-
Wuxi, Chongqing: Ancient Eagle Tea Trees in Bloom
Leopard-skin-like tree trunks, arm-thick branches, and scattered blossoms among the tea leaves... Recently, on several ancient eagle tea trees in Wuxi, Chongqing, tea flowers have bloomed, clear and delicate.It is said that the eagle tea comes from the evergreen tree Alseodaphne semicarpifolia of the Lauraceae family, with very hard seed shells. According to legend, the seeds need to be swallowed by eagles, and after the shell is softened by stomach acid and excreted, they can germinate, hence the name "eagle tea." In Wuxi, there are more than 50,000 mu (about 3,333 hectares) of eagle tea planted, including ten eagle tea trees that are a thousand years old and 2,500 eagle tea trees over a hundred years old. Image of an ancient eagle tea tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tourists admiring the ancient tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tea flowers on the tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of an ancient eagle tea tree. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tourists admiring the tea flowers. Photo by Wang Qiang, courtesy of Xinhua News Agency. Image of tea…- 0
- 0
- 11
-
Mangshui Changning: The Spring Tea Flourishes with the Waters of the Lancang, the Ancient Trees of the Origin are All Good
Easter time, the last hint of chill in the spring breeze quietly disappears. Changning, located upstream in the high-quality tea region of the Lancang River basin, is painted with the most beautiful scenery by the verdant spring tea leaves. The old tea trees, known as the “origin tea” of Changning, attract the attention of tea lovers with their fresh greenery. The spring tea, rich in nutrients and thick in leaf flesh, has a high content of aromatic substances and vitamins, making it favored for its fresh and refreshing taste, intense aroma, and smooth mouthfeel. The "origin tea" of Changning, different from both wild-grown tea and modern artificially selected cultivated tea, is particularly favored by many. Mangshui Laochang, one of the villages along the Lancang River, is not very well-known either in Changning or on the "map" of Yunnan's tea regions, yet it hides many ancient tea trees within its depths. Regardless of whether others know about them, these ancient tea trees always sprout new green leaves every spring, bestowing the essence of nature upon humanity. On the large tea tree known as the "Laochang Tea King" in Zhujia Village, over a dozen tea pickers are climbing the tree, picking tea… -
Lao Xu on Tea: Is Loose Pu’er Tea Less Suitable for Aging Compared to Compressed Tea? Why? Look at the Production Process!
Everyone should be aware that there are two different forms of tea circulating in the Pu'er market. One is loose tea, which we also call loose leaf tea; the other is finished tea products produced by tea factories, which are compressed into three main shapes: tuocha, cake (beeng), and brick. Why do we compress loose leaf tea into these shapes? What advantages does this compression offer? Today, let's discuss this topic. The vast majority of teas circulating in the entire Pu'er market are in the form of cakes, bricks, or tuo. This applies to both raw and ripe teas. To understand their advantages, we need to first get a general idea of their compression process. First, the loose leaf tea purchased from farmers undergoes a process to remove impurities. It goes through a color sorter to pick out yellow leaves, stems, and larger impurities. The wind selection process is now rarely used as it results in significant loss and mediocre results. Then, an electrostatic machine removes hair-like matter and ash from the tea, ensuring it meets national standards for purity. Some manufacturers also perform grading, sorting the tea into several grades and blending them according to specific ratios. This step… -
Nuoliang Township: Firing the First Shot in the Integration of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sectors for Ancient Tea Trees
