Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea

Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea

Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea is a specialty of Xianyou in Putian, Fujian.

　　Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea was originally grown in Zhengzhai, Shengquan Village, Xianyou County, and first cultivated during the Sui Dynasty. It became a tribute product during the Tang and Song Dynasties. The *Complete Agricultural Treatise of Fujian* lists Zhengzhai Tea as one of the seven famous teas of Fujian during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

　　In his poem *Tea Picking Song*, the Southern Song historian Zheng Qiao placed Wuyi Tea and Zhengzhai Tea on equal footing, regarding the drinking of “Zhengzhai Tea” as a premium tea experience. He wrote: “The finest Dragon Cake tea of old, / I’ve yet to sip, yet my spirit feels bold. / If only I had a hundred-acre plot, / With Wuyi planted in front and Zhengzhai at the rear.”

　　By the Qing Dynasty, Zhengzhai Tea had gained even greater renown. According to Guo Shixiang’s *Records of Unusual Products of Fujian*: “All prefectures in Fujian produce tea, but Wuyi is the best.” The book provides detailed descriptions of the various types of tea produced in different regions at the time. The Xinghua Prefecture tea region included Zhengzhai Tea, which was offered as a tribute during the Qing Dynasty and was of exceptional quality. For example, the *Memorial on Tribute Tea Sales by the Imperial Household Department* from June of the ninth year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign recorded over sixty types of tribute teas from various regions. Among them, Wuyi Tea and Zhengzhai Tea were among the varieties most favored by Emperor Qianlong.

　　Since the new century, driven by the leading provincial agricultural industrialization enterprise Fujian Jinxi Tea Industry Co., Ltd., Xianyou Zhengzhai Tea has gained popularity both domestically and internationally. Currently, the county has over 30,000 acres of tea plantations, more than 100 rough processing tea factories, a total tea output of over 9,000 tons, and an output value of over 200 million yuan.