According to Lu Yu's “Tea Classic,” the source of tea is described in terms of sunny cliffs and shaded forests, and it has long been said that high mountains and famous lakes produce fine teas. The fresh leaves produced by a tea garden are the most crucial foundation for a good cup of tea. For the Zhoushan tea industry, our tea gardens are a source of pride. Just the poetic scenery of spring warmth and blossoms facing the sea allows one to feel the spirit of the ocean and the blessings of spring. In addition to this, Zhoushan's tea gardens that face the sea have unique natural endowments.
Characteristic One
Located at 30 degrees north latitude, some say this line of latitude is mysterious; however, for Zhoushan's tea gardens, there is not only a mysterious aura but also numerous characteristics. Firstly, it forms a climate with distinct seasons, possessing all the attributes of this region in southern China. Here, tea gardens sprout in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, and rest in winter, giving the tea plants an almost complete growth cycle. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, yet cold air and sea breezes still bring a chill in winter. This natural cycle nurtures the verdant green and health of Zhoushan's tea mountains. Secondly, Zhoushan's tea gardens are generally small in size and often far apart, surrounded by many trees, creating diverse habitats. The ecological stability of the tea gardens, combined with the sea breeze in winter, means they are rarely invaded by pests. Thirdly, the Soil quality of Zhoushan's tea gardens is excellent. They sit atop hills with deep soil layers, good structure, rich in minerals, and especially containing selenium, although not enough to be considered rich in selenium, it still becomes a characteristic of island teas.
Characteristic Two
Zhoushan's tea gardens face the sea, which is none other than the East China Sea, known as the boundless sea and also the site of the Guanyin Bodhimanda. The vastness of the East China Sea ensures that Zhoushan's spring temperatures rise smoothly without sudden fluctuations, weakening the severity of late spring frosts. Over the years, very few gardens in Zhoushan have suffered from frost damage, which greatly ensures the quality of the new shoots picked in spring. Furthermore, the islands are often shrouded in mist during spring, earning them a reputation for being cloud-covered and foggy. This reduces direct exposure to harsh sunlight, resulting in less astringency in the tea. The fresh leaves remain tender, crisp, and green, enhancing the freshness of Zhoushan's teas.
Characteristic Three
Zhoushan ranks among the top cities in China for air quality. When the climate warms up in spring and the tea gardens start budding, the prevailing winds in Zhoushan are southeasterlies. These winds primarily originate from the Pacific Ocean beyond the East China Sea. The freshness of these sea breezes comes from two sources: oxygen released by marine algae through photosynthesis and the pollution-free nature of the ocean itself, as well as its cleansing by steam and rain. When the southeasterly winds blow over Zhoushan in spring, they carry low dust content. Combined with the day-night blowing of sea and land breezes, the risk of dust settling on the fresh tea leaves is minimal. Alongside the spring rains of southern China, this contributes to the exceptional cleanliness of Zhoushan's island tea gardens, which is a significant aspect of the quality of their fresh leaves. Organic tea gardens like Taohua Dali, Putuo Specialty, and Wulei Chan Tea in our city largely rely on Zhoushan's unique natural environment.
Characteristic Four
Behind every Zhoushan tea garden stands a tea enterprise. Although these enterprises vary in size, they all manage their own tea gardens, pick their own fresh leaves, process their own tea, and sell it themselves. Therefore, when mentioning tea gardens, one can associate them with specific tea brands, such as Foding Mountain Tea Garden's Guanyin Lingya. Consumers who purchase tea can trace it back to its garden of origin, and those involved in tea production naturally take great care in managing their tea gardens.
Characteristic Five
Zhoushan's tea gardens are often located near temples, enhancing each other's beauty in the realm of tea and Zen. Adjacent to famous temples, these gardens produce renowned teas, which I consider to be a distinctive feature of Zhoushan's island teas, such as Foding Lingya from the Foding Mountain Tea Garden in Putuo. The blessing of temple chants imbues Zhoushan tea with the essence of tea and Zen. This essence is not only found in the taste of the tea but also reflected in the scenery of the tea gardens, combined with the unification of sea and sky, becoming a characteristic and cultural value of Zhoushan's island tea gardens.
Standing in a tea garden facing the sea, feeling the misty Zhoushan archipelago and the waves of the East China Sea merging into one color, along with the silent Zen within this landscape, I believe this is the fundamental tea garden of Zhoushan's island tea industry. With such tea gardens, how could the tea not be good?