Nuoliang Township is renowned as the “Home of Pabei Ancient Tea and Airport Tourism Destination Nuoliang,” with over 2,000 mu of Pabei ancient tea trees within its jurisdiction. To further enhance its reputation as the “Home of Pabei Ancient Tea,” Nuoliang Township has been actively exploring ways to promote farmers' income through the development of ancient tea trees. It has mobilized and guided both local residents and businesses to follow a path that involves understanding resource availability, enhancing protection measures, and making reasonable use of resources, thus firing the first shot in the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors for ancient tea trees. Utilizing advanced science and technology to strengthen the primary sector. The township collaborates with relevant county-level departments to regularly conduct training on ancient tea garden production techniques. Using a combination of theory and practical sessions, they provide detailed explanations of documents such as the "Lincang City Ancient Tea Garden Production Technical Regulations (Trial)," the "Lincang City Ancient Tea Tree Protection Regulations," and "Ancient Tea Trees Tell Their Stories." This helps raise awareness among local residents about the importance and necessity of protecting ancient tea trees. Practical training is also provided on how to effectively manage and… -
Naxian Village, New Comfort Town: United Development for a Thriving Tea Industry
In the pleasant April weather, with a gentle breeze blowing. In the tea garden of the Pomegranate Seed Group in Naxian Village, New Comfort Town, Mengjiang County, old tea trees taller than a person are sprouting new green leaves. Tea farmers are seen climbing wooden scaffolds or pulling on tree branches to pick the fresh buds. Stepping into the home of Li Kang, a tea farmer in the Pomegranate Seed Group of Naxian Village, New Comfort Town, one is greeted by the aroma of tea. He is diligently inspecting every step of the tea processing and production. Before long, freshly stir-fried spring tea is ready. According to Li Kang, Naxian Village has tea trees over a hundred years old. However, due to a lack of business management concepts, the villagers operated independently without forming a united front, which prevented them from capitalizing on their valuable resource. In 2022, Li Kang registered Mengjiang New Comfort Youzhi Tea Processing Factory, leasing more than 50 mu (approx. 33,333 square meters) of land with over 1,600 tea trees aged 80 years or older across two groups, Baiye Village and Pomegranate Seed Group. He invited experts with over 30 years of experience in producing Pu'er… -
What Does “Sha Qing” Mean and the Purpose of Sha Qing in Tea?
Sha Qing is a process in tea production, which involves using high temperatures to denature and deactivate the oxidase enzymes in fresh tea leaves. This inhibits the enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols in the fresh leaves, allowing them to release moisture and become softer. It is also a critical step in shaping the quality of the tea. Methods of sha qing include drum sha qing, pan sha qing, trough sha qing, steam sha qing, hot air sha qing, and microwave sha qing. Different methods produce different effects, thus resulting in unique characteristics in the finished tea. Sha qing follows the principle of "high temperature first, then gradually lower." Sha qing is one of the initial processes in making green tea, yellow tea, dark tea, oolong tea, Pu'er tea, and some black teas. The primary purpose is to use high temperatures to denature the enzymes in the fresh leaves, inhibiting the enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols and slowing down the fermentation process. 1. The Purpose of Sha Qing The term "sha qing" refers to fresh leaves. In Pu'er tea production, sha qing uses a specific temperature to denature the activity of enzymes in the tea leaves, inhibiting the enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols and… -
Lianfu Tea Mountain Boasts the “Purple Dragon”; Both Large and Small Trees Yield Fine Tea
"This is the largest cultivated ancient tea tree in Lianfu. It has large buds and a good shape, with purple-red tips, which is why we locally call it the Purple Dragon variety. Drinking it yields a high level of sweetness, a strong aftertaste, and a strong salivation effect." Looking at the ancient tea tree filled with tender shoots in the courtyard of Xiong Julan, a villager from Xiaocun Village in Zijia Slope, Wang Huipeng, the Party Secretary of the Lianfu Village Committee in Mangshui Town, said. Mangshui Town's Lianfu Village borders Lianjiang Village to the north and Mangshui Community to the south, but compared to places like Chaishan River, Yangquan Slope, Huangjiazhai, and Dazhulin in Mangshui, it lacks a significant "presence," with many people unaware that there is tea here. Only in recent years have some people discovered by chance that this place also has a lot of very good tea. "The tea industry has always been our village's pillar industry," Wang Huipeng explained. Lianfu Village has abundant ancient tea resources and high-quality tea. The village has over 7,300 ancient tea trees, with an annual output value of more than 5 million yuan; the tea industry has a solid foundation,… -
