Yongxi Huoqing

Yongxi Huoqing

Yongxi Huoqing is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Yongxi Huoqing tea is produced in Yongxi, Huangtian Township, Jing County, southern Anhui, with a production history of over 500 years. It was once an imperial tribute in various dynasties and is now a premium gift item. The production area boasts picturesque scenery with overlapping peaks, clear waters, lush mountains, birdsong, and floral fragrance. The area is often shrouded in mist and graced with murmuring springs. The fresh tea leaves are as jade-like as they are fragrant like flowers; the picking standards are strict, and the processing is exquisite; the finished Huoqing resembles pearl-like grains that make a sound when dropped into a cup; its color is like black jade, glossy with visible fine hairs; the liquor is apricot-yellow and bright, with a mellow and sweet taste; it is high in quality, beautifully shaped, long-lasting in brews, convenient to carry, and truly a fine tea. Wang Shizhen, a great poet of the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou” in the Qing Dynasty, also known as Elder Chaolin, after tasting Yongxi Huoqing, felt an instant fragrance fill his body and was inspired to write poetry: “Little did I know that on the cliffs of Jing County’s hills, the spring breeze nurtures these fragrant spirit sprouts; two slender leaves curled like sparrow tongues, the steaming and roasting craftsmanship must be profound; among all teas of Xuancheng, this one is peerless, its fragrance no less than Longshan’s spring; a cup brims with delicate buds, its praise rivals that of Master Yuchuan; together we inhale the white clouds by the quiet window, filling our bodies with fragrance; the evening mist lingers over the western woods, light rain and hazy smoke make travelers forget to return.” He spoke very highly of the quality of Yongxi Huoqing.

　　According to the Ningguo Prefecture Records: “In the Song Dynasty, there were 4,066,687 tea trees in Jing County.” This shows that Jing County has a long history of tea production. There is a local legend about Yongxi Huoqing tea: In ancient times, there was a scholar named Liu Jin in Yongxi, nicknamed Master Luohan. One spring, he discovered a “gold-and-silver tea” tree (a tea tree with half yellow and half white leaves) on Wan Tou Shan in Yongxi’s Wantou Mountain. At the time, Liu the scholar couldn’t find proper roasting tools, so he stir-fried and rolled the leaves in a cooking pot over a fierce fire, creating a type of tea that looked like pearls, shaped like snowballs, dark green in color with visible white fuzz, and made a sound when dropped onto a plate. No matter if the water in the cup was hot or cold, once the tea leaves were added, they would immediately sink to the bottom without any floating. Because it was stir-fried over a fierce fire during processing, Liu the scholar called it "fire green" (Huoqing), and because it sank quickly, people also called it "cold-water sink." Later, it was presented to the emperor, and the fame of Huoqing spread widely. Yongxi Huoqing originated in the Ming Dynasty and gained prominence in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, tea farmers in Yongxi imitated the methods of Huizhou stir-fried green tea and drew inspiration from the characteristics of Zhejiang Pingshui Pearl Tea to create Yongxi Huoqing, which features a unique shape and superior quality.

　　Place of Origin

　　Yongxi Huoqing tea is a type of pearl tea, produced in areas such as Fengkeng, Panke, Shijingkeng, and Wan Tou Shan near Yongxi Mountain, about 70 kilometers east of Jing County, Anhui Province. The Jing County Annals describe it as: “From Mopan Mountain (now Panke) heading south toward Yongxi Mountain, spanning over thirty li, abundant in fine tea and fir trees.” This region features high mountains, dense forests, deep valleys, gushing streams, misty surroundings, and abundant flora, offering uniquely superior ecological conditions. Measurements show that the area receives about 1,800 mm of annual rainfall, with an average relative humidity of 90%, and an average sunshine percentage of around 40%, dropping to just 26% in spring. The tea grown at Yunwu Claw in Yongxi’s Panke and Yingwo Rock in Shijingkeng is considered the highest quality, representing the finest Yongxi Huoqing. Some speculate that “Huoqing” evolved from “Xiaqing” (blanched green), developed by adopting the techniques of pearl tea production while drawing from Tunlu stir-fried green tea. Even today, in Tunlu-producing regions, “stir-frying dry” is still referred to as “xia dry.”

