Yongtai Green Tea

Yongtai Green Tea

Yongtai Green Tea is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　“Hidden away from the world, yet stunning once revealed”—this is how Xi Jinping, then Party Secretary of Fuzhou, described Yongtai. Located in central Fujian, Yongtai County is Fuzhou’s first national-level ecological county, often referred to as the “back garden” of the city. The area features high-altitude terrain, misty mountains, and a forest coverage rate of 76.8%. It enjoys a mild and moist climate with abundant rainfall. The gentle slopes and crevices between the mountains have deep, fertile soil, making it highly suitable for tea production. Yongtai is rich in tea germplasm resources. Within the natural village of Qincihu in Qiuyan Village, Wutong Town, Yongtai County—specifically between longitude 118°40'38" and 118°41'29", and latitude 25°44'14" and 25°44'46"—tea tree stumps with diameters over 80 cm were found at two locations, and trees with 60 cm diameters at two others. The tea leaf types include large-leaf, medium-leaf, and small-leaf varieties; and bud colors range from green to purple among other types. Yongtai has a long history of tea production, with records of high-quality tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Notably famous are “Jiyan Tea,” with a history of over 800 years, and “Tengshan Tea,” which dates back 300 years. Over the years, Yongtai’s tea industry has experienced ups and downs but has gradually developed the well-regarded “Yongtai Green Tea.” To promote the local tea industry, the Yongtai County Tea Association was established in September 1999. It currently has 86 members, including 30 enterprises, with an annual reprocessed tea output of 0.2 million tons and a production value of 120 million yuan. Among them, 12 are large-scale enterprises. There is one certified organic tea base covering 350 mu, and two bases being built to organic tea standards, covering 1,330 mu. Lufeng Tea Co., Ltd. has obtained green food certification. Currently, tea is a distinctive and advantageous industry in Yongtai County and a major pillar of its rural economy. It plays an important role in adjusting the agricultural structure, developing the rural economy, and increasing farmers’ incomes.

　　Yongtai Green Tea has tightly rolled, uniform leaves with a greenish luster and visible fine hairs. It boasts a chestnut aroma with floral notes, a fresh, mellow, and sweet taste, bright greenish-yellow liquor, and uniformly vibrant green leaves.

　　Yongtai County has a long history of tea production. Especially from the 1970s to the late 1980s, its tea planting area and yield accounted for 25.1% and 31.5%, respectively, of the entire Fuzhou region. Since the 1990s, the county has made significant progress in tea plantation area, tea yield, promotion of improved tea varieties, and development of premium teas. By 2002, Yongtai was leading the city in black tea and oolong tea production, as well as in the development of pollution-free tea plantations. The tea industry has become a major pillar of the rural economy. In 2012, the county had 35,000 mu of tea plantations, with 28,500 mu in production. Total tea output reached 3,500 tons (including 3,350 tons of green tea, 100 tons of oolong tea, and 50 tons of black tea), with a total output value of 100 million yuan.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographical indication area for Yongtai Green Tea includes 9 towns and 12 townships: Zhangcheng Town, Chengfeng Town, Geling Town, Qingliang Town, Wutong Town, Songkou Town, Dayang Town, Tong’an Town, and Changqing Town; as well as Tangqian Township, Danyun Township, Baiyun Township, Hongxing Township, Panggu Township, Xiaba Township, Dongyang Township, Gaiyang Township, Fukou Township, Fuquan Township, Chixi Township, and Linglu Township. The geographical coordinates are between longitude 118°23′ and 119°12′, and latitude 25°39′ and 26°05′. It borders Fuqing and Minhou to the east, Dehua and Youxi to the west, Putian and Xianyou to the south, and Minqing to the north. The region spans 84 km from east to west and 46 km from north to south, covering a total area of 2,243.4 square kilometers. Currently, Yongtai County has 32,800 mu of tea plantations, producing 4,023 tons of green tea annually.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Features: Tea made from fresh leaves grown within Yongtai County, cultivated in the region’s unique geographical environment and processed using distinctive methods—including fixation, rolling, shaping, and drying—results in tightly rolled, uniform leaves with a greenish luster and visible fine hairs. It has a chestnut aroma with floral notes, a fresh, mellow, and sweet taste, bright greenish-yellow liquor, and uniformly vibrant green leaves. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Testing shows that Yongtai Green Tea contains 10–30% tea polyphenols and 2–4% caffeine. The total amino acid content, measured by hydrolysis, is 100–220 g/kg. 3. Safety Requirements: The quality of Yongtai Green Tea must comply with the relevant standards for pollution-free agricultural products.