Severe Infestation of Tea Looper: How to Cope, Find Out Here
Severe Infestation of Tea Looper How to Cope, Find Out Here It is currently late summer and early autumn, with cool weather in the morning and evening. This year has seen more rain than usual, resulting in vigorous growth of tea plants with lush green leaves, providing rich food for tea plant pests. According to investigations into the infestation of tea loopers in Longwu tea gardens, various age groups of larvae coexist, with severe overlapping generations. In some severely affected areas of tea gardens, the older leaves have been completely consumed, affecting the growth of tea plants, which requires close attention from tea garden managers. Due to differences in cultivation and management practices among individual households, the timing of infestations and the degree of damage vary across different tea gardens, making pest control challenging. It is essential to strengthen pest monitoring through field observations and the use of trapping devices, promptly understanding the dynamics of pest outbreaks and implementing appropriate measures: 1. Turn on insect-killing lamps, taking advantage of the fact that adult tea loopers are most active between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Set the operating times of the lamps accordingly, ideally using a light-controlled mode where they automatically… -
Rizhao City: Technical Guidance for Tea Gardens Dealing with Extreme Weather
According to the Rizhao City Meteorological Bureau's cold snap blue warning notice, affected by strong cold air, our city is expected to experience a cold snap from December 24th to 26th, with a temperature drop of 8-10°C. The lowest temperatures will occur on the morning of the 26th, with inland areas reaching around -10°C and coastal areas -8°C. On the 24th, daytime and nighttime northerly winds will strengthen to 5-6 on land, with gusts up to 8, gradually weakening on the 25th. Additionally, there will be sleet turning into light snow, with some areas experiencing moderate snow, from the daytime of the 24th through the night. Due to the significant temperature drop and low temperatures accompanied by light to moderate snow, there may be noticeable frost and snow damage, which could adversely affect tea plants overwintering in our city. To mitigate the impact of extreme weather on tea plants, the City Agricultural Technology Service Center has formulated technical guidance for tea gardens dealing with extreme weather. I. General Strategy for Winter Protection in Tea Gardens During Extreme Weather In the event of strong winds, heavy snow, and drastic temperature drops, timely winter protection measures should be taken for tea gardens.… -
Wandering Through Jingdong’s Time-Honored Ancient Tea Mountains: The Wuliang Mountains
Geographical EnvironmentThe Wuliang Mountains have been renowned ancient tea mountains and important sources of high-quality Pu'er tea in the upper reaches of the Lancang River since ancient times. The Wuliang Mountains, known as Mengle Mountain in ancient times, have an average elevation of 1,800 meters and are named for their towering height that seems to reach the clouds and the vastness that cannot be measured. Located in the west of Jingdong Yi Autonomous County in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, the Wuliang mountain range extends from north to south, with its main ridge in Nanjian and Jingdong counties, while its offshoots are divided by the Mengtong River at the source of the Donggualin River in Zhenyuan. The eastern branch of the offshoots passes through Zhenyuan, Jinggu, Ning'er, Pu'er, Jiangcheng, and extends all the way to the ancient Six Great Tea Mountains in Xishuangbanna. The western branch is shorter and includes parts of Dazhaodong Town in Jingdong, Zhentai Township and Anban Town on the west bank of the Mengtong River in Zhenyuan, and Jinggu Township, Minle Town, and Bi'an Township in Jinggu. The peak, Mount Bijia, located within Jingdong County, reaches an altitude of 3,374 meters. The Wuliang Mountains are majestic and… -
