The reputation of “Golden Tea” and its unique qualities have long been a subject of interest. Recently, the “Digital Intelligence Tea Exploration Team” from Hunan Business University traveled to Jinhuang Village in Xiangxi, Baoding County, to study the historical and cultural background of Golden Tea as well as its production techniques.
Group photo of the Digital Intelligence Tea Exploration Team.
On the morning of July 16th, the “Digital Intelligence Tea Exploration Team” arrived at Jinhuang Village. Through conversations with Shi Yingchao, the Party branch secretary of the village, the historical narrative behind Golden Tea gradually unfolded. During the Ming dynasty's Jiajing period, when Inspector-General Lu Jie passed through Baoding, he was fortunate enough to be offered tea made from leaves of a century-old tea Tree by a local Miao grandmother. The tea cured the officials of the miasma they had contracted. In gratitude, Lu Jie gifted the grandmother a bar of gold and presented the tea to the imperial court. Since then, the tea has been known for its reputation of being “worth an ounce of gold for an ounce of tea.”
In addition to preserving tea culture, the village also emphasizes innovative development. In recent years, the village has introduced complete sets of equipment, and sophisticated machinery has given wings to the traditional tea-making process. Withering, fixation, kneading, and drying – every step of the tea-making process is subject to both manual and mechanical inspection. Each leaf is meticulously crafted, resulting in a beautiful appearance and inviting color, demonstrating high-quality characteristics.
Team members conducting interviews with villagers.
To further explore the path of development for Golden Tea, team members visited households, conversed with villagers of different ages and backgrounds, listened to their views on each step of the production process, and recorded suggestions for promoting traditional craftsmanship. They hoped to paint a picture of Golden Tea in the hearts of the villagers.
“From the first light of dawn until nightfall, we witnessed every step of the process from picking to finished product, deeply feeling the hard work and wisdom behind the traditional craft,” said Peng, a member of the exploration team.