Shouning High Mountain Black Tea

Shouning High Mountain Tea

Shouning high mountain tea is a product with geographical indication.

　　Shouning high mountain tea is a specialty of Shouning County, Ningde, Fujian Province.

　　Shouning County has a long history of tea production and is one of China’s top ten key tea-producing counties and among Fujian’s top ten major tea-producing regions. The county ranks fourth in per capita tea plantation area and third in tea yield across the province. Currently, the total tea plantation area in the county reaches 130,000 mu, including nearly 30,000 mu of high-quality oolong tea, with green tea, oolong tea, and black tea all developing steadily. According to Ming Dynasty county magistrate Feng Menglong in his “Records on Shouning,” “the first terraces of Sanjia produce fine tea” and “tea comes from Qidu.” In the eighth year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty, tea was already sold as a major local specialty. During the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1874),

　　the black tea produced in the county was known as “Tanyang Gongfu.” Last year, the county established the Shouning High Mountain Oolong Tea Industry Co., Ltd., launching the “Shouning High Mountain Oolong Tea” brand. Shouning high mountain black tea also made steady progress, and its production base has begun to take shape. With improved tea varieties and refined production techniques, the quality of Shouning high mountain oolong tea and black tea has continuously risen, earning a growing reputation both domestically and internationally. It has become the “unforgettable good tea,” winning various awards in numerous national tea competitions and gaining high praise from tea master Mr. Zhang Tianfu, as well as widespread recognition from all sectors of society. Shouning high mountain oolong tea has been awarded multiple times as a Famous Product of Fujian Province and a Famous Trademark of Fujian Province. The product was designated as an authorized producer and seller of licensed goods for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and as the official gift tea for the 2009 Third Cross-Strait Tea Expo. In 2010, Shouning high mountain oolong tea and black tea won a total of 24 awards in national, provincial, and municipal competitions.

　　Region: Fujian

　　Applicant: Shouning County Tea Industry Association

　　Year of designation: 2014

　　Geographic Scope

　　Shouning is located in the northeast of Fujian Province, at the eastern foothills of the Donggong Mountain Range within the Jiufeng Mountain System, between 119°22′–119°73′ east longitude and 27°16′–27°65′ north latitude. It borders Taishun, Jingning, and Qingyuan counties of Zhejiang Province to the north, and also adjoins Fu’an, Zhenghe, and Zhouning counties (cities) of Fujian Province. The protected area includes 190 administrative villages (communities) at elevations above 500 meters across 14 towns in the current administrative region of Shouning County, such as Nanyang, Zhuguanlong, and Qingyuan. High-altitude tea plantations feature relatively low temperatures, high humidity, and frequent cloud cover. In 2012, the county’s high mountain tea plantation area covered 7,700 hectares, with a yield of 8,000 tons and an output value exceeding 500 million yuan.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Shouning high mountain tea is divided into two categories based on product quality and processing technique: black tea and green tea. (1) Black tea features tightly rolled leaves, dark and glossy color, rich and fragrant aroma with floral and fruity notes, bright red liquor, mellow and strong taste, with a distinct high-mountain character, and tender, red, and glossy leaf bottoms. (2) Green tea has tightly rolled leaves, a glossy green color, visible tips, with tender or chestnut-like fragrance, bright yellow-green liquor, strong and refreshing taste, and offers a fragrant, mellow, and crisp high-mountain flavor. 2. Internal quality indicators: Shouning high mountain tea boasts excellent quality due to decreasing polyphenols and increasing amino acids with altitude. Internal quality indicator ranges: Shouning high mountain tea (green tea): water extract ≥34%, tea polyphenols 18–36%, total amino acids 2–4%, caffeine 2–4%, moisture ≤7%, ash ≤6.5%. Shouning high mountain tea (black tea): water extract ≥30%, theaflavins 0.5–1.5%, thearubigins 5.5–27%, total amino acids 2–4%, caffeine 2–4%, moisture ≤7%, ash ≤6.5%. 3. Safety requirements: production environment and product quality comply with green food origin and product standards.