Yunnan Fengqing: There’s an Ancient Tea Called “Jinxiu Tea King”
Yunnan is the birthplace of tea, and Lincang is one of its sources. The cultivated ancient tea tree promoted by Secretary Wang grows in the Cha Wang natural village of Jinxiu Village, Xiaowan Town, Fengqing County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. It is known as the "Jinxiu Tea King." After enduring 3,200 years of wind and rain, the "Jinxiu Tea King" still stands tall, absorbing dew and drinking frost, with lush branches and leaves, full of vitality. The tree is 10.6 meters high, with a canopy spanning 11.5 meters north to south and 11.3 meters east to west. Its root diameter is 1.84 meters, and its circumference is 5.84 meters. With an age exceeding 3,200 years, it is the oldest and thickest cultivated ancient tea tree discovered in the world so far. In 2015, the "Jinxiu Tea King" was honored in the Shanghai Guinness World Records Museum, earning the title of "China's Largest Ancient Tea Tree." The "Jinxiu Tea King" was discovered in the early 1980s and has since been examined by numerous domestic and international experts and scholars. This discovery has profound and irreplaceable significance for tracing the history of tea in China and worldwide, studying tea culture, and deepening… -
The Differences Between Small Heap Fermentation, Large Heap Fermentation, and the Pu’er Evolution Theory’s Ripe Tea Technology: Transcript of the 12th Pu’er Salon (Part Five)
First Article: The Coordinate Varieties and Three Aromatic Types of the Yiwu Tea Region (click to read); Second Article: Dongguan Warehouse, Kunming Warehouse, Hong Kong Warehouse, Flavor, White Frost, and the Issue of "Warehouse Making" (click to read); Third Article: The Warehousing Cycle for Yiwu Green Bud Tea (click to read); Fourth Article: Storing Pu'er Tea: Pursuing Famous Mountains or Quality (click to read)? Fifth Article: What Are the Differences Between Small Heap Fermentation, Large Heap Fermentation, and the Pu'er Evolution Theory's Ripe Tea Technology? The following is Part Five, focusing on small heap fermentation, large heap fermentation, and the Pu'er Evolution Theory's ripe tea technology. Li Yang: Next, let's talk about ripe tea. Because the last tea we tasted has taken us into another context, jumping into ripe tea. I'm not saying that this is necessarily historical fact, but we can view ripe tea as an attempt to mimic aged tea. If we have the opportunity, we can taste some very old teas and find them excellent, but when you try to make something like that, you realize it would take a lifetime. In such a situation, can we use technical means to directly present certain aspects of aged… -
Jingmai Mountain and Its Tea Region
Jingmai Mountain belongs to the Pu'er tea region. Pu'er tea is categorized into three major tea regions based on geographical location: Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Pu'er. Jingmai falls under the Pu'er tea region. Located in the southwesternmost part of Yunnan Province, China, Jingmai Mountain is situated within the Huanong Township of Lancang County, which is home to the Lahu Nationality. It borders Menghai County of Xishuangbanna to the east and Myanmar to the west, serving as a tripoint between Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar. Jingmai Mountain is renowned for its Pu'er tea and comprises 14 traditional villages, divided between Jingmai Village and Mangjing Village administrative areas. To Which Tea Region Does Jingmai Mountain Belong? Jingmai Mountain is located in the southwesternmost part of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Menghai County of Xishuangbanna to the east and Myanmar to the west. It is at the tripoint between Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar. The village is 20 kilometers away from the town, with an elevation of 1,500 meters and an annual rainfall of 1,800 millimeters, making it suitable for growing crops like rice. There are 5,437.5 mu (approx. 362.5 hectares) of cultivated land, averaging 2 mu per person, and 58,595.4 mu (approx. 3,906.36 hectares) of forested… -
Spring Tea Season: An Overview of the History and Culture of Menghai Pu’er Tea (Part II)
