes "Yunnan Rock Tea" especially precious is…

Summer is scorching hot, and you may crave a cup of warm tea. Many tea enthusiasts wonder what kind of tea they should drink during the summer months. Based on different scenarios, we recommend the following teas.Prevent Heatstroke—Drink White Tea Hot weather can easily cause heatstroke, especially for those who work or play outdoors frequently. In this case, white tea is your go-to choice. White tea is lightly fermented without roasting or kneading, making it cool in nature. It contains abundant amino acids that help reduce heat and eliminate summer heat, effectively preventing heatstroke. Consumption Taboos New white tea has a slightly cold nature, so people with cold stomachs should drink less and avoid drinking it on an empty stomach. Boost Energy and Nourish Stomach—Drink Black Tea During summer, people tend to feel listless and drowsy. The caffeine-rich black tea stimulates the central nervous system, accelerates blood circulation, promotes metabolism, thus helping to boost energy and alleviate fatigue. In summer, we often consume icy foods or cold drinks to cool down. However, doing so can easily harm our delicate digestive system. As black tea is warm in nature, it has the effect of warming and protecting the stomach. Therefore, summer…

Budding and turning green Ancient trees come to life in spring Not long ago Jingmai Mountain, in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Yunnan Province welcomed the first spring tea harvest of the year for its ancient tea trees. Spring tea from Jingmai Mountain. Photo by Li Maoying Since the 10th century, the Bulang and Dai ethnic groups migrated to settle on Jingmai Mountain, where they discovered wild tea trees and developed a forest-based ecosystem to cultivate "forest tea," gradually forming vast ancient tea forests. Last September, the "Pu'er Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, increasing China's number of World Heritage sites to 57. This year's spring tea harvest is also the first after the successful nomination of the Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage site. As the world's first tea-themed World Heritage project, the element of "tea" is everywhere on Jingmai Mountain. This spring, let us venture into Jingmai Mountain to appreciate the beauty of this "World Tea Culture Historical and Natural Museum." Households on Jingmai Mountain begin picking and processing tea. Photo by Li Maoying The mountains are lush and verdant, but there are no visible rows…