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Group Standard T/CTSS 73-2023 “Processing Technical Regulations for Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea”
Yingshan is located at the southern foot of the Dabie Mountains, with a long history of tea cultivation and production. Its superior ecological environment has nurtured a number of fine tea and renowned tea brands, represented by "Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea." To further enhance the recognizability and market share of Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea, build its brand, and promote high-quality development of the tea industry, the County Tea Industry Promotion Center, in collaboration with Huazhong Agricultural University, the Tea Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Fruit and Tea Research Institute of Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has formulated and released four group standards based on the needs of the tea industry in Yingshan: "Production Technical Regulations for Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea," "Processing Technical Regulations for Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea," "Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea," and "Brewing Technical Regulations for Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea." All tea farmers, tea enterprises, and tea traders are encouraged to implement these standards according to their respective circumstances. -
Nannuoshan, the Famous Pu’er Tea Mountain in Xishuangbanna
Nannuoshan is an ancient tea area located south of the Lancang River, belonging to Gelanghe Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is a significant source of high-quality raw materials for Pu'er tea. The saying goes, "The best tea comes from high mountains shrouded in clouds and mist." Nannuoshan has an average elevation of 1,400 meters, with towering peaks, deep valleys, and dense vegetation, providing the ideal environment for large-leaf tea trees. It is often enveloped in clouds and mist, resulting in exceptional tea quality. Its buds are plump, leaves robust, and white down prominent, characterized by a high aroma, mild bitterness, and pronounced sweetness. The history of tea cultivation in Nannuoshan dates back a long time. According to legend, the ancestors of Nannuoshan began planting tea during the Three Kingdoms period, learning the technique from Zhuge Liang during his southern campaign, over 1,700 years ago. The Nannuoshan tea mountain has always been cultivated and utilized by the ancestors of the Bulang people (Pu people, Pu barbarians). More than 1,100 years ago, the ancestors of the Bulang people migrated away from Nannuoshan, leaving their tea trees to be inherited by the Aini people who later arrived. Nannuoshan… -
Field Management Measures for Tea Plants in Hubei Province to Cope with Low-Temperature Freezing Weather
According to weather forecasts, from February 1st to 6th, Hubei Province will experience the most powerful cold wave of the winter, with low temperatures, rain, snow, and ice. The average temperature across the province is expected to drop by 6°C to 10°C. This severe freezing weather will pose a significant threat to the normal growth of tea plants, particularly young ones. Precautionary measures should be taken to minimize the impact of extreme freezing conditions on tea fields and ensure the production of spring tea next year. Influence of Low-Temperature Freezing Weather on Tea Production Severe freezing weather poses a significant threat to the normal growth of tea plants, especially young ones, potentially leading to reduced yields, decreased quality, and even plant death. Measures to Prevent Frost Damage in Tea Plants 1. Covering for Frost Protection For mature tea plants in high-altitude areas, non-woven fabrics, ground films, or shade nets can be used to directly cover the canopy, with better results achieved by erecting a shelter 10cm to 20cm above the canopy. Covering with rice straw or crop stalks provides even better protection against extreme cold. Covering materials should be removed when temperatures rise. 2. Spraying Anti-Freeze Agents For mature tea… -
Minty Pu’er Tea: Which Village is it From?
