Tea Garden Tours

[Narration] Located to the west of Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, Mount Meiling is also known as "Xishan." The area boasts fresh air, rolling hills, clear water, and a beautiful ecological environment. Its unique soil and climate have nurtured the Xishan Bailu tea, which was once a tribute tea and enjoyed nationwide fame over a thousand years ago. Recently, Hu Weihua, the fourth-generation inheritor of the Nanchang municipal intangible cultural heritage "Xishan Bailu" tea processing technique, introduced and demonstrated the process of stir-frying this tea to reporters.Screenshot from China News Video Stepping into Hu Weihua's intangible cultural heritage workshop, the fragrant aroma of tea wafts from the cast-iron woks used for stir-frying. By applying different techniques in the woks, the shape of the tea leaves continuously changes. Hu Weihua told reporters that the process of stir-frying green tea involves picking, withering, rolling, and drying, but they make adjustments based on local conditions, taking into account the characteristics of the tea produced there and traditional craft requirements. [Synchronous Interview] Fourth-generation inheritor of the Xishan Bailu tea processing technique, Hu Weihua We emphasize high-temperature fixation, quickly reaching temperatures above 300 degrees Celsius to fix the tea in a short time, locking in its…

Dongting Mountain Biluochun tea is one of the top ten famous teas in China, ranking alongside Longjing tea from West Lake. It is produced in Dongting Mountain (now Dongshan Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou) and Xidongting Mountain (now Jinjing Town, Wuzhong District, on the West Hill Island of Taihu Lake, Suzhou). The tea groves and orchards are integrated, with tea plants interplanted among peach, plum, apricot, and loquat trees, representing a typical intercropping model of tea and fruit. The manufacturing process for Dongting Mountain Biluochun requires high standards, with premium-quality tea leaves needing to be handcrafted. The raw materials consist of the tender buds from a single bud and leaf at the initial stage of development from the local tea variety. Producing one pound of Dongting Mountain Biluochun requires 65,000 such buds, which are carefully processed through five steps: spreading, fixation, rolling, shaping, and baking. The finished Dongting Mountain Biluochun has a slender, tightly rolled shape resembling a snail, with visible bee legs, densely covered in white down, and a silvery-green hue with a hint of emerald. The infusion is bright yellowish-green, with a fresh aroma and prominent fruity fragrance. The taste is fresh and strong, with a noticeable fruity flavor.…

In the depths of Brown Mountain, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, lies a village brimming with historical charm and natural beauty—Ban Zhang Village. “Red wine is judged by its chateau, Pu'er by its mountain origin.” Photograph of ancient tea tree branches in Ban Zhang by Zhang Hongping Ban Zhang Village, a large family composed of five natural villages—Old Ban Zhang, New Ban Zhang, Laoman'e, Dakalong, and Dakanuan—each preserving unique cultural traditions of the Bulang, Hani, and Lahu ethnic groups. Here, ancient tea trees coexist with the forest, known for their great age and superior quality, earning Ban Zhang the title of "China's No.1 Pu'er Tea Village." Tea farmer Tu Mei has been involved with tea since childhood. Her life is closely tied to tea, and she holds deep feelings for it. She reflects, “The techniques for making tea have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing the tea to retain more of its essence and aroma, resulting in higher-quality tea production.” The unique geographical and climatic conditions here make the Pu'er tea a favorite among countless tea enthusiasts. Photograph of the ancient tea mountain trail in Brown Mountain by Zhang Hongping The unique natural scenery and rich cultural heritage of…

In the vast world of tea, dark tea stands out with its unique charm. Anhua dark tea, in particular, is a shining gem within the dark tea category, and at the heart of what makes this tea exceptional is the mysterious and unique Glacial Conglomerate. A specific land produces a distinctive tea. The unshakable status of Anhua dark tea in the tea world owes much to the environment shaped by Glacial Conglomerate. But what exactly is this remarkable geological formation? Glacial Conglomerate, or Glacial Pebble Mudstone, is one of the rarest types of rock on Earth. Its color ranges from gray-brown to dark brown, and it is dense, hard, and brittle. It contains sandstone and fossils of small organisms, making it seem like a mysterious ancient tome recording the history of the distant past. The formation of Glacial Conglomerate is steeped in legend. About 600-700 million years ago, Earth experienced a global “ice cap climate” known as the “snowball event,” followed by a “greenhouse climate” event. This extreme alternation between cold and heat resulted in the creation of this extremely rare Glacial Conglomerate. Anhua is home to a concentration of Glacial Conglomerate, accounting for over 85% of the world's total.…

