Fuzhou Jasmine Tea

Fuzhou Jasmine Tea

Fuzhou jasmine tea is a protected geographical indication product.

Fuzhou jasmine tea is a certified geographical indication trademark.

Fuzhou jasmine tea is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Fuzhou is the birthplace of jasmine tea, with a history of nearly a thousand years. Jasmine is one of the four sacred flowers in Buddhism and was introduced to Fuzhou, the "Buddhist Kingdom of the Southeast," during the Qin and Han dynasties along with Buddhism. Gradually, Fuzhou became known as the "City of Jasmine." Due to the widespread use of aromatic therapy during the Song Dynasty and the comprehensive understanding by traditional Chinese medicine of the health benefits of tea and jasmine, Fuzhou jasmine tea emerged in this context. Many historical records from the Song Dynasty document the processes of picking, making, and appreciating Fuzhou jasmine tea. During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, Fuzhou jasmine tea began large-scale commercial production as a royal tribute tea. In the *Chronicles of Famous Teas in China*, Fuzhou jasmine tea is recognized as the only historically famous jasmine tea in its category. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Fuzhou jasmine tea has consistently served as the country’s diplomatic gift tea. Before the reform and opening-up, all jasmine tea exported from China came from Fuzhou. Bing Xin once wrote: “China is the first country in the world to discover and utilize tea, the homeland of tea. My hometown Fujian is not only a land of tea but also the birthplace of jasmine tea. Before liberation, although Sichuan, Hubei, Guangdong, and Taiwan also produced jasmine tea, their varieties and scenting techniques were all transmitted from Fujian.”

　　Fresh Jasmine Blossoms

　　The dried jasmine flowers used in tea tasting serve only as decoration, freshness enhancers, and for aesthetic appeal. Some varieties include these embellishments, while others do not. Although some unscrupulous tea merchants mix used, discarded flowers into the tea to pass off inferior products as high-quality, the presence or absence of dried flower decorations should not be used as a criterion for judging the quality of floral tea. The true measure of tea quality should be based on the taste of the tea leaves themselves. Jasmine tea is the most widely sold variety of floral tea, and the fragrance of jasmine has long been beloved by floral tea drinkers. It is hailed as the “queen of all floral scents” among flowers suitable for scenting tea, such as roses, wild roses, and orchids. The Song Dynasty poet Jiang Kui praised jasmine in his poem *Jasmine*: “If I were to compile a list of flowers in the future, I would rank jasmine as the foremost fragrance in the world.” The main consumption areas for jasmine tea in China are the northeast and north, with the highest sales in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Shijiazhuang, and Chengdu. High-quality jasmine tea features tightly rolled, uniform strips, a dark brown and glossy color, a fresh and lasting fragrance after brewing, bright yellow-green liquor, tender and soft leaf bottoms, and a rich, mellow taste.

　　The Art of Floral Tea

　　Scenting is the process of allowing tea leaves to absorb floral fragrance. The scenting of floral tea is highly meticulous. There are methods involving three infusions and one extraction, five infusions and one extraction, or seven infusions and one extraction. This means that while using a batch of green tea as the base material, three to seven batches of fresh flowers may be required to fully infuse the tea with floral aroma. After the green tea absorbs the fragrance, the spent flower petals are sifted out. As a result, high-quality floral tea retains its fragrance even after multiple brews. Premium floral teas often contain little to no visible flowers, with at most a few used for decoration. In contrast, low-quality floral teas may either skip the scenting process or undergo fewer infusions, then mix in spent, already-scented flower waste purchased elsewhere to mislead consumers into thinking it’s high-quality tea. These teas may look flower-heavy but lose their fragrance after just one or two brews.

　　Tips for Selection

　　When selecting jasmine tea, start by examining its appearance. Special-grade jasmine tea typically uses high-quality, tender raw materials, often consisting of one bud with one or two leaves, or mostly tender buds with visible fuzz. Grade 1 and Grade 2 teas use relatively tender materials with fine and tightly rolled strips, and slight fuzz visibility. Grades 3 and 4 have slightly lower tenderness, with minimal or no fuzz. Grades 4 and 5 are lower-tier teas, made from coarser, less tender materials with loose, large strips and often containing stems. When possible, try brewing the tea to fully assess its quality. The cup-brewing method is commonly used, typically involving two infusions. For the first infusion, use about 3 grams of tea with approximately 150 milliliters of boiling water, steep for 3 minutes, then filter the liquor to evaluate its aroma, color, and taste. For the second infusion, use freshly boiled water, steep for 5 minutes, then filter and evaluate again. [Famous Varieties of Jasmine Tea] Jasmine tea varies in production techniques and quality depending on its origin, with each region offering unique characteristics. Among the most renowned producing areas are Fuzhou and Fuding in Fujian, Jinhua in Zhejiang, Suzhou in Jiangsu, She County and Huangshan in Anhui, Hengxian in Guangxi, and Chongqing. Fujian Jasmine Tea Primarily produced in Fuzhou and the northeastern regions of Fujian, this tea is made from high-quality roasted green tea scented with jasmine. Fujian jasmine tea boasts an elegant appearance with visible tender buds, a rich and long-lasting fragrance, a fresh and mellow taste, bright yellow-green liquor, and tender, uniformly green leaf bottoms. It can withstand multiple infusions. Among Fujian jasmine teas, the most premium variety is Jasmine Da Bai Hao, made from tea plant varieties with abundant fuzz, resulting in a tea covered with white down. The production process of Jasmine Da Bai Hao is exceptionally refined, yielding a product with abundant fuzz, robust buds, tender yellow color, rich and pure fragrance, mellow and refreshing taste, making it a top-grade jasmine tea.

　　The protected geographical indication area for Fuzhou jasmine tea includes ten districts and counties under the jurisdiction of Fuzhou City, Fujian Province: Cangshan District, Jin’an District, Mawei District, Fuqing City, Changle City, Minhou County, Lianjiang County, Minqing County, Luoyuan County, and Yongtai County.

　　Fuzhou Jasmine Tea

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographical area for Fuzhou jasmine tea covers ten districts and county-level cities: Cangshan District, Mawei District, Jin’an District, Fuqing City, Changle City, Minhou County, Minqing County, Luoyuan County, Lianjiang County, and Yongtai County. These areas are located in the central-eastern part of Fujian Province, downstream of the Min River, between 118°08' and 120°31' east longitude and 25°15' and 26°29' north latitude. The total protected area spans 15,000 hectares, with a production area of 2,000 hectares and an annual output of 10,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　Products must be stored in dedicated warehouses that are clean, moisture-proof, ventilated, dry, and odor-free. The surrounding area of the warehouse must also be free from odor pollution. Mixing with toxic, harmful, odorous, or easily contaminated items is strictly prohibited.