　　I. Characteristics of the Place of Origin: “Yongxi Huoqing” is one of China’s “Top Ten Famous Teas,” produced in Yongxi, Huangtian Township, Jing County, southern Anhui, with a production history of over 500 years. It was once an imperial tribute in various dynasties and is now a premium gift item. The production area boasts picturesque scenery with overlapping peaks, clear waters, lush mountains, birdsong, and floral fragrance. The area is often shrouded in mist and graced with murmuring springs.

　　II. Tea Characteristics: The fresh tea leaves are as jade-like as they are fragrant like flowers; the picking standards are strict, and the processing is exquisite. The finished Huoqing resembles pearl-like grains that make a sound when dropped into a cup; its color is like black jade, glossy with visible fine hairs; the liquor is apricot-yellow and bright, with a mellow and sweet taste; it is high in quality, beautifully shaped, long-lasting in brews, convenient to carry, and truly a fine tea.

　　III. Tea Production: Fresh leaves of the Yongxi Dayeliu variety, described as “two leaves and one bud, eight fen in length,” are processed through eighteen steps including fixation, shaping, and drying over several hours in a pot to produce the final Huoqing tea.

　　IV. Brewing Method: Place a small amount of tea leaves into a cup, pour in about one-quarter cup of boiling water and let it sit briefly, then discard the water. Refill the cup with hot water and it is ready to drink. Each serving of tea leaves can be brewed 5–6 times. This tea should be brewed with water at 75–85°C; never use boiling water as it will damage its nutrients, especially vitamin C.

　　V. Health Benefits: Drinking Yongxi Huoqing green tea, rich and flavorful, helps improve vision, refresh the mind, quench thirst, relieve summer heat, promote urination, detoxify, boost energy, and reduce greasiness. It holds special medicinal value for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

　　VI. Storage Methods:

　　1. Simple Bag Storage: Use a non-toxic, odorless, and gap-free plastic food bag. Wrap the dry tea in soft white paper, place it in the bag, expel the air, seal the bag, and store it in a dry, odorless, and airtight metal tin. Add a section of charcoal wrapped in straw paper or a desiccant inside the tin.

　　2. Porcelain Jar Storage: Use a dry, odorless, crack-free porcelain jar. Wrap the tea in straw paper and place it in the jar. Add a section of charcoal wrapped in straw paper or a packet of desiccant, cover the jar opening with straw paper, and replace the charcoal or desiccant every 3–4 months. When drinking, take out a small amount using a small container and reseal the jar.

　　3. Refrigerator Storage: Place the tea in a dry, odor-free, and well-sealed container and store it in the refrigerator’s chilling compartment.

　　4. Thermos Storage: Put the tea into a dry, odor-free, intact thermos bottle, place a small packet of desiccant at the mouth of the bottle, and tightly seal the cap.

　　Yongxi Huoqing

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yongxi Huoqing is produced in 12 administrative villages including Huangtian, Yongxi, and Zhexi within Langqiao Town, Jing County, Anhui Province. Langqiao Town is located in the southeast of Jing County, with geographical coordinates between 118°15′18″–118°38′18″ east longitude and 30°25′07″–30°37′52″ north latitude. It borders Taoling Village of Tingxi Township to the east, Yunle Township and Sanxi Town of Jingde County to the south, Tongshan Village of Maolin Town to the west, and Pingyuan Village of Huangshan Town to the north. The Yongxi Huoqing tea plantation covers an area of 300 hectares, with an annual output of 120 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　IV. Product Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Regulations (1) External Sensory Characteristics: Yongxi Huoqing has a unique style, with a waist-round shape, tightly rolled and substantial, dark green and glossy color with hidden fine hairs; it has a lasting, delicate aroma; the taste is mellow with a sweet aftertaste; the liquor is tender green, clear, and bright; the leaf base is tender green with slight yellowing, even and uniform in shape.