The regional high-temperature drought that began in June 2022 caused varying degrees of damage to tea trees in some areas of our country. During the drought, we recommended not to carry out field operations such as picking, pruning, fertilizing, spraying pesticides, tilling, and weeding. However, with the recent drop in temperature and the arrival of autumn rains, the drought situation in the tea gardens has been significantly alleviated. With the onset of autumn, tea garden management needs to be stepped up, and the main task at this stage is to restore the vitality of the tea trees. Pruning Dead Branches It is now September, and the time for new shoots to grow on the tea trees is extremely limited; therefore, try to prune less and retain more in tea garden management. For those affected lightly, such as only partial leaf scorching, no treatment is needed, allowing the tea tree to self-repair. For severe cases where branches of the tea tree have died, prune off the withered, yellowed, and scorched branches and leaves to reduce water evaporation and the spread of necrotic tissues. Prune 1–2 cm below the dead parts to minimize energy consumption and transpiration in the tea tree. Light…

The plum rain is a concentrated period of rainfall that occurs annually from June to July in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including tea areas in southern China, as well as subsequent mountain floods often accompanied by typhoons in August and September. Experience has shown that improper disaster prevention or neglect during the plum rain and mountain flood season can pose significant threats and losses to tea production, particularly in mountainous tea areas in southern China. To minimize the adverse effects of plum rain and subsequent mountain floods on tea production, especially in southern China, we have compiled measures for disaster prevention and mitigation in tea production for your reference. 1. Pay Attention to Plum Rain and Mountain Flood Forecast and Warning Information After June each year, tea areas, particularly those in mountainous regions of southern China, should promptly monitor the latest weather forecasts and mountain flood warnings. Be vigilant against the risk of mountain floods due to continuous rainfall or short-term heavy downpours and strong convection weather. Closely watch changes in weather conditions and rainfall levels. Once there is a forecast or warning of significant rainfall, it's better to be overly cautious and enter a state of…

In order to effectively ensure the safe overwintering of tea plants and the high-quality production of Guyu tea next year, on December 19, Professor Ding Zhaotang, a Taishan Scholar and Chief Expert of the Provincial Tea Industry Technology System, led his team to Feixian County to conduct a survey on winter tea garden management and cold resistance technology trials and demonstrations. Experts from the Tea Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Liaocheng University, Shandong Agricultural University, the Municipal Agricultural Technology Center, and the Feixian Fruit and Tea Service Center, as well as technical personnel from tea companies, totaling more than 20 people, participated. The winter management of tea gardens is an important part of annual tea production and is also key to increasing the yield of spring tea and improving the quality of fresh leaves. The Provincial Tea Industry Technology System continues to increase its research efforts on winter tea garden management. Chief Expert Ding Zhaotang's team surveyed the basic situation of winter management, ecological environment, and overwintering of tea plants at the tea gardens of Shandong Chunxi Tea Co., Ltd. They analyzed and discussed factors that might cause frost damage in the tea gardens…

"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.

Amidst undulating mountains and misty clouds, patches of forest and tea groves appear intermittently. It's hard to tell where the forest ends and the tea groves begin; only by following the songs of the tea pickers drifting from the woods can one find the tea groves. This is the Luoshuidong Villager Group in Yiwu Town, Mengla County.Arriving at the tea groves, which are seamlessly integrated into the mountain forests, one can see villagers bustling about their work on the tea mountain everywhere. With bamboo baskets slung around their waists, they deftly pluck tea leaves with both hands, gathering the tender shoots into the baskets at their sides. The tea industry is a traditional mainstay of the Luoshuidong Villager Group and a key industry for rural revitalization. For generations, the villagers have planted, consumed, and traded tea, carefully protecting both the tea groves and the forests. To revitalize the tea industry, the Yiwu Town Party Committee, government, and villager group officials brainstormed together, visiting each household to talk with the villagers, conducting thorough research, organizing field trips for villagers to learn from experiences in Guangdong, Beijing, and other places, inviting tea enterprise technicians to share their tea planting expertise, and introducing…

