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The techniques for making Puer tea and tribute tea, as shining gems in the list of China's traditional tea-making intangible cultural heritage, not only carry profound historical tea culture but are also a vital force driving local economic and cultural development.The Yunnan province's Ning'er county, known for its intangible cultural heritage, has been dedicated to the inheritance, protection, and innovation of these techniques. Through systematic work and meticulous efforts, it actively promotes the diversity and exchange of tea culture, infusing new vitality into the sustainable development of the tea industry. It is currently the season of tea harvest, and in Ning'er's vast tea gardens, tea farmers move through the emerald green tea bushes, skillfully gathering the tender leaves filled with the essence of spring into their baskets. In the organic tea garden of Wulushan in Puyi Township, Ning'er County, the spring breeze blows gently, bringing vibrant life. Zhou Ming, the production workshop director of the tea factory, leads the tea farmers in their busy work. They strictly adhere to standards while picking spring tea, with each leaf carrying their respect for and commitment to traditional techniques. Under the harmonious cooperation between Zhou Ming and his technical partners, the tea-making processes…

Driving for a little over an hour from Quanzhou, Fujian, you arrive at Xiping Town, Anxi County—the birthplace of Tieguanyin. Xiping was once known as Qipeng, named after the mythical great roc said to have rested here. After passing through the town, we entered the winding mountain roads, our car like a fish swimming upstream into a sea of green. Looking out the window, tea fields stretched as far as the eye could see, terraced hills and sprawling plots in various shapes and sizes. Upon entering Nanyan Village, the air was filled with a fresh, invigorating tea fragrance. Taking a deep breath, every nerve and cell relaxed. When we arrived at Taishanlou, the annual Nanyan Tieguanyin Tea King Competition was entering its final round. The villagers held their breath, intently watching the courtyard. In the center stood a large tea table, about four to five meters long, on which ten white porcelain lidded jars were lined up horizontally, each corresponding to a numbered sample from 1 to 10. Staff took samples from the jars, weighing them according to standard procedures before placing them into the jars. Facing each jar, three white porcelain tea cups were arranged in a vertical row,…

Scented tea originated in the Song Dynasty, began to be produced in the Ming Dynasty and was perfected in the Qing Dynasty. In the late Qing Dynasty, Zhang Changyi established Zhang Yiyuan Tea Shop, which has been passed down through generations, specializing in the production and sale of jasmine tea. During the Republican era, Zhang Yiyuan jasmine tea became well-known throughout Beijing. Regulars at bathhouses and theaters almost always requested Zhang Yiyuan tea by name, and Peking Opera masters such as Qiu Shengrong, Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, and others were all regular customers of Zhang Yiyuan. Zhang Yiyuan jasmine tea is made using spring tea from Fujian oolong green tea as the base tea, which is scented multiple times with jasmine flowers. Zhang Yiyuan Teahouse bustling with customers Production Techniques 1. Raw Material Inspection (Tea Base and Flowers Inspection): Strictly inspect the tea base, and select jasmine flowers that are full-bodied, evenly sized, and have a lustrous white color. 2. Tea Base Processing: Process different grades of tea into piles for refined production, requiring the tea base moisture content to reach 8%, with an appearance that is clean, uniform, and free of foreign objects. 3. Flower Processing: The jasmine flowers…

In the mountainous northwest of Hubei, on the "Roof of Gucheng" at an average altitude of over a thousand meters in Zhaowan Township, there are two brothers who serve as the Party branch secretaries of two adjacent villages. Their story of sharing resources and collectively developing the tea industry to lead the locals to prosperity and a moderately prosperous life is widely known. "How's the quality of the tea processed by the mechanical arms?" "Not bad, I'll come and process a couple of batches myself then." At the end of June, Wang Anjun, the Party branch secretary of Taozhuang Village, brought his younger brother Wang Anhua to visit the newly purchased equipment in the village. Wang Anhua is the Party branch secretary of Changling Village, and had been worried about the tea production due to insufficient funds to build a new production line. "Brother, can we join forces to build a medium-sized tea processing factory? This way, we can share equipment and labor, saving costs and increasing efficiency," Wang Anhua asked, looking at Wang Anjun. Wang Anjun nodded in agreement, saying, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Let's do this together." Taozhuang Village and Changling Village are both high-altitude villages,…

