One, “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea”: A Long History:
Zhouning has a long history of tea cultivation, processing, and sales, dating back before the establishment of the county, starting in the Tang and Song dynasties and flourishing during the Ming and Qing periods. The prosperity of the tea industry integrated tea drinking into every aspect of people's lives, becoming an important tradition for Zhouning residents when entertaining guests, honoring ancestors, or during weddings and funerals, forming unique customs, tea-related events, and tea rituals that are distinct to Zhouning.
By the late 19th century, tea gardens and tea houses were widespread throughout the county, with annual refined tea production reaching over ten thousand chests. In particular, “Guan Si Tea” became well-known far and wide. With a history of over 400 years since its cultivation began in the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty, it has maintained its reputation. In 1915, “Guan Si Tea” won a silver award at the Panama Exposition and was listed as one of the four famous teas in Min Dong, alongside “Tan Yang Gong Fu,” “Bai Lin Gong Fu.”
Built upon the traditional craftsmanship of local historical teas, Zhouning's tea science and technology professionals have improved tea plant varieties, introduced modern processing equipment, and innovated techniques. This has preserved the unique characteristics of Zhouning's historical teas while significantly enhancing their appearance and quality. This process has led to the formation of today's renowned Fujian tea specialty, “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea.” After tasting Zhouning highland tea, the esteemed tea master Zhang Tianfu praised it highly, inscribing the phrase “Gem of the High Mountains, A Jewel Among Teas” for Zhouning tea.
Two, “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea”: Growing Environment:
Zhouning County is located in the northeast mountainous area of Fujian Province, at the southern end of the Donggong Mountain Range and on the eastern foothills of the Jiumifao Mountain Range. It has an average altitude of 800 meters and experiences a subtropical maritime monsoon climate. The region is characterized by mountain peaks, dense streams, and abundant cloud cover. The average annual temperature is 14.6°C, with ample rainfall (an average of 1,893 millimeters per year) and about 80-100 days of fog annually. The average relative humidity is around 83%, and the ecological vegetation is well-preserved, with a forest coverage rate of 72.5%. These conditions are very suitable for tea growth.
Most of Zhouning's tea gardens are situated between 500 and 900 meters above sea level, with over 40,000 acres of tea gardens located above 900 meters. The region experiences no extreme heat in summer and relatively low temperatures in winter, with significant temperature differences between day and night. These conditions slow down the growth of tea shoots, facilitating the accumulation of internal substances in the leaves. The pervasive cloud cover creates diffused light, which is conducive to the generation of amino acids and enhances the tenderness of tea shoots. “High mountains and mist produce fine tea,” and Zhouning tea possesses both these features. These unique natural and geographical environments contribute to the superior quality of Zhouning tea. Additionally, the high-altitude tea areas in Zhouning experience lower incidences of tea tree diseases and pests, and there is no industrial pollution in the watersheds, making them ideal for the production of green and organic teas.
Three, “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea”: Quality Characteristics:
“Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea” has four distinctive qualities: freshness, richness, purity, and smoothness:
First, freshness. Zhouning offers a variety of tea types, but regardless of the type, the first sensory impact you will experience is freshness. Green Tea is fresh and tender, evoking the scent of a freshly rained-on field; White Tea is fresh and invigorating, with a lively luster and pronounced aroma, delivering a refreshingly intense scent; Black Tea is fresh and sweet, with an elegant sweetness that carries subtle floral notes; flower-scented tea is fresh and vibrant, blending floral and tea aromas, with the scent of spring wafting through.
Second, richness. The richness of tea is a reflection of its abundant and diverse internal components, a common characteristic of high-altitude teas. Zhouning is known as the city in the clouds, and the rich quality of its teas is well-deserved. Its aroma is rich, persistent, and lingering; its infusion is full-bodied, rich, and possesses a sense of vitality.
Third, purity. Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea combines purity and richness perfectly. Initially, Zhouning tea may taste slightly bitter, but this bitterness quickly transforms into a sweet aftertaste, which starts in the throat and then rapidly spreads to the mouth and nose, lingering for a long time. Zhouning tea is also pure and clean, creating a sensation of salivation when this sweetness is not interfered with by impurities or off-flavors. This sensation of salivation is continuous and delightful. Naturally pure, smooth, sweet, and with a lasting salivation effect.
Fourth, smoothness. This is the highest realm of Zhouning tea. Zhouning tea leaves are green, lustrous, sweet, refreshing, and soft, and its beauty lies in its understated elegance. Not showy or exaggerated, its fragrance is like orchids, subtle yet not overpowering. It tastes mild but leaves a long-lasting aftertaste. This flavor is tasteless yet sublime. Zhouning tea also possesses a beauty of immersion, natural superiority, and simple rural charm. The 800-year-old legend of fish and people living harmoniously together permeates every hill and every tea garden in Zhouning. A cup of good tea from Zhouning embodies cultural continuity and a shared spiritual longing for harmony between humans and nature.
Four, “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea”: Current State of the Industry:
In recent years, Zhouning has firmly implemented the concept of “integrating three aspects of tea,” adhering to the work principles of “stabilizing area, adjusting structure, improving quality, creating brands, supporting leading enterprises, and increasing income.” Focusing on strengthening tea garden base construction, optimizing the tea industry structure, and building the “Zhouning Highland Cloud and Mist Tea” public brand, the county has carried out “five batches” of construction initiatives, accelerating the high-quality development of the tea industry. A basic industrial pattern has been formed, with green tea, black tea, and white tea as the main products and flower-scented tea and Oolong Tea as supplements.