Minty is located in the Manza tea area of Yiwu, hidden deep in the mountains at an altitude of around 1800 meters. It is a small village in the primeval forest, and the area of the Minty tea garden is not large. The trees are very old, scattered here and there, with extremely low yields. The finished tea has dark green long stalks, thick and sturdy strips, a refreshing taste, sweet and smooth, with little bitterness or astringency. Its aroma is high and its water quality is soft yet firm, with a fine texture. Minty Pu'er Tea: Which Village is it From? 1. The Pa Zha He Yao Village under the Manla Village Committee in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna. 2. Yes. The Minty Pu'er tea village is located deep in the mountains of the Manza tea area in Yiwu. It is an important production base for Pu'er tea and has always been open to the public. According to Baidu Maps, the road to Minty is difficult to navigate, and the climb up the mountain is steep and perilous. 3. Minty is located deep in the mountains of the Manza tea area in Yiwu, at an altitude of about 1800 meters. It… -
A Century of Tea Processing Development in Hainan
"Traditional Chinese tea processing techniques and associated customs" have made a splash in the industry and academia since being listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. In the past month, numerous reports have appeared in the media, and there have also been many posts and videos in new media. As China's southernmost tea-producing area and the only tropical island tea region, Hainan possesses a unique native tea variety – the Hainan Large-leaf tea. With the boost from its 'World Heritage' status, Hainan has every chance to reach the pinnacle of its tea products. Experts believe that for a good cup of tea, the processing technique is as important as the tea leaves themselves. Let us first review the development of tea processing in Hainan. Many Li tea farmers in Shuiman Town, Wuzhishan City still insist on handcrafting tea. (Photo by Li Tianping) From historical records, we can see that tea activities began in Hainan as early as the Song Dynasty. Su Dongpo's poem line "After burning the tea spear, there is some left" could very well describe the tender shoots of wild tea trees in Hainan. However, Hainan's tea processing technology was relatively backward historically. Records show that tea… -
2024 Spring Tea Season Overview: The Lincang Production Area
In the generally arid weather of Yunnan, this year's Lincang tea region, particularly Mengku, was fortunate to be refreshed by spring rains around Qingming Festival. Although it was artificial precipitation, it caused hail in parts of Xiaohusai and Dahusai, fortunately, the damage was not severe. Compared to other production areas suffering from drought, the Lincang tea region is undoubtedly more fortunate. This is likely due to the effective organic management measures taken by Shuangjiang County in recent years for its ancient tea trees, which seems to have restored the overall climate environment to the forest ecology of earlier times. Currently, there are over 36,500 mu (approx. 2433 hectares) of cultivated ancient tea trees that are over a hundred years old in the county. A total of 59 patches covering 8,000 mu (approx. 533 hectares) have been designated as municipal-level ancient tea tree resource protection zones, and 13,600 Bingdao ancient tea trees have been protected under the "one tree, one code" system. The county is also applying for another 38 patches covering 28,900 mu (approx. 1927 hectares) to be designated as municipal-level ancient tea tree resource protection zones. The "Shuangjiang Autonomous County Ancient Tea Tree Protection and Management Regulations" has been… -
The Unique Ecological Environment of the Core Producing Area of Zhengshan XiaoZhong, the Ancestor of Black Tea
Unique Geographic Landscape The birthplace of Zhengshan XiaoZhong black tea, Tongmu Village in Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City (formerly Chongan County), is located within the Fujian Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve. The reserve lies between 27°33'N and 27°54'N latitude and 117°27'E and 117°51'E longitude, spanning 22 kilometers from southeast to northwest and 52 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 565 square kilometers. Compared with other regions at the same latitude, Wuyi Mountain is situated in a humid forest zone, which offers unique natural environmental conditions. Its location on the edge of the world's largest continent and two major oceans means that it experiences strong northeast and east winds in winter, and warm and humid southeast and southwest winds in summer, along with frequent typhoons during summer and autumn, providing abundant rainfall. This region has the lowest temperatures, highest rainfall, highest relative humidity, and most fog days in Fujian Province. Under the climatic conditions of hot and rainy summers and wet and cold winters, a unique geographic landscape has formed around Wuyi Mountain. A World-Renowned Treasure Trove of Biodiversity Tongmu Village is located in the northern part of the Wuyi Mountain Range, within the Wuyi Mountain National Nature… -
Come to Yiwu’s “Spring Mountain” and Enjoy the Spring Tea Experience