Short-shoot cutting propagation of tea plants not only preserves the superior characteristics of the parent tree but also achieves rapid multiplication of tea seedlings, making it the optimal approach for the advancement of clonal varieties of tea, including albino tea. Technological Process for Propagation Propagation Plan: Determine the variety, quantity, and timing of propagation, prepare funds, materials, and labor accordingly. Cultivate Cuttings: Decide on the source of cuttings and arrange for their cultivation in advance. Nursery Preparation: Prepare the nursery and seedbeds in advance and equip them with necessary materials. Pruning and Propagating: Prune cuttings, propagate them, and manage the nursery concurrently. Nursery Management: Manage water, temperature, light, fertilization, pest and weed control, and branch control. Transplanting Seedlings: Prepare for water control in the nursery, packaging materials, and transplant seedlings according to standards. Propagation Cycle and Timing The propagation cycle for cutting propagation typically requires one year for the growth of healthy, qualified tea seedlings. However, with advancements in propagation and planting techniques, the cycle is trending towards shortening. Many self-breeders opt for transplanting small-sized seedlings in nearby areas with favorable ecological conditions. When using advanced facilities such as greenhouses, the seedlings often meet the required specifications without needing a…

In the depths of Brown Mountain, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, lies a village brimming with historical charm and natural beauty—Ban Zhang Village. “Red wine is judged by its chateau, Pu'er by its mountain origin.” Photograph of ancient tea tree branches in Ban Zhang by Zhang Hongping Ban Zhang Village, a large family composed of five natural villages—Old Ban Zhang, New Ban Zhang, Laoman'e, Dakalong, and Dakanuan—each preserving unique cultural traditions of the Bulang, Hani, and Lahu ethnic groups. Here, ancient tea trees coexist with the forest, known for their great age and superior quality, earning Ban Zhang the title of "China's No.1 Pu'er Tea Village." Tea farmer Tu Mei has been involved with tea since childhood. Her life is closely tied to tea, and she holds deep feelings for it. She reflects, “The techniques for making tea have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing the tea to retain more of its essence and aroma, resulting in higher-quality tea production.” The unique geographical and climatic conditions here make the Pu'er tea a favorite among countless tea enthusiasts. Photograph of the ancient tea mountain trail in Brown Mountain by Zhang Hongping The unique natural scenery and rich cultural heritage of…

Tea ware is often referred to as the father of tea, for it carries the essence of a cup of tea. The word "China" itself also means porcelain, and the West came to know China through its porcelain. Early pottery, bronze wares, later porcelains, and teaware made from materials like purple clay and glass were all adapted to the social productivity levels and brewing methods of their times. The complete set of gold and silver tea ware unearthed from the Famen Temple’s underground palace from the Tang Dynasty is breathtaking (multiple types of tea ware can also be seen in the painting “Night Banquet in the Tang Palace”). During Emperor Huizong's reign, tea competitions included the use of tea ware as an essential element, and Jian bowls, necessary for the tea-whisking method, became popular. Three of the Jian bowls (also known as Tenmoku bowls) that were brought to Japan are now considered national treasures there. The five famous kilns that produced tea ware are also world-renowned. The evolution of tea ware is a vast topic, but at its core, it cannot be separated from three words: "ceramics, technology, culture." Today, we will explore the evolution of tea ware from two…

