Gougu Nao Tea

Gougu Nao Tea

Gougu Nao Tea is a geographical indication protected product.

Gougu Nao Tea is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Gougu Nao Tea, along with kumquats, cured duck, and known as the "Three Treasures of Suichuan," is a world-renowned tea celebrated both at home and abroad. As early as 1915, it won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition in the United States. Since then, it has repeatedly received international and domestic awards. In 2004, Gougu Nao Tea was granted national protection as an origin-specific product, and this year it was also included in the United Nations procurement catalog. The county currently has 68,000 acres of tea plantations, producing 700,000 kilograms of tea annually. Suichuan's industry has formed five leading sectors: pharmaceuticals led by Sanyue Pharmaceutical and Xiangyun Pharmaceutical, forest chemical industry led by Sanxiao Daily Chemicals, Jinxing Timber, and Oasis Particleboard, food processing led by Suixing Cured Duck Company and Yuning Canned Food Factory, light textile industry led by Xiangyun Garments and Xinpeng Arts & Crafts, and hydropower led by Dongying Power Station.

　　Gougu Nao Tea is produced in Gougu Nao Mountain, located in Tanghu Township, Suichuan County, at an altitude of 900 meters, hence its name. It has a long production history, distinctive color, aroma, and taste, and has been classified as a premium product and tribute tea. It won the gold medal in 1915 and the special prize in 1934 at the Panama International Exposition in the United States, and the first-class award at the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Specialty Joint Exhibition in 1934. After the liberation, it was rated as a top provincial and national tea year after year.

　　The production of Suichuan Gougu Nao Tea began in the late Ming Dynasty by tea farmer Liang Chuanshi. This tea is notable for its fine and uniform leaves, a jade-green hue with hints of blue-green, covered with a layer of soft, fine white fuzz that appears glossy and emits a rich fragrance. Just five to seven tea leaves are needed to brew a cup. The tea liquor is clear with a slight golden tint, offering a refreshing, mellow, and sweet taste that lingers in the mouth. The exceptional quality of the tea is mainly due to the unique soil and climate of the production area, careful selection of materials, and meticulous processing techniques. It uses one