The people of Shennongjia have had a tradition of drinking tea since ancient times, with green tea being a household staple. Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica records: “Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons in a single day, only to be saved by tea.” The Chinese tea sage, Lu Yu, also stated: “Tea as a beverage originated with Shennong.”The discovery of tea by Shennong is recounted in multiple versions, with the most widely spread ones including: Shennong was poisoned and collapsed under a tea tree, whereupon water dripped from the leaves above into his mouth, reviving him. Another account says that while boiling water, leaves from a tea tree fell into Shennong’s pot; after drinking this concoction, he found that these bitter yet sweet leaves could invigorate one’s spirit, thus uncovering the medicinal properties of tea. Cloudy Mist tea plantation at Qingtianpao with chrysanthemums Cloudy Mist tea belongs to the category of famous green teas. Cloudy Mist Chrysanthemum Tea is a type of tea made using Cloudy Mist tea. Its shape resembles a chrysanthemum flower, hence its name. It primarily grows in an area of Qingtianpao between 1,300 and 1,700 meters above sea level. Qingtianpao is located between…

Stepping into Zhenghe, one is greeted by towering mountains, peaks vying in beauty, and misty veils. It's clear at a glance that this is prime territory for producing fine tea. The forest coverage rate reaches 71.7%, with suitable temperature, light, and water sources, creating a lush and fertile core production area for Zhenghe teas. Gazing out, ancient tea trees stretch as far as the eye can see, in forests, on cliffs, and in ravines… The rich vegetation system and complete biological chain provide an excellent environment for tea trees, resulting in superior tea quality and the unique wild charm of the ancient tree white tea. The conditions for the growth of these ancient tea trees are exceptional, almost as if bestowed by nature. According to Lu Yu's Classic of Tea, regarding the origin of tea: Its habitat: the best grow on crumbling rocks, the middling on gravelly soil, and the worst on yellow earth. Wild-grown is the best, plantation-grown is second-rate… These ancient tea trees grow on crumbling rocks, cliff faces, and rock crevices… With ages all above 100 years, they are truly venerable old trees, a rarity among Fujian white teas. Located on steep mountain paths, harvesting is challenging,…

Jingmai Mountain has become intertwined with us. Time and again, we have made the journey up the forest-lined cobblestone path, delving deep into the mountain’s fabric. We have counted the towering green trees of Dapingzhang that reach towards the sky, contemplated beneath the Bee God Tree, stood in solemn silence before the golden pagoda bathed in morning light, and felt a profound sense of awe as we pondered its ancient history. Ai Wen, Ai Ken, Yan Kan... familiar names and vivid faces are imprinted on our hearts. Every person we met on our trips through the tea mountains presented us with a new facet of this place. We welcomed many sunrises amidst the misty clouds from the terraces of their modern homestays, which seamlessly blend living spaces. And we listened to the simple stories, little known to outsiders but shared openly with us, told with heartfelt sincerity. Over time, this tea mountain has moved from being a picturesque rural landscape to a place of refuge within our hearts. Bit by bit, these experiences have resonated like echoes, much like those heard in an echo chamber, responding to the glittering lights of the city. This is the bond that the editors…

Dangguo Pu'er tea mountain is located on the western half of the Mengku tea mountain, at an altitude of 1,750 meters. This village hidden deep in the western half of the mountain is composed of four natural villages: Waizhai, Yizhai, Baqishan, and Molie. The villagers of Dangguo mostly live off tea, with a combined tea land area of nearly 6,000 mu, making it the largest tea plantation area on the western half of the mountain. The old and new tea lands are roughly equal in size. In Yizhai, Dangguo, there is still a robust ancient cultivated tea garden preserved today, testifying to Dangguo being a tea mountain with a long history. Additionally, the Dangguo tea area has climatic characteristics of low temperatures, high humidity, and abundant mist. The dense forests and diverse vegetation provide an excellent ecological environment for the growth of Dangguo tea. They restrain and rely on each other, keeping the ecological environment relatively stable. This endows Dangguo tea with a vibrant vitality. A unique "natural management method" makes Dangguo tea even more imbued with the atmosphere of the mountains and forests. Without artificial fertilization or excessive development, the tea plants are allowed to grow naturally. Each tea…