Spring is the season when nature awakens. It is also the most vibrant time for the ancient tea mountains of Yiwu. At this time, ascending the ancient tea mountains of Yiwu, you will be deeply captivated by the scenery before you. The mountains are layered with lush greenery, shrouded in mist and clouds, as if you have entered a fairyland. The tea plants, nourished by warm sunlight and gentle rain, produce tender new shoots that exude vitality. Spring Mountain Spring is the season for harvesting spring tea in the ancient town of Yiwu, where 100,000 mu (approximately 16,500 acres) of tea gardens are brimming with life, and the new growth on ancient tea trees flourishes rapidly. Spring Tea Picking Yiwu tea is an activity that requires both skill and ceremony. In the first rays of morning light, tea farmers begin their daily work, moving among the tea plants and carefully selecting the tenderest buds. When picking, the farmers usually take only the top one bud with one leaf or one bud with two leaves. These leaves are the freshest and best represent the unique flavor of Yiwu tea. The picked tea buds, after being carefully withered, pan-fried, rolled, and sun-dried,… -
National Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Project: Green Tea Production Skills (Yuhua Tea Production Skills)
The Green Tea Production Skills (Yuhua Tea Production Skills) are mainly practiced in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Yuhua tea plantations mostly adopt an intercropping model with trees and bushes, primarily located on loess hills between 20-50 meters above sea level. The soil is a yellowish-red type, slightly acidic, with an organic matter content of 1.89%. In the late Qing Dynasty, Lu Yong and others established the national tea research institution "Jiangnan Planting Tea Bureau" on Zijin Mountain in Nanjing. They reclaimed land around Linggu Temple for tea planting and production, naming the tea "Cloud Mist Tea." After the Xinhai Revolution, tea makers developed the technique of rolling the leaves into slender shapes, giving Cloud Mist Tea its initial pine needle-like appearance. Following liberation, they incorporated techniques of grabbing and straightening the leaves, which finalized the tea's tight, fine, round, and straight pine needle shape. It was renamed "Yuhua Tea" in 1959. Production Skills The Green Tea Production Skills (Yuhua Tea Production Skills) represent traditional Chinese green tea needle-shaped production techniques. The main process of Yuhua Tea production involves: fresh leaf picking → spreading out → pan-firing → rolling → preliminary drying → shaping → final drying → refinement → baking… -
Pu’er Tea Production: The Metamorphosis of a Single Leaf
Tea is born in the embrace of nature, gathered from the essence of heaven and earth, absorbing the vitality of the sun and moon. From green leaves to the final transformation into the "green" fragrance on one's palate, tea and its green origins are inseparable. To thoroughly explore the essence of Pu'er tea production processes such as killing the green and sun-drying, the transformation from fresh leaves to finished product is far more meticulous and sophisticated than one might imagine. Today, let's delve into the production process of Pu'er tea. Wilted Fresh Leaves In the morning mist of tea regions, just as the fog begins to dissipate, tea farmers are already busy in the fields. Red sunlight filters through the misty clouds, draping everything in a golden veil. The dewdrops on the green tea leaves wet the gloves of the pickers. The freshly picked leaves are bright green and very tender. They need to be set aside to air dry patiently. As time passes, the water content within the leaves is gradually evaporated by the scorching sun, and the once taut tea stems become limp and lie on the ground. This process is known as airing, the first step of… -
How long is the pile-fermentation period for ripe Pu’er tea?
The pile-fermentation process is a critical step in the production of ripe Pu'er tea, and the pile-fermentation time typically lasts around 45 to 60 days. However, the exact duration may vary due to factors such as the tenderness of the tea leaves, the temperature and humidity of the fermentation environment, among others. The pile-fermentation of ripe tea is a relatively complex and crucial process, usually taking about 45 to 60 days, but the actual duration can be significantly influenced by various factors. The tenderness of the tea leaves is an important factor. Relatively tender leaves react faster during fermentation and may require slightly less time; whereas coarser, older leaves might need more time to complete the fermentation adequately. The temperature and humidity of the fermentation environment play a critical role. Suitable and stable temperatures promote microbial activity, while appropriate humidity ensures good progress of fermentation. If the temperature is too low, the fermentation process may slow down, extending the required time; if the humidity is too low, it may result in insufficient fermentation, and conversely, if it's too high, over-fermentation or other adverse conditions may occur. Ventilation conditions are also significant, as proper ventilation provides an appropriate oxygen environment for… -
How Can Tea Gardens Cope with the Heavy Rains of “Plum Girl”?