Menghai boasts a superior reserve of tea resources. The region encompasses expansive, fertile plains such as Mongzhai, Monghun, Menghai, and Monga, along with continuous mountain ranges. Each mountain is covered with trees, and every ravine has water, making it a verdant home. Tea mountains are scattered throughout, adding vibrant color to the landscape. Menghai County is rich in ancient tea tree resources, which include wild, cultivated types, and related species. Ancient tea trees can be found across all 11 towns in the county, mostly at altitudes between 1,300 and 2,060 meters, in areas with excellent natural ecological conditions. They are distributed in places like Laobanzhang and Laomane in the Bulang Mountain Township, He Kai in Monghun Town, Manxi in Daluo Town, Hesong, Manmai, and Zhanglang in Xiding Township, Pasha and Pazen in Gelande Township, and Nanuoshan, as well as Huazhuliangzi, Banglong, and Sanmai in Mengsong Township. These ancient tea gardens are concentrated and contiguous, with trees over 2 meters tall, strong growth vigor, gray-white trunks, and most have mistletoe and birdlime. Eco-friendly tea garden (photographed by Qiu Kaibei) The tea resources of Menghai not only include wild and cultivated ancient tea trees but also high-quality tea gardens cultivated after the… -
“Grass to Suppress Grass” Method: Intercropping White Clover in Tea Gardens
Tea gardens are characterized by a diverse range of weeds, complex weed communities, and strong stability. According to incomplete surveys and statistics, there are as many as 202 common weed species found in domestic tea gardens, belonging to 49 families and 163 genera. Weeds can impact the growth of tea plants, causing symptoms such as stunted growth, yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and delayed development. They may also carry diseases or pests that affect tea plants directly or act as intermediate hosts, indirectly impacting the growth and development of tea plants. "Grass to suppress grass" is an integral part of the green and efficient prevention and control technology system for Guizhou tea gardens, embodying the concept of "ecology at its root, agriculture at its core, and biological control first." Planting white clover in tea gardens can effectively suppress weeds and resist tea plant diseases and pests. Below are key technical points for reference. White clover in tea gardens and pollinating insects - bees Intercropping white clover in tea gardens Effective "grass to suppress grass" In recent years, research teams from Guizhou University, the Provincial Plant Protection and Inspection Station, the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Provincial Soil and Fertilizer… -
Seeking Tea in Changning: The Secret Paradise Mountain, a Haven for Wild Tea
Paradise Mountain stands as a divine presence in the hearts of the people of Changning. Mr. Ou Zhide, a writer from Yunnan Province, once wrote: “‘Paradise’ is the pursuit of an idyllic place, a paradise that people yearn for on earth. Astonishingly, there is a Paradise Mountain in Changning, and its name wasn’t given by contemporary people to attract tourism benefits; it has been passed down from our ancestors. Paradise has had the beauty of a fairyland since ancient times…” Paradise Mountain, with its picturesque landscapes of mountains, water, rocks, and forests, high-altitude wetlands nestled among peaks, natural scenery created by rock springs and tree vines, and flowers dancing amidst the forest, resembles a paradise on earth. It is a “natural gene bank for flora and fauna,” where many species are rare in China or even worldwide. Just like the Paradise Big-Head Tea, Red Flower Oil Tea, Water Fir, Red Cypress, Rhododendrons, Magnolias, and Long-Stamen Magnolias, the wild tea trees bestowed by nature have found their “haven” here, coexisting and thriving with other flora and fauna as integral parts of a complete ecosystem. Located to the north of Changning County, Paradise Mountain is part of the southern range of the…- 0
- 0
- 14
-
Scientific Fertilization for Green, High-Yield, and Efficient Tea Production