Sour tea is an important component of the tea culture of Yunnan's ethnic minorities. Many ethnic minorities have a history of making sour tea. The Bulang people living in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, in Hemin Town on Jingmai Mountain, are no exception. ▼ When wild tea has not been “tamed,” its taste is relatively bitter and astringent; processing it into sour tea can alleviate this bitterness and astringency. After picking fresh tea leaves, they go through the processes of steaming and killing the green, then are naturally cooled. They are placed layer by layer into bamboo tubes until they are full and tightly packed without any gaps. Then, the opening of the bamboo tube is sealed with banana leaves and buried in the ground to ferment for about two months... In Pu'er's Jingmai Mountain, during the spring tea harvest activities in 2024, we captured the complete process of sour tea production by the Bulang people. ▼ △ Using hot water to kill the green; once the tea buds are bent, they are ready (the water here is not boiling). △ Removing the tea. △ Straining the tea. △ Drying after straining. △ Drying. △ Drying in the sun for one…

"This is the largest cultivated ancient tea tree in Lianfu. It has large buds and a good shape, with purple-red tips, which is why we locally call it the Purple Dragon variety. Drinking it yields a high level of sweetness, a strong aftertaste, and a strong salivation effect." Looking at the ancient tea tree filled with tender shoots in the courtyard of Xiong Julan, a villager from Xiaocun Village in Zijia Slope, Wang Huipeng, the Party Secretary of the Lianfu Village Committee in Mangshui Town, said. Mangshui Town's Lianfu Village borders Lianjiang Village to the north and Mangshui Community to the south, but compared to places like Chaishan River, Yangquan Slope, Huangjiazhai, and Dazhulin in Mangshui, it lacks a significant "presence," with many people unaware that there is tea here. Only in recent years have some people discovered by chance that this place also has a lot of very good tea. "The tea industry has always been our village's pillar industry," Wang Huipeng explained. Lianfu Village has abundant ancient tea resources and high-quality tea. The village has over 7,300 ancient tea trees, with an annual output value of more than 5 million yuan; the tea industry has a solid foundation,…

Many teapot enthusiasts snub half-handmade teapots and are eager to acquire fully handmade ones. But what are the actual differences between these two crafting methods? Differences Between Fully Handmade and Half-Handmade (1) Firstly, from a craft perspective: Half-Handmade: These teapots still involve manual work. Simply put: First type: The spout, handle, and lid are handcrafted while the body is made using a mold. Second type: The body is handmade while other parts are made with molds. Third type: The entire teapot is formed using molds, so half-handmade teapots can also be called mold-made teapots. Fully Handmade: This involves using tools without molds to create a teapot, making the process more challenging and time-consuming. (2) Half-Handmade Teapots Cannot Be Mass Replicated Indefinitely Some enthusiasts worry that half-handmade teapots can be endlessly replicated using molds. In reality, half-handmade teapots still contain the maker's creativity and are unique. For example, the Ti Bi Teapot by Gu Jingzhou and the Curved Teapot by Wang Yinxian both use molds for shaping. Even contemporary masters or senior artisans cannot achieve the same effect when using the same molds. Some teapots, especially those with intricate designs, cannot be crafted without molds. (3) From a Practical and Collectible…

When the journalist arrived in Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City, on the 13th, the town's mayor, Wu Wang, warmly greeted us and invited us to taste some tea. Boiling water was poured into a cup, and as the leaves unfurled in the water, the tea broth gradually turned amber, emitting a rich aroma. "This is the main venue for professional tea competitions that have been held here for 800 years. As they say, 'Tea doesn't truly emit its fragrance until it reaches Xingcun.' We are a significant hub along the ancient Tea Road and the birthplace of black tea in the world." Mayor Wu said with a smile. Photo by Shi Chenjing, Fujian Daily – Swallows' Nest Ecological Tea Garden A short distance away lies the Swallows' Nest Ecological Tea Garden. Although the tea-picking season had passed, there were still five or six tea farmers moving about deep within the garden, pruning the tea plants to lay the groundwork for an increased yield in the coming year. Tea farmer Yang Wen Chun bent down and pointed to the soybeans planted among the tea plants: "Professor Liao Hong from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University proposed an intercropping model of planting soybeans in…

