Wuzhou

Changes in Manufacturing Processes The increased demand for Liubao tea abroad has boosted its exports, strengthened the Liubao tea industry, and driven continuous improvements in its manufacturing processes. According to "A Brief Record of Guangxi's Special Products," historically, early Liubao tea was made from fresh leaves through a process that included killing the green, initial kneading, heap fermentation, secondary kneading, and drying. This, however, was only the preliminary processing. As the overseas market expanded and Liubao tea needed to be transported by ship along the ancient tea route, local tea makers developed a refined processing technique. This involved using the coarsely processed green tea as raw material, sorting it, blending it according to different grades, heap fermenting it, and then steaming and compressing it multiple times. This traditional refined technology not only facilitated transportation but also allowed the tea to age well over time, making it suitable for shipping. According to "Guangxi Agricultural Communications," this technique had become the standard refined process for Liubao tea by the 1930s. Traditional tea utensils used by Singaporean Chinese families for drinking Liubao tea However, during the war years and into the late 1940s, the quality of Liubao tea produced in Wuzhou plummeted. A…

Tang Dynasty tea utensils During the Kaiyuan period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, people across the country, regardless of their religious beliefs, made drinking tea a part of daily life. It was during this time that tea culture developed and the production of tea utensils entered an upward trajectory. This stimulated the production of Tang Dynasty ceramics, and places that produced tea also promoted the development of local kilns. Yuezhou, Shouzhou, Wuzhou, and Qiongzhou were all known for both abundant tea and ceramic production. Due to differences in social status, people's pursuit of the use value and cultural value of tea utensils varied. The imperial court favored luxurious utensils made of gold, silver, jade, and other precious materials. Commoners, on the other hand, preferred utensils that were economical, practical, and aesthetically pleasing, mainly using ceramic tea sets. Tea Bowls According to archaeological records, Tang Dynasty porcelain bowls have been unearthed in many regions across the country. Although these bowls from different kilns had distinct regional characteristics, they shared one common feature: they all produced wide-mouthed bowls with slim bases and a flat bottom resembling a jade disc. In "The Classic of Tea – Chapter Four: Utensils," Lu Yu…

As tea culture continues to evolve, people’s requirements for tea ware have become increasingly higher. Not only is there a demand for its functionality, but also for its aesthetic value. It can be said that the more exquisite the tea ware, the more pleasant the tea tasting experience becomes. Therefore, fine tea ware often adds much enjoyment to tea drinking. Due to their different materials used in production, tea wares can be categorized into earthenware tea ware, porcelain tea ware, metal tea ware, glass tea ware, and bamboo & wood tea ware. Each type has its own unique charm and brings a different kind of enjoyment during tea tasting. 1. Earthenware Tea Ware Earthenware tea ware is the earliest type of tea ware in China. As early as the initial period of Northern Song Dynasty, earthenware tea ware had already taken shape. Since it is fired at high temperatures and densely sintered, it is both leak-proof and has microscopic pores invisible to the naked eye. This means it neither heats up too quickly nor gets too hot to handle. Furthermore, the shapes of earthenware tea ware are often simple yet elegant with various forms and colors that are rustic and…

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…

Incorporated into Daily Life Singapore's Guangzhen Tea Shop has been in business for over 80 years, consistently trading in Liubao tea. Soon after opening, workers doing manual labor, such as construction, began purchasing Liubao tea from the shop. Gradually, the group of female workers, primarily Cantonese Chinese, became the main consumers of Guangzhen Tea Shop, according to its manager, Liu Xiufeng, who said, "In the past, much of our Liubao tea was sold to the 'Red Turbans.' Even now, their descendants remain our customers." Purchase contract for Liubao tea signed in 1973 between Guanghui Feng Tea Shop in Malaysia and the Guangxi Branch Company of the China National Native Products and Animal By-Products Import and Export Corporation in Wuzhou. Liubao tea samples sent from Hong Kong to Liang Ruisheng Tea and Cigarette Shop in Ipoh, Malaysia, in 1971. Entering the 20th century, the development of Southeast Asia entered a new phase, with rapid advancements in urban and port construction. Ports in cities like Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta developed at an increasingly faster pace, and many Chinese workers participated in these developments. The second wave of Chinese workers moving to Southeast Asia starting in the 1920s brought large numbers…

After the mid-Qing dynasty, Wuzhou became an important commercial port along the Xijiang waterway. Part of the Liubao tea was transported upstream from Jiangkou and Doucheng docks in Guangdong, converging in Wuzhou before being sent to major ports in the Pearl River Delta region, forming a new form of transportation and trade for Liubao tea. In the Liubao tea culture exhibition hall of the Wuzhou Tea Factory, there is a cultural wall reflecting the development journey of the Liubao tea industry, displaying many old photos of the factory in its early days. Recently, Mr. Liu Fusheng revisited the Wuzhou Tea Factory and specifically came to this cultural wall, gently touching one of the photos displayed on it. In this photo, workers at the tea factory are pushing Liubao tea packed in large bamboo baskets to the triangular mouth dock next to the factory using wooden carts. He gazed for a long time before speaking: “After the Liubao tea produced by the Wuzhou Tea Factory was transported to the dock, it would be loaded onto cargo ships waiting there, which then carried it batch by batch down the Xijiang to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and even further abroad…” Selling Tea at…

Along with the rise and fall of Liubao tea industry, the ancient tea ship route has gone through phases of formation, prosperity, dormancy, revival, and decline, leaving a splendid chapter in China's tea transportation history. The ancient route is vast and time has passed slowly. The development of the Liubao tea industry has undergone changes over several hundred years, and the tea ship route has also gone through a long journey from its formation to prosperity, dormancy, revival, and decline. Today, the Liubao tea industry is experiencing a comprehensive revival, but the ancient tea ship route mostly remains as traces of the past. However, there is no doubt that in the course of history, this ancient route, which coexisted with Liubao tea, has written a unique and splendid chapter in China's tea transportation history. The name "Tea Pavilion" can be seen on a map of Cangwu from the 32nd year of the Kangxi era (1693) of the Qing dynasty. 1. The "Annals of Cangwu County" compiled during the Tongzhi era of the Qing dynasty contains records about Liubao tea. 2. On the attached map of Cangwu County in the "Annals of Cangwu County" compiled during the Tongzhi era of the…

On August 16, 2024, the "Tea and the World" Global Promotion Launch Ceremony for Chinese Tea was held at the Beijing Friendship Hotel, under the guidance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the China International Publishing Group, and hosted by the Cultural Exchange Center of the China International Publishing Group. The event, themed "Inheriting, Promoting, and Benefitting the World through Tea Culture Exchange and Mutual Learning," announced the 2024 Forbes China Tea Industry Series Selections. "Wuzhou Liubao Tea" successfully made it into the annual regional public brand selection for the 2024 Forbes China Tea Industry Series. Mr. Zhong Weijun, Deputy Director of the Wuzhou City Tea Industry Development Bureau, attended the event and received the certificate. Wuzhou Liubao Tea is renowned for its distinctive characteristics of "redness, thickness, agedness, and richness," along with its unique betel nut fragrance. It has been one of China's twenty-four famous teas since the Qing Dynasty, with a long history and outstanding quality, becoming an important historical symbol and calling card for Wuzhou City, Guangxi. In recent years, Wuzhou City has used the "Wuzhou Liubao Tea" regional public brand and the "Ancient Tea-Ship Route" cultural brand as dual engines to…

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…