"Tongcheng Little Flower" tea

"Tongcheng Little Flower" tea

"Tongcheng Little Flower" tea is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Daguan Township: The main production area of "Tongcheng Little Orchid" tea.

　　　Tongcheng has a long history of tea cultivation. Historical records state that during his official travels in the Ming Dynasty, Grand Secretary Lushan Gong (Sun Jin) obtained unique tea seeds and planted them in Jiaoyuan Garden on Longmian Mountain. As a result, Jiaoyuan tea became renowned alongside Guzhu and Mengding teas, earning the status of an "imperial tribute." At that time, it was called Jiaoyuan tea, and because the brewed leaves resemble newly bloomed flowers, while Tongcheng Little Flower tea is crafted...

　　and named "Tongcheng Little Flower." Tongcheng Little Flower is also known as Little Orchid Tea and belongs to the Anhui Orchid Tea series. It is generally harvested before Grain Rain, selecting one bud and two or three leaves that are plump, even, and covered with visible fuzz. The tea undergoes a refined process including withering, fixation, shaping, initial drying, cooling, final drying, and sorting. Each 500-gram finished tea contains 8,000–10,000 buds. The finished tea has an open strip shape, intact buds and leaves, resembling orchids, with emerald green color, clear jade-green liquor, a fresh and lasting aroma with orchid fragrance, and a mellow, refreshing, and sweet aftertaste. The product is categorized into Special Grade, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade. The Qing Dynasty’s Yao Xingquan wrote in *Random Memories of Longmian*: “Tongcheng is fine, try the new brew at Grain Rain; the rare Jiaoyuan variety rivals Liaodi and Jizhou, while stone kettles sell connected twigs from Huo Ying—brewed over lively flames amid clouds.” *Tongcheng Scenic Notes* also states that Tongcheng Little Flower “rivals Longjing in quality.” In the past, Tongcheng people emphasized the color, aroma, taste, and appearance of tea, expressing a preference for “tea from Longmian Mountain, water from Zilai Bridge.”

　　 Current Production Status

　　　　Tongcheng Little Flower, also known as—Little Flower Tea, or simply Longmian Tea. *Tongcheng Scenic Notes* states: “Tea is grown in all mountain gardens, but... the tea from Longquan Temple (Daguan Guyandong Cliff), grown in the misty gaps, is mellow, white-colored, fragrant, and not inferior to Longjing. The Jiaoyuan tea from the Sun family on Longmian Mountain is also excellent.” Tongcheng Little Flower is also known as Little Orchid Tea and belongs to the Anhui Orchid Tea series. Tongcheng Little Flower is a historical famous tea, belonging to the green tea category—organic green tea, sold directly by farmers online, offering exceptional value. Created in the Ming Dynasty and produced in Tongcheng City, its main production area is located in Longmian Mountain. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has enjoyed over 500 years of production history.

　　 Awards and Titles

　　　　In 1986, Tongcheng Little Flower was awarded the title of Famous Tea of Anhui Province. In 1991, it won the Silver Award at the “Seventh Five-Year Plan” Spark Science and Technology Achievements Expo. In 1998, it passed the review for Famous Tea of Anhui Province, and in the same year, it was named a Recommended Famous Product at the '98 International Famous Tea Expo. The following year, it received the title of Famous Product at the '99 China International Agriculture Expo. In 1996, under the guidance of tea experts from Anhui Agricultural University, Tongcheng City developed and produced Longmian Chuncai (Longmian Spring Green). This tea is based on 140 hectares of tea gardens located at Yangtou, Huangcaojian, and Huangling at the summit of Longmian Mountain. From Clear and Bright to Grain Rain, it selects sunny days to pick one bud and one leaf just unfolding—2.5–3 cm in length—from the Longmian group medium-leaf variety and clonal high-quality tea gardens. After withering, fixation, initial drying, shaping, final drying, and aroma enhancement processes—all using high-quality tea machinery—the finished tea features straight, slightly flat strips, uniform and robust, with vibrant emerald green color, light green and bright liquor, a refreshing and sweet taste, a lasting and fragrant aroma, and tender, even, and bright leaf bottoms. In May 1998, it was designated as a Provincial Famous Tea by Anhui tea experts. In the same year, it was named a Recommended Famous Product at the '98 International Famous Tea Expo.

　　 Improved Yield through Quality Varieties

　　　　After the reform and opening-up, the introduction of quality varieties, improved tea gardens, mechanized production, and increased yields led to 800 hectares of tea gardens in the city, producing 180,000 kilograms of Tongcheng Little Flower in 1998.

　　In 2004, there were 1,400 hectares, yielding 300,000 kilograms. In 1996, guided by tea experts from Anhui Agricultural University, Longmian Chuncai was developed. The finished tea is uniform, vividly green, refreshing and sweet, with a lasting fragrance. In 1986, it was awarded the title of Famous Tea of Anhui. In 1991, it won the Silver Award at the “Seventh Five-Year Plan” Spark Science and Technology Achievements Expo. In 1998, it passed the Anhui Famous Tea review and was named a Recommended Famous Product at the 1998 International Famous Tea Expo, and in 1999, it received the title of Famous Product at the 1999 China International Agriculture Expo. Tongcheng Little Flower is typically harvested before Grain Rain, selecting one bud and two or three leaves that are plump, even, and covered with visible fuzz. It undergoes a refined process including withering, fixation, shaping, initial drying, cooling, final drying, and sorting. Each 500-gram finished tea contains 8,000–10,000 buds. The product is divided into Special Grade, First, Second, and Third Grades. Little Flower Tea has nurtured the literary culture of Tongcheng.