Good tea thrives with proper nutrition; fertilizers are the material foundation for increasing yield and improving quality in tea production. Fertilization plays a crucial role in the growth of tea plants and the yield and quality of tea leaves. While some nutrients are supplied by the soil itself, its nutrient content is limited and subject to environmental factors, leading to significant losses through leaching and volatilization, which greatly reduces nutrient availability. This is insufficient to meet the needs of tea plant growth, let alone high yields and quality standards. Additionally, as a leaf-harvesting crop, the annual harvest of large quantities of buds and leaves removes a certain amount of nutrients. Therefore, most nutrients must be replenished through fertilization. When soil nutrient imbalances occur or there is an extreme deficiency of one or more nutrients, it is necessary to use appropriate fertilizers to correct the nutritional deficiencies to ensure high-yield and high-quality tea production. Therefore, proper management of tea gardens during different seasons is crucial, and fertilization is a key technology in garden management that should receive significant attention. Especially during autumn, a critical period for tea garden management, the focus is on rapidly restoring tree vigor to lay the groundwork… -
Exploring Tea Garden Revitalization Through Pruning in Hubei
Tea picking requires a large amount of labor and is highly seasonal. With urbanization, there has been a significant loss of young and able rural labor, increasing the demand for mechanized tea picking. However, we have gradually discovered that mechanically harvested tea gardens often quickly develop chicken claw branches and experience a rapid decline in the quality of fresh tea leaves.In late April 2023, I conducted a pruning and revitalization experiment in my family's tea garden in Enshi, Hubei, primarily attempting to replicate the tea garden management practices of the West Lake Longjing region in Hangzhou. This involves heavy pruning of the tea plants in late April to early May, followed by fertilization, and another heavy pruning in mid-to-late July to promote the growth of more productive branches, with a light pruning in November. The goal is to maximize the benefits of spring tea production. Figure 1 shows the result of my pruning at the time, preserving the main branches. Figure 1 However, out of laziness, I wanted to see what the effect would be without fertilizing or pruning again in mid-to-late July, so I only performed the initial pruning. During my visit home for the holidays this year, I… -
A Unique Flavor from Mt. Linchang: The Xigui Tea, Aroma and Sweet Aftertaste in Every Sip
Bathed in spring breezes, the heart is filled with the fragrance of tea. In a perfect balance of temperature and vegetation, Linchang emerges as a prime tea-producing region along the golden latitude. Benefiting from the nourishment of nature's waters, sunlight, and moonlight, the teas of Linchang retain their primal vitality through the test of time. Today, our editor takes you on a journey to the Linchang District, to "taste" one of Linchang's finest teas—the Xigui tea. In the tea industry, there is a saying: "High mountains and mist produce fine teas." In Linchang, there is a place at a lower altitude that still produces excellent tea, and this place is Xigui in the Linchang District. The cultivation and processing of tea in Xigui have a long history. The late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era "Mianning County Annals" recorded: "There are about 6,000 to 7,000 households growing tea throughout the county, with Manglu and Xigu in Bangdong Township being particularly renowned. The quality and flavor of Manglu tea surpass those of other tea-producing areas." Today, Manglu is known as Manglu, and Xigu is known as Xigui. Xigui is a small village of 138 households, located in the administrative area of… -
Bangwei Ancient Tea Tree: A Transitional Type Between Primitive Wild and Cultivated Tea Trees
"The Discovery of the Bangwei Ancient Tea Tree and Its Implications for the Origin and Evolution of Tea Trees" is an article published by Qiu Hui of Yunnan Pu'er Tea Industry Company in the 1993 issue of Agricultural Archaeology. The article posits that: 'This large tea tree is a transitional type between primitive wild and cultivated tea trees, and it has been named the “Bangwei Ancient Tea Tree,” with an age of over a thousand years." This article provides a comprehensive discussion, which readers may find informative and educational. -
Interpretation of “Looking South of the River” (Part Three): Does the West Lake Longjing Tea Garden Need Human Management?