According to information from the Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau, "Plum Girl" is expected to persist for a while. On June 25-26, there will be heavy rains and possibly severe convective weather in parts of Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou, northern Shaoxing, and northern Quzhou. Recently, the central and northern regions of Zhejiang have experienced continuous rainfall with significant cumulative precipitation. Image Source: Central Meteorological Observatory For tea farmers, while tea plants thrive in moisture, they are not tolerant of waterlogging. Prolonged waterlogging can lead to root damage, increased incidence of pests and diseases, reduced tea production, and decreased quality and yield of tea leaves. Will the consecutive heavy rains affect the growth of tea plants? What protective measures should be taken? Chao News interviewed Lu Debiao, the chief tea expert at the Zhejiang Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and researcher, for insights. On June 21, Lu Debiao (right) inspected the condition of tea plants after consecutive heavy rains in Liandu District, Lishui City, together with local stakeholders. "The current weather conditions have had little overall impact on tea gardens and tea production," emphasized Lu Debiao. In dealing with the upcoming prolonged rainy period, the most critical protective measure is to promptly inspect… -
Mengla Tea – The Flavor of Tribute Tea: The Ancient Six Great Tea Mountains of Pu’er, Mantuan Tea Mountain
Mantuan (Manzhuang) In Dai language, it means "large village." Located in the south of Xiangming Township, Mengla County. To the east, it borders the Yiwu tea region. The main areas for ancient tea trees on Mantuan Tea Mountain include Mantuan and Manlin (Mannlin). Manlin is the village with the most tea gardens on Mantuan Tea Mountain, while Manzhuang is the largest village and has the highest population. Manlin sits atop Mantuan Tea Mountain at an elevation of 1700 meters, with beautiful scenery and often shrouded in mist. From the summit, one can see a sea of clouds stretching as far as the eye can see, like a fairyland. The ecological environment of Mantuan Tea Mountain is excellent. It has high altitude, low temperatures, abundant sunlight, and large temperature differences between day and night. Winters are not severely cold, and summers are not excessively hot. Ancient tea trees mostly grow in dense forests. The special natural environment has shaped the quality of Mantuan tea leaves. Dry tea leaves are dark and glossy, thick and long. Floral and honey aromas interweave, rich and lasting. The soup is full-bodied, thick, and smooth, with a strong wild character. The aroma lingers in the cup… -
Majiepo County’s Quest for Spring Tea: The Xijin Factory Wild Ancient Tree Tea Garden
Spring is the season when tea plants grow and tea farmers are at their busiest. In the Xijin Factory Wild Ancient Tree Tea Garden of Majiepo County, Yunnan Province, spring tea picking for 2024 has already begun. This tea garden is located in the Shuishaba mountain ravine of Zhongzhai Village, Xijin Factory Township, at an altitude ranging from 1,858 meters to 1,933 meters, providing an ideal environment for tea trees. In the tea garden, two particularly prominent large tea trees can be seen: Xijin Factory No. 1 and Xijin Factory No. 2. Xijin Factory No. 1 is a small tree-type tea plant, 11.5 meters tall, with a semi-spread posture and dense branching. It stands at an altitude of 1,858 meters in the middle of the mountain ravine. Xijin Factory No. 2 is another small tree-type tea plant, 10 meters tall, also with a semi-spread posture and dense branching. It is located in the lower part of the mountain ravine at an altitude of 1,933 meters. These two large tea trees are the oldest and most representative in the garden, possessing a long history and rich tea resources. The tea farmers carefully tend to these wild ancient tree tea plants during… -
Kaiping Agricultural Skills Lecture —— Tea Garden Planning and Planting Management
In order to enhance the management level of tea garden production, ensuring stable and high yields as well as improved quality and efficiency, on August 7th, the Jiangmen Agricultural Technology Extension Service Platform, in conjunction with the Kaiping Agricultural Technology Extension Service Station, invited Senior Agronomist Huang Hualin to conduct a live training session on the theme of “Tea Garden Planning and Planting Management” at Dahasha Valley in Dasha Town, Kaiping City. At the event, Expert Huang Hualin combined theory with practice to provide an accessible explanation of tea garden management and production processing techniques. He emphasized and guided the intercropping model of tea and beans, aiming to improve the nutrient utilization efficiency of tea plants and achieve the goal of reducing fertilizer use while increasing efficiency. Subsequently, Expert Huang Hualin discussed aspects of planting management such as sowing techniques, weeding and fertilization, pruning, and pest control. He also reminded farmers that after the growth and harvesting periods of spring and summer, tea plants lose their stored nutrients and soil nutrients, necessitating strengthened management of tea gardens in autumn and winter to ensure the healthy growth of tea plants and improve the quality and yield of tea leaves. Finally, Expert… -
