In the town of Tanghu, Suichuan County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, after the beginning of spring, walking through the verdant Tea gardens, one is greeted by lush greenery everywhere, brimming with vitality.
Though nearly 60 kilometers from the county seat, this place lacks neither hustle and bustle nor a lively atmosphere.
Food touches the heart most profoundly. There are over thirty restaurants of various sizes in the market town. Among them, the “Tanghu Grand Hotel,” located opposite the farmers' market and in operation for many years, is highly regarded for its “delicious, affordable, and satisfying” offerings.
Photo of Dogumao tea garden taken by Li Shuzhe.
Currently, in preparation for New Year's Eve dinner, the proprietress, Chen Xiaoyan, is busily engaged: “The flourishing cultural tourism has brought us a large number of customers, and we must give back to our hometown, creating more value.” She innovatively incorporates Dogumao tea into dishes, developing a variety of unique tea-based culinary creations that have won several awards at the county's two consecutive culinary competitions featuring Tea culture dishes. The tea-infused spare ribs, which are rich but not greasy, the harmonious shrimp with tender tips, the paper-thin tea dumplings, the uniquely shaped tea-stuffed mushrooms, and the tea omelet that lingers on the palate… each dish is a perfect blend of color, aroma, and taste, attracting tourists to come and sample them.
Another specialty food draws many visitors who come specifically to experience its allure. In a Cake shop along the street, Yin Yanhong, born in the 1980s, is focused on her work. In the small production room, there are an oven, freshly whipped cream, and several packs of Dogumao tea. On the vertical menu displayed on the counter, several featured desserts with accompanying pictures look especially tempting: Dogumao Milk tea, Matcha cream puffs, matcha cookies…
As far back as 2005, after finishing junior high school, Yin Yanhong went to Shanghai to become a pastry apprentice. In 2013, she returned home to start her own business, managing a small shop. In 2020, she rented this new store, renewing her bond with pastries. Now, the monthly turnover can reach ten thousand yuan at its peak. Despite often having to wake up early in the morning and work until late at night, and even driving alone to nearby towns to deliver goods, she still feels happy and fulfilled: “Every day is very fulfilling, with more time to spend with my family, and life has improved. Customers who have visited all think the desserts are delicious, which is the greatest recognition.”
The everyday life imbued with the scents of firewood, rice, oil, and salt, and the rich and varied tea culture, are the hallmarks of Tanghu Town, designated as a “strong agricultural industry town” in the province.
In recent years, while fully leveraging its local brand advantages and regional characteristics, Suichuan County has actively promoted the “tea culture + tourism” development model, issuing tea-tourism incentive policies and encouraging the full utilization of the ecological advantages of tea gardens to launch various tea-related tourism projects and innovative products.
Tea haven households.
Tanghu Town has created multiple distinctive attractions such as the Divine Tea Valley, Marshal Bridge, and Fish Scale Dam, and transformed the new geological governance point in Hengzhencun into a notable internet-famous attraction. It also built a non-material cultural heritage courtyard to comprehensively showcase the craftsmanship of Dogumao tea production. Meanwhile, it upgraded the hot spring scenic area. The integration and fusion of the tea industry with culture, tourism, health, and wellness have nurtured new industries, forms, and models, giving the tea haven a refreshed appearance.
On the road to distinctive rural revitalization, the mission of “Dogumao tea” is far from complete. But in the fragrant mist of tea, the people of the tea haven understand their strengths, are clear about their direction, and are even more aware of the tremendous development potential and bright future held within these “little leaves.”