Manmaidui is part of Manmai Village, Xiding Township, Menghai County, in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. It is a large Bulang ethnic village that has gained more recognition outside for its love of football. It is said that the children in the village are very passionate about football, but due to its remote location, they did not have the facilities to play. So, they dedicated their own tea fields to build a standardized football field, providing a place for the children to play. Tea and football are two bright "calling cards" of the village. Manmaidui Ancient Tea Forest The ancient tea gardens of Manmaidui adjoin the village, extending from the roadside up to the hilltop. In the 1980s during the "high-to-low" conversion, most of the ancient tea trees by the road were transformed into one-meter-high shrub teas, with only a few on the hilltop remaining unchanged. Besides the ancient tea gardens, Manmaidui also boasts impressive modern tea plantations. In 1989, the Menghai Tea Factory established a ten-thousand mu tea mountain in Bada, with its No. 3 base located in Manmaidui. Most of the land along the road from Manmaidui to the Xiding Township government is covered by…

Not only was February 22, 2022 a Tuesday, but it was also the 22nd day of the first month in the Year of the Tiger. On this day filled with love, everything around us was covered in white. Has your social media been flooded with snow pictures? (Leishan tea garden, photo by Wu Xianhai) According to the provincial meteorological bureau, from 08:00 on February 21 to 08:00 on February 22, 2022, light snow or sleet occurred in 77 counties (cities and districts) across the province, with snow accumulation observed in 72 county districts, the deepest being 12 cm in Wanshan. Ice build-up on power lines was recorded in 25 stations, with the largest diameter being 32 mm in Wanshan (including the conductor diameter of 26.8 mm). The lowest temperature in 76 counties (cities and districts) was 0°C or below, with Weining recording the lowest at -6.3°C. Road icing persisted in most areas except for the southern borders of the province. As the saying goes, "A timely snow promises a good harvest." But what impact do this year's frequent rainy and cold weather conditions have on tea gardens that are about to enter their main picking season? (Kaiyang tea garden, photo…

For the average consumer, few have a comprehensive understanding of the entire pile fermentation process for ripe tea, mainly because the stability of the microbial community in the fermentation workshop is so valuable that it is often treated as confidential by tea factories and strictly off-limits to visitors. Secondly, even if one could enter for a tour, it would be difficult to conduct a follow-up study of each step, as the entire pile fermentation cycle lasts several days and includes different stages such as watering, turning piles, and ditching, making it a complex system. Moreover, since the decisive role in pile fermentation is played by invisible microorganisms, it does not resemble modern manufacturing with standardized procedures and quantifiable metrics but is more like a technology guided by empiricism. From controlling the temperature in the workshop to timing the turning of the piles, many steps in pile fermentation lack quantifiable standards, and the success or failure of each fermentation relies heavily on the experience and adaptability of the fermentation master. Today, Lu Li will take fellow tea enthusiasts through the general process of pile fermentation. Selecting the Fermentation Site The site is crucial for pile fermentation. As water is applied during…

Main pests in autumn tea gardens and their control measures. The weather gradually cools down in September, with vigorous growth of tea plants and abundant food for pests, which is very conducive to the occurrence of pests such as mites and tea green leafhoppers. If not controlled in time, they can easily cause outbreaks that severely impact the yield and quality of next year's spring tea. The main pests occurring currently and their control measures are as follows: I. Tea Orange Spider Mite This pest is small in size, with adult and juvenile mites piercing and sucking tea plant sap. When mite numbers are low, the damage is not obvious and hard to detect. However, when mite numbers increase, the veins of affected leaves turn red, the leaves lose their green color and luster. Severe infestations result in a brown rust appearance on the underside of the leaves, withered and dried shoots and leaves, and a scorched appearance, and may even cause defoliation. Some tea gardens have experienced heavy infestations recently. Without effective control measures, mite populations will continue to rise. The following measures are recommended for control: 1. Strengthen garden management by removing weeds and fallen leaves. Timely picking…

"Before the spring rains after Qingming, we pick the fragrant smoke with our hands. The tender green barely fills the baskets, and the clear and harmonious days easily turn to dusk." From Qingming to Guyu, it's a season of rejuvenation for all things, and also the busiest time for picking spring tea. The tea trees, which have accumulated their essence throughout the winter, transform the breath of spring into wisps of fragrance, as if countless flowers are blooming across the mountains. The scenery on Nino Mountain, known as a "famous mountain" for tea in Changning, is becoming increasingly verdant. In the mist-like green rows of tea bushes, it's common to see tea farmers wearing straw hats and carrying bamboo baskets, their fingers moving swiftly as they carefully pick fresh spring tea shoots. "Most of the tea on Nino Mountain was planted around 1986, when Changning was named one of the first four major high-quality tea base counties in China. The varieties are all seedlings of the Mengku large-leaf tea, transplanted and grown as a population. Located at the boundary where cool mountain areas and subtropical climates meet, creating a unique climate suitable for tea cultivation, this has resulted in its…