Mengku’s Eighteen Villages and the Five Rings of Bingdao: People and Tea Thriving Due to Top-Ranked Villages
Today, Bingdao tea has become a calling card for the Mengku tea region and even the entire Lincang tea area. Under the influence of Bingdao's famous teas, villages like Dongguo, Xiaohusai, Dijie, Molie, and Zhengqitang, among others, are increasingly recognized. The value of tea, ecology, and geography in the Mengku tea region continues to be discovered and showcased. This feature article will delve into the people and teas that have prospered due to Bingdao. Mengku's Eighteen Villages To understand the Mengku tea region, start with "two mountains flanking a river." The two mountains are Ma'anshan and Bangma Mountain, both running north to south. Between them lies the river known locally as the Mengku River or the Nanmeng River. On this river stands the Nanding Reservoir, now also called "Bingdao Lake." The entire Mengku tea region is divided by the Nanmeng River, leading us to focus on the East Half Mountain and West Half Mountain of Mengku. Geographically, the people of Mengku traditionally use the Nanmeng River as a boundary, referring to the eastern Ma'anshan as the East Half Mountain and the western Bangma Mountain as the West Half Mountain. Many visitors initially struggle with orientation, leading to practical sayings like… -
Kneading: Unafraid of Shattering, Leaving Behind a Fragrant Tea for Mankind
In the previous article (Wilt: The Prelude to Transformation from Fresh Leaves to Tea), Lu Li provided an in-depth introduction to wilting. Next comes kneading, which involves the actions of "kneading" and "twisting" to roll the wilted leaves into a specific shape, reducing their surface area. Purpose of Kneading in Pu'er Tea Most of the six major types of Chinese tea undergo a kneading process, but the shapes they are formed into vary. Examples include snail-shaped Biluochun, needle-shaped Nanjing Yuhua, flat-shaped West Lake Longjing, curled Anxi Tieguanyin, and pointed Taiping Houkui, among others. Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea (the precursor to Pu'er tea) is categorized as a strip tea, characterized by its pursuit of being "tight, round, and straight," while avoiding being "loose, flat, and broken." When kneading by hand, it's important to maintain consistent movement direction for the leaves to avoid counter-twisting. For many types of tea, the primary purpose of kneading is to shape the leaves, enhancing their economic value. Therefore, the kneading time is short and the pressure light. However, this is not the case with Pu'er tea, because kneading serves another critical function: breaking down leaf cells. During kneading, significant pressure is applied to the… -
Tea Fragrance of Xishuangbanna: Yi Wu’s Wan Gong
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… -
Tea Fragrance in Xishuangbanna: The Famous Pu’er Mountain, Pasha Tea Mountain
Pasha Tea Mountain is located in the Gelanghe Hani Ethnic Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is shrouded in mist and clouds all year round, with abundant rainfall, lush vegetation, rich undergrowth, fertile soil, a loose soil layer, and good water and mineral infiltration, which effectively enhances the completeness of nutrient supply. The special natural ecological environment allows the tea trees to grow vigorously, with an early sprouting period, a long picking season, long and plump leaves, visible downy hair, and excellent quality. The ancient tea trees in Pasha grow naturally without mixed growth of other trees, mainly distributed around the villages, making it the area in the Xishuangbanna tea region with the largest number of ancient tea trees that grow in dense clusters. These trees are over 800 years old, reaching about 4 meters in height, with densely branched trunks forming a natural canopy. Pasha tea is renowned for its clarity and sweetness; the higher the altitude, the more profound the tea's flavor and the better its quality. Its twisted tea leaves are uniform, with a verdant green color and visible downy hair. The tea liquor has a golden tinge to its green color, a… -
Albino Tea Quality Control —— Poor Quality Control