Let's start with a chart of the Longjing family relationships. The head of the family is Hang Jiahe, who has a daughter named Hang Pan with his former wife Fang Xiling. In the previous article, we mentioned the love at first sight between Hang Pan and Nationalist pilot Cao Jiayuan. Hang Pan is in charge of overseeing hundreds of acres of tea garden, including the famous Lion Peak Hu Gong Temple area. By "overseeing," it mainly means managing the garden rather than preventing others from stealing tea leaves. During the month or so when Longjing tea is picked and processed, there are many people bustling about on the mountain, making it difficult to steal tea. If it's not the picking and processing season, stealing tea would be pointless because the resulting tea would taste terrible and couldn't even be sold as vegetables. Hang Pan's oversight is essentially garden management. The People's Liberation Army took over ten days to capture Hangzhou, officially announcing its liberation on May 3, 1949. The first third of "Looking South of the River" describes the winter and spring before the liberation of Hangzhou. In her diary, Hang Pan wrote: "The fighting has started again, and everywhere… -
Hubei Tea: Baokang Songzhen (Pine Needle)
Origin Baokang Songzhen is a type of linear green tea, produced in the Baonan Dianya Town and the Babei Huangbao area in Baokang County, Xiangyang. Historical Background There are records dating back to the Tang Dynasty, and it had gained a reputation during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, Peiji's "Tea Narration" listed ten tribute teas, with Baokang being one of them. The "Xiangyang Local Customs Record" by Fan Zhiming of the Northern Song Dynasty states: "In the mountains of Baokang, tea used to be produced, known as Baokang Pine Needle tea, which was highly valued by the people of Tang. It has been mentioned in literature. Nowadays, people do not plant it much. There are only about a thousand plants in Dianya and Xiema, and the soil there is quite similar to that of this garden. The tea produced here amounts to no more than one or two dozen liang per year, and the locals call it Winter Jasmine tea, which is extremely sweet and fragrant, incomparable to grassy teas from other places. The characteristics of the tea gardens are also similar, but the locals do not cultivate it much." In the Ming Dynasty,… -
Eight Key Tea Areas in Zhenyuan, Yunnan: Each Mountain Unique, Every Season Beautiful
The eight tea mountains of Mazheng, Lohaítáng, Kanpenjing, Dashenshan, Laowushan, Wuyi, Qianjiazhai, and Chashanqing within Zhenyuan County, Pu'er City, are rich in tea resources and have pleasant scenery. Each mountain is distinct, every season brings its own beauty, and the trees exude a fragrant aroma; each tea mountain has its unique charm. The Qianjiazhai tea area belongs to the Ailao Mountain range, with Pinghe, Santai, Guoji, and Jiujia Villages in Jiujia Town at its core, covering surrounding Denggao and other villages. The tea here is characterized by "intense floral fragrance and robust flavor." Within this area, there is a 2,700-year-old "world's oldest wild tea tree king." In the Qianjiazhai tea area, visitors can enjoy wild vegetable feasts in spring, escape the summer heat, forage for wild mushrooms, and observe cloud seas and sunrises and sunsets in winter. The Mazheng tea area has Mazheng, Maidi, Aolong, and Xuetang Villages in Zhe Dong Town as its core, covering surrounding Guangshan Village in Heping Town and 14 other villages. Mazheng tea is a traditional historical tea of Zhenyuan County and one of the eight famous teas of Yunnan Province. Its characteristics include "clear floral fragrance, sweet and smooth taste." In the Mazheng tea… -
Technical Guidelines for Tea Production in Summer and Autumn 2024 Released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
To strengthen the management of tea gardens during summer and autumn and ensure production of teas during these seasons as well as the following spring, the Department of Plant Industry Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the Expert Advisory Group on Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Tea Industry Technology System, have proposed technical guidelines for tea production in summer and autumn 2024. Strengthen Fertilization Management of Tea Gardens 1. Top-Dressing Fertilization in Tea Gardens (a) Root Fertilization: Top-dressing fertilization for summer tea should be carried out after the spring tea harvest, and for autumn tea after the summer tea harvest. For tea gardens in production, about 15-20 kg of urea or 20-30 kg of specialized compound fertilizer for tea (with a formula of 18:8:12 N:P2O5:K2O) is generally applied per mu, with higher-yielding gardens receiving slightly more. Image Source: Anji White Tea Website Fertilizer should be applied in trenches dug vertically below the edge of the tree canopy, with a depth of about 10-15 cm. Broadcasting of fertilizer is prohibited. In young tea gardens (1-2 years old), fertilizer should be applied 5-10…