Dark tea undergoes external microbial fermentation, which involves not only the enzymatic reactions of the leaves themselves but also the assistance of external microorganisms. Professor Liu Zhonghua notes that in English descriptions, the process for black tea (red tea in Chinese) is referred to as “oxidation,” while dark tea truly undergoes “fermentation.” The wet-piling fermentation is a unique process in the making of dark tea. The wet-piling process itself is the fermentation process, where compressed dark tea leaves are sprinkled with water under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. This promotes the action of enzymes within the tea leaves and the activity of microorganisms, facilitating the transformation of the tea. The wet-piling process itself is the fermentation process. Compressed dark tea leaves are sprinkled with water under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. This promotes the action of enzymes within the tea leaves and the activity of microorganisms, facilitating the transformation of the tea. When the core temperature reaches 70 degrees Celsius, the pile is turned to ensure even temperature distribution, a process repeated multiple times. When all conditions are optimal, the metabolism of the microorganisms, along with the extracellular enzymes they secrete, can break down many substances in the tea, such…

It is often said that within the entire Lincang tea region, Yongde lies to the west and Bangdong to the east, with Mengku situated right in between. For the "two mountains flanking a river" topography of Mengku, the Bingdao tea area is located along the Mengku River, precisely in the middle of the eastern and western mountain slopes. Perhaps it is due to its central location that this region enjoys a unique natural climate, giving rise to Bingdao – a star in the world of Pu'er tea. In this article, we will have a brief chat about the Bingdao Five Villages. Nuowu Old Village Traveling from Lincang to Bingdao via Nanmeng direction, after driving for about two and a half hours on a fully paved road, you reach the administrative territory of Bingdao village. The Bingdao Five Villages refer to five natural villages under the jurisdiction of Bingdao administrative village, divided into two halves by the Mengku River. Strictly speaking, Bingdao Old Village, Dijie, and Nanpo belong to the western mountain slope, while Bawai and Nuowu are located on the eastern mountain slope. However, the Pu'er tea produced in these five natural villages is generally referred to as Bingdao tea…

On September 17, good news came from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia: The 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution to inscribe China's "Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape of Pu'er Jingmai Mountain" on the World Heritage List! This is the world's first tea-themed cultural heritage site and China's 57th, Yunnan Province's 6th entry on the list. What is it about Pu'er Jingmai Mountain that captivates the world? What value does it hold that has earned it the favor and recognition of the World Heritage Committee? What experiences have been had since the application process began in 2010, over these 13 years? All these questions can be distilled into one: Why Jingmai Mountain? A Book of Mountains: What is the Ancient Tea Forest of Jingmai Mountain? The Ancient Tea Forest of Jingmai Mountain is located in Lancang County, Puer City, covering a total area of 19,095.74 hectares, with 7,167.89 hectares designated as the heritage zone. It encompasses two villages, Jingmai and Mangjing, in Humin Town, Lancang County. Five ethnic groups reside here: Dai, Bulang, Hani, Wa, and Han. Before the arrival of the Bulang and Dai peoples, Jingmai Mountain was covered by dense primeval forest, where…

There’s a folk saying: “When the hoe digs deep, there’s no lack of gold or silver.” Winter management of tea gardens is crucial for laying the groundwork for a bountiful harvest the following year, ensuring high-quality tea based on the “heaven, earth, human, and seed” foundation. The tea garden should be pruned into a cockscomb shape or uniformly flat, with the choice of heavy pruning or light trimming of side branches depending on the growth status of the garden. The appropriate height of shrub-like tea plants benefits both their growth and the ease of picking fresh leaves. After pruning, the old leaves can be buried through deep cultivation to ferment into organic fertilizer, which loosens the soil and promotes the growth of tea plants. Weeds along the edges or nearby can also be used to cover the garden, providing insulation, water retention, nutrient conservation, and support for microorganisms. Once these weeds decompose, they too become organic fertilizers for the tea garden. Many tea gardens in my hometown are terraced in ridges. For those with low embankments, adding a layer of turf and garden soil can help reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss, maintaining the vigorous vitality of the tea plants.…

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 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…