I. Poor Quality Manifestations The main manifestations of poor quality in albino tea include overgrowth of new shoots, distortion of buds and leaves, hindered recovery to green, and physiological disorders. 1. Overgrowth of New Shoots Overgrowth is the mildest manifestation of poor quality. When new shoots develop to have two or three leaves, they no longer produce new leaves but instead show a significant increase in stem length. The length of a one-bud-two-or-three-leaves shoot can reach over 10 cm, sometimes even exceeding 15 cm. These buds and leaves are well-albino, but due to their excessive length, they are unsuitable for flat or strip-shaped tea processing. However, there is still room for processing into coiled or curled teas. This phenomenon is more likely to occur in leaf-white type albino teas. Morphology of Overgrown Albino Shoots 2. Distortion of Buds and Leaves Distortion primarily occurs in tea buds that sprout later during lower temperatures. It is characterized by hooked bud shapes, hardened green stems, long and slender leaves resembling willow leaves, twisted leaf surfaces with asymmetric veins, irregular leaf margins, and snow-white coloration that is hard and thin. These buds and leaves cannot be processed into normal fresh leaf shapes, and the… -
The Impact of Soil Conditioners on Tea Garden Soil Environment and Tea Plant Growth
In recent years, the area of tea gardens has grown annually in response to the increasing demand in the tea market. However, the expansion of tea garden areas has brought about a series of issues including soil erosion, acidification, and reduced fertility, which are detrimental to tea yield and quality. This article, based on the current distribution of tea gardens in our country, summarizes the more common problems in the tea garden soil environment. It also analyzes the remediation effects and mechanisms of applying biochar, microbial fertilizers, and compound conditioners, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future soil improvement work in tea gardens and the promotion of soil conditioners. This article, based on the current distribution of tea gardens in our country, summarizes the more common problems in the tea garden soil environment. It also analyzes the remediation effects and mechanisms of applying biochar, microbial fertilizers, and compound conditioners, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future soil improvement work in tea gardens and the promotion of soil conditioners. I. The Area and Distribution Characteristics of Tea Gardens in Our Country As of 2022, the total area of tea gardens in our country has reached 3.3303 million hectares, ranking… -
Tea Garden Management — Scientific Application of Base Fertilizer for Tea Trees in Autumn 2023
With the drop in temperature, the growth of the above-ground parts of tea trees slows down gradually while that of the underground parts remains relatively active. Applying base fertilizer in autumn can improve the efficiency of fertilizer use by the tea trees and contribute to enhancing the quality and yield of spring tea the following year. Therefore, it is essential to apply base fertilizers scientifically to tea trees in autumn. I. Principles of Fertilization 1. Organic and chemical fertilizers should be used in combination, with organic fertilizers replacing part of the chemical fertilizers, and base fertilizers should be applied deeply; 2. Maintain a suitable nutrient ratio. Based on soil fertility conditions and tea yield, determine the nitrogen fertilizer amount and enhance the combined application of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium fertilizers, paying attention to the supplementation of sulfur, boron, and other nutrients; 3. For tea gardens with severely acidified soils (soil pH < 4), measures such as applying lime, soil conditioners, or increasing the application of mature livestock manure can be taken to gradually improve the soil; 4. Combine scientific fertilization with green cultivation techniques that increase yield and efficiency. II. Methods of Fertilization 1. Timing of base fertilizer application: It… -
Yiwu: The First Stop for Tribute Tea
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.… -
Agricultural Experts Offer Advice to Tea Growers to Ensure Spring Tea Sales Are Not Affected
Since February 20, a new round of cold wave has arrived, with freezing rain covering a wide area and the lowest temperature dropping below zero degrees Celsius. To ensure that this year's spring tea sales are not affected, agricultural experts from the Agricultural Science Institute of Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, have actively carried out publicity, mobilization, technical guidance, and service work to ensure effective cold protection in tea gardens and minimize the impact of damage to tea gardens as much as possible. Covering tea trees (photo provided by correspondent) It is understood that Xiangyang currently has a tea garden area of 467,000 mu, with a newly built tea garden area of 70,000 mu. According to the current growth trend of tea trees, most of the old tea gardens can withstand low temperatures. However, high-altitude tea areas, early budding varieties, and clonal tea tree varieties still need special attention, especially as the altitude increases, the frost damage to tea trees will become more evident. In response to this cooling, agricultural experts recommend that tea growers take timely measures such as covering tea trees with shade nets and ground cloths; spraying freeze-resistant agents on tea leaves, such as brassinosteroids and foliar fertilizers,…