Baihua Tan is part of the Tongqing River, a renowned Pu'er tea production area in Yiwu, located in the Yao Autonomous Township of Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is situated at the confluence of the Tongqing River, Bulong River, and Jinchang River, and its unique geographical location has created a favorable natural environment. It is a tranquil place nestled in the forest by the water. Various wild flowers grow near the mountain stream, with baihua (wildflowers) being the most abundant, hence the name. Baihua Tan stands out from the Tongqing River as an emerging micro-production area, following Bingdao, Laobanzhang, and Cha Wang Tree as another classic micro-production area for tea. The ancient tea trees in Baihua Tan can reach heights of over ten meters, with deep roots and broad crowns, and large leaves. Its tea leaves have a distinctive flavor, a heavy body, and a strong wild character, with great vigor and full tea energy. The raw tea is highly recognizable, with straight, hard strips, due to the high content of pectin in the leaves. Those fortunate enough to taste the ancient tree tea from Baihua Tan often describe it with the word “wild.” Its flavor…

Mangsong, a Dai language toponym meaning a plateau between high mountains, is located within the Mangsong Township of Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. To its east lies Jinghong City and to its south, Gelanghe Township. It is one of the ancient tea regions in Menghai County and also one of the main tea-producing towns. There are over 3,000 mu of ancient tea gardens, widely distributed across several areas with the majority concentrated in Nanben Old Village, Baotang New Village, Baotang Old Village, Damei, and Xia Da'an Villages. Photographed by Yan FengtingThe ancient tea gardens in Mangsong are mostly planted by the Lahu people, who have a long history of tea cultivation, processing, and trade. Han Chinese settlers entered Mangsong during the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty to engage in tea trading. In 1931 (20th year of the Republic of China), migrants from Yiwu, Mengla established a tea house in Manmai, Mangsong. In 1941, Fohai Tea Factory set up a preliminary tea processing facility and a tea purchasing station in Mangsong. In the early 1980s, when the Chinese Tea Research Institute and Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tea Research Institute jointly surveyed tea tree resources, they discovered…

Paradise Mountain stands as a divine presence in the hearts of the people of Changning. Mr. Ou Zhide, a writer from Yunnan Province, once wrote: “‘Paradise’ is the pursuit of an idyllic place, a paradise that people yearn for on earth. Astonishingly, there is a Paradise Mountain in Changning, and its name wasn’t given by contemporary people to attract tourism benefits; it has been passed down from our ancestors. Paradise has had the beauty of a fairyland since ancient times…” Paradise Mountain, with its picturesque landscapes of mountains, water, rocks, and forests, high-altitude wetlands nestled among peaks, natural scenery created by rock springs and tree vines, and flowers dancing amidst the forest, resembles a paradise on earth. It is a “natural gene bank for flora and fauna,” where many species are rare in China or even worldwide. Just like the Paradise Big-Head Tea, Red Flower Oil Tea, Water Fir, Red Cypress, Rhododendrons, Magnolias, and Long-Stamen Magnolias, the wild tea trees bestowed by nature have found their “haven” here, coexisting and thriving with other flora and fauna as integral parts of a complete ecosystem. Located to the north of Changning County, Paradise Mountain is part of the southern range of the…

Leopard-skin-like tree trunks, arm-thick branches, and scattered blossoms among the tea leaves... Recently, on several ancient eagle tea trees in Wuxi, Chongqing, tea flowers have bloomed, clear and delicate.It is said that the eagle tea comes from the evergreen tree Alseodaphne semicarpifolia of the Lauraceae family, with very hard seed shells. According to legend, the seeds need to be swallowed by eagles, and after the shell is softened by stomach acid and excreted, they can germinate, hence the name "eagle tea." In Wuxi, there are more than 50,000 mu (about 3,333 hectares) of eagle tea planted, including ten eagle tea trees that are a thousand years old and 2,500 eagle tea trees over a hundred years old. Image of an ancient eagle tea tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tourists admiring the ancient tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tea flowers on the tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of an ancient eagle tea tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tourists admiring the tea flowers. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tea…