Tea Horse Road

Wan Gong was a famous village along the ancient Tea Horse Road and one of the two most illustrious villages in Yi Wu tea mountain during its heyday. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Yi Wu tea mountain and Man Sa tea mountain, both under the governance of Yi Wu’s local ruler, entered their most prosperous periods. At that time, Wan Gong was at the heart of the ancient six major tea mountains and also the site of imperial tribute tea gardens. Since the Qing Dynasty’s Xianfeng period, Wan Gong has been known as Thousand Family Village, with over 400 households and a large population, making it the most prosperous village in Yi Wu tea mountain. Later, due to the prevalence of malaria and other reasons, Wan Gong village gradually declined and faded from the sight of tea enthusiasts. The ancient tea gardens of Wan Gong have been severely damaged; there are no longer contiguous groves of ancient trees but rather scattered tea trees within the virgin forest. Wan Gong holds a significant place among the ancient tree teas of Yi Wu, being an area where ancient tea trees are well-preserved. These ancient tea trees grow at altitudes above 1,800…

Yiwu is an indispensable place in the world of Pu'er tea, both in the past and present. A century ago, Yiwu was the distribution center for the ancient six major tea mountains, a source of tribute tea, and the birthplace of century-old teas that still exist today. After the comprehensive revival of Pu'er tea, Yiwu transformed from a withering border town into a must-contest location for Pu'er tea merchants and even a place of pilgrimage for many tea lovers. The status of Yiwu tea in the Pu'er tea realm remains highly sought after by tea enthusiasts. During the spring tea season, the ancient town of Yiwu is bustling with activity, reminiscent of the scene described in the Qing Dynasty's "Yunnan Sea Records": "Within an area of eight hundred li, ten thousand people enter the mountains to make tea." With the popularity of Yiwu tea, the living standards of the people in the ancient town have significantly improved. Since 2010, when the "Yiwu Tea Competition" is held every April, the ancient town becomes even more lively, attracting countless guests. The history of tea cultivation in Yiwu dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when ancient Pu people lived and grew tea there.…

Many people enjoy drinking Pu'er tea, due to its rich and varied flavor, notable health benefits, deep cultural heritage, potential for collection, and strong social aspect. Its unique taste and value allow people to experience joy in tasting, gain health, appreciate culture, and enhance emotional connections, hence it is widely loved. Why Many People Enjoy Drinking Pu'er Tea Firstly, the rich and varied flavor. Raw Pu'er tea has a strong stimulating and astringent quality that, over time, transforms into a richer, smoother taste with an increasingly prominent aged aroma; while ripe Pu'er starts off relatively mellow with a unique aged aroma and a glutinous mouthfeel. This rich layering and variation in taste brings a continuous sense of exploration and discovery to those who savor it. Secondly, its health benefits. It is rich in tea polyphenols, tea pigments, and other beneficial components. Long-term consumption can help regulate blood lipids, lower cholesterol levels, and benefit cardiovascular health. Additionally, its mild nature results in less irritation to the stomach and intestines, providing a warming effect on the stomach, particularly suitable for those with more sensitive digestive systems. Thirdly, the profound cultural appeal. Pu'er tea has a long history and unique regional culture, from…

In recent years, Yunnan Province has continuously transformed its resource advantages into strengths for green development, driving the growth of the Yun tea industry. These tiny leaves clearly embody the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." How can we continue to consolidate the advantages of Yun tea? In my opinion, we should focus on quality and safety, brand cultivation, and industrial integration to enable "small tea leaves" to make a "big splash." To enhance quality, we must ensure product safety. Green is the foundation of Yun tea's development, and we need to adhere to a green development path without compromising on quality and safety. Firstly, we should promote green supply. We should improve tea garden infrastructure, support the improvement of low-efficiency tea gardens, comprehensively implement green production in tea gardens, and promote a transformation towards green and low-carbon production methods to create an "ecological tea." Secondly, we should standardize production. We should guide tea enterprises to adopt clean and standardized production practices, strengthen supervision of the quality and safety of tea products during production, processing, and sales, and create a "reassuring tea." Thirdly, we should implement digital traceability. We should actively develop and utilize anti-counterfeiting label…

Dingjiazhai is part of Manla Village, Yiwu Town, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, and is one of the "Seven Villages and Eight Hamlets" of Yiwu. There are two Dingjiazhai villages in Yiwu, one Han Chinese village and one Yao ethnic group village. The Han Chinese village is located next to Zhangjiawan, while the Yao ethnic group village is divided into upper and lower parts, both situated along the mountain road between Manla and Yiwu. This mountain road lies on the ancient tea horse road from Yiwu to Jiangcheng. The Han Chinese Dingjiazhai has two well-known ancient tea gardens, Xiangchunlin (Perfumed Currant Forest) and Yishanmo (Fan Mill). The Yao ethnic group village was previously unknown due to transportation and production issues but gained fame after the Ban Gong tea was harvested and processed there. Nowadays, Dingjiazhai has gradually established a significant presence in the world of Yiwu teas, with tea merchants visiting during the tea collection season. The appearance of Dingjiazhai tea features thick, tightly bound twigs that are gray-brown with visible down. Its aroma is rich yet restrained, comfortable without being overstimulating. The tea liquor is orange-yellow and translucent, with a thick consistency. The taste is delicate and smooth, and the aftertaste…

Tea, known as the "Chinese leaf that influenced the world," spread from China to the rest of the world via the Silk Road, the Tea Horse Road, the Great Tea Route, and the Maritime Silk Road. It has become the most popular non-alcoholic beverage in the world, enjoyed by over 2 billion people across more than 160 countries and regions. Arccheological sites prove that China has over 6,000 years of tea cultivation history, with famous tea-producing areas with a long history formed throughout the country. So why has Jingmai Mountain become the first global tea-themed World Cultural Heritage site? Because Jingmai Mountain itself is a living book of "Chinese Tea" history. Jingmai Mountain is located on the southwestern frontier in the Lancang River Basin of Yunnan Province. It boasts the best-preserved ancient tea forests in the world's tea tree origin, spanning thousands of acres and thousands of years. It is a living museum of human tea culture, created by the Bulang ancestors who migrated to Jingmai Mountain in the 10th century and discovered and domesticated tea trees, along with the later Dai ancestors. "Five ancient tea forests, nine traditional villages, and three protective forests" are the heritage elements of the…

Dark tea is one of the six major types of Chinese tea that involves microbial fermentation in the formation of its quality and flavor. In 2021, China's total production of dark tea reached 396,900 tons, ranking third among the six major types of tea. In 2022, China's dark tea industry entered a new phase of high-quality development. Since the late 1980s, the team of tea experts from Hunan Agricultural University has successively conducted basic research, technological innovation, and product innovation on dark tea, scientifically interpreting the drinking attributes and health benefits of Anhua dark tea. As the health benefits of dark tea have been continuously confirmed by research, it has gradually become an ideal beverage for people to prevent sub-health. I. Tea-Horse Trade and the Origin of Dark Tea The exact time of origin of dark tea remains uncertain. The term "dark tea" was already in use during the mid-Ming Dynasty. The emergence of dark tea is inseparable from the long-lasting tea-horse trade between central China and the border regions. It may have been the long-distance transportation between inland and border areas, between producing and consuming areas, that gave rise to the durable and transportable dark tea category. Therefore, it…

Liubao tea, named after Liubao Town in Cangwu County, Wuzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is unique as a low-temperature fermented tea stored in bamboo baskets, cellars, caves, or wooden dry warehouses (other dark teas are typically border trade teas). Its distinctive taste has garnered many fans.Historically, there was not only the Tea Horse Road but also a Tea Ship Ancient Route, which started right here in Liubao, Guangxi. The people of Wuzhou used inland waterways to transport goods such as tea and porcelain to all corners of the world, establishing extensive trade relations with the outside world, forming a profound historical legacy known as the “Ancient Tea Ship Route.” The route began in Dabao, Guangxi, followed the Liubao River, proceeded along the Dong'an River, passed through the Hejiang River, entered the Xijiang River, and reached Guangzhou, connecting to the maritime Silk Road for tea shipments. This route was unique in linking Guangxi, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and directly reaching Southeast Asia. Through this ancient tea ship route, Liubao tea emerged from the mountains, crossed oceans, and became one of the key commodities on the maritime Silk Road. The history of tea production and processing in Liubao can be traced back…