Basic Introduction to Baoji Tea
Baoji Tea, a specialty of Panzhou District, Guizhou Province, is renowned for its excellent quality, characterized by its rich fragrance and greenish luster. According to preliminary assessments by experts from the Guizhou Tea Research Institute, the ancient tea trees in Laochang, Panzhou have a history of over 500 years, confirming that Panzhou has been cultivating tea trees since ancient times, making it one of the original habitats for tea plants. On July 4, 2016, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine approved geographical indication product protection for “Baoji Tea.”
The Panzhou District of Guizhou Province is located in a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone with low latitude and high altitude. It features mild winters and cool summers, with concurrent rainfall and warmth, abundant rainfall, and significant diurnal temperature variations. These environmental conditions are exceptional, conducive to producing high-quality fresh leaves and fulfilling the primary requirements for growing premium tea. Furthermore, all tea plants in Panzhou are grown in Selenium-rich coal-bearing areas. Chemical analyses conducted by the Guiyang Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, on the tea and soil samples from Panzhou revealed an average selenium content of 0.376 micrograms per gram in the soil and 0.12 micrograms per gram in the tea.
The arable land area in Panzhou, as surveyed, totals 146,700 hectares, over 80% of which is sloping farmland. Areas with slopes exceeding 25° are unsuitable for cultivation. Additionally, there are 368,700 agricultural laborers in Panzhou, providing ample labor resources. Leveraging the policy of converting farmland back to forests and grasslands, planting tea instead of crops could significantly expand production potential.
Geographical Protection Scope
The origin of Baoji Tea is confined to the current administrative regions of 22 towns and townships within Panzhou District, Guizhou Province: Baoji Township, Yangchang Township, Yuni Township, Jichangping Township, Jiuying Township, Panjiang Town, Banqiao Town, Shuitang Town, Minzhu Town, Laochang Town, Mayi Town, Dashan Town, Huashi Town, Pingdi Township, Pingguan Town, Zhongyi Township, Baotian Town, Putian Township, Xinmin Town, Xiangshui Town, Lemin Town, Huopu Town.
Product Characteristics
The tea-producing areas in Panzhou District are situated at elevations ranging from 1,700 to 1,900 meters, approximately 200 to 300 meters higher than other tea-producing areas in Liupanshui City. Given the high-altitude location of the tea gardens, the growth period is extended, resulting in superior internal quality of the tea. According to relevant data, the amino acid content in tea produced in high-altitude areas of Guizhou is between 4% and 5%, compared to 3% in Zhejiang tea. The water-soluble extract content generally falls within the range of 45% to 50%, whereas it is only 38% in Zhejiang tea. As such, the tea is remarkably enduring and fragrant, with a lasting aroma.
Historical and Folk Customs
Baoji Tea has a long history. According to “The Classic of Tea,” “Tea grows in Sizhou, Boyzhou, Feizhou, Yizhou… often found, its taste is excellent.” The Sizhou and Boyzhou mentioned here refer to the region around present-day northern and western Guizhou, bordering Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, which includes today's Baoji. According to “The Ethnography of Guizhou,” during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong period, Baoji tea was a local tribute tea, a mandatory offering by the Han and Yi people to landlords, chieftains, and tribal leaders each year. Both the Han and Yi people in the region have a deep-rooted culture of tea drinking. In 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China), a provincial exhibition of local products was held in Guiyang, the provincial capital, where Baoji Tea represented the brand of Panzhou teas.
The tea gardens in Panzhou were initially established in the 1970s.
In the 1990s, the tea garden area in Panzhou exceeded 800 hectares.
In 2007, the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government issued a special document entitled “Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Tea Industry,” prioritizing the tea industry and introducing a series of supportive policies to increase investment in the tea sector. Panzhou was designated as one of the key tea-producing counties in the province, providing an opportunity for the development of the tea industry in Panzhou.