Luoyuan Qijingtang Green Tea

Luoyuan Qijingtang Green Tea

　　Qijingtang Green Tea: Produced in seven western locations — Xizhu, Shibar, Chengxiang, Changwan, Yanyang, Hongyang, and Shouqiao. Local residents once pooled funds to jointly build Taishan Temple, which they called “Qijingtang,” and the tea produced there was thus named after it. Centered around Qijingtang, extending east to Xiaoyun Village and west to Jiahu Village, the teas produced in this area are collectively referred to as “Western Green.” The finished tea has tightly rolled, robust leaves with an oily green color. It boasts a high fragrance, mellow taste, smooth mouthfeel, and bright, glossy liquor and leaves. The dried tea features burst points, known as “frog skin” or “speckles.”

　　Qijingtang Green Tea, also known as Qijing Green Tea, is produced in Qijingtang, located in the western part of Luoyuan County, Fujian Province, China. Qijingtang lies in the western region of Luoyuan County. Legend has it that the original Qijingtang was built through joint fundraising by residents from seven “jing” (a term used at the time to denote natural village units) — Chengyang Jing, Changwan Jing, Shibar Jing, Xizhu Jing, Yanyang Jing, Hongyang Jing, and Shouqiao Jing — who constructed Taishan Temple and named the site “Qijingtang.” The tea produced in Qijingtang was called “authentic Qijingtang Tea,” and when combined mainly with teas from Qijingtang along with some from Hongta, Feizhu, and Huokou, it was referred to as “Qijing Tea.”

　　Qijingtang is surrounded by mountains, at an altitude of 400–500 meters. To its southeast, it is bordered by Bijia Mountain, which separates it from Luoyuan Bay. Influenced by sea breezes, the area enjoys a mild climate with misty mornings in spring and summer, abundant rainfall (1,500–2,000 mm annually), and average relative humidity above 80% year-round. The soil is mostly red clay, except for the Shibi Xia tea garden, which has sandy loam soil. With water seeping through the soil, it remains moist, resulting in even higher-quality Qijing Tea.

　　Qijingtang Green Tea, also called Qijing Tea or Qijing Green, is a pan-fired green tea made from the fresh leaves of Fuding Dabai tea, Fuyun No. 6, and local tea cultivars — typically one bud and one or two leaves (for younger, vigorous trees, one bud and two or three leaves may be used). As a historical famous tea of Luoyuan County, Qijingtang Green Tea has nearly a thousand years of cultivation and production history. Qijing Tea refers primarily to tea produced in Qijingtang in the western part of Luoyuan County, with some high-quality pan-fired green teas from towns such as Hongta, Feizhu, and Huokou blended in.

　　The finished Qijingtang Green Tea is quite distinctive, with tightly rolled, slender, slightly curved leaves, commonly referred to as “firecracker hearts,” and an oily green color tinged with gray, dubbed “sapphire blue.” The dry tea shows clear burst points, known as “frog skin” (or speckles). It offers a long-lasting, rich aroma with hints of natural floral notes, a bright and tender green liquor, and a refreshing taste that leaves a lingering fragrance. In recent years, with improved processing techniques and the use of superior varieties such as Fuan Dabai and Fuyun No. 6, Qijing Tea now exhibits more prominent downy fragrance and a uniquely refined quality.

　　Qijingtang Green Tea was once sold under the brand name “Fujian Luoyuan Yuanming Green” and was highly popular in major cities such as Beijing and Tianjin. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, annual production reached around 300 kilograms, with prices 15–20% higher than other green teas. Currently, there are over 20,000 acres of tea gardens, with an annual total output of more than 70 tons. Aside from partial domestic sales, the product is mainly exported via foreign trade and enjoys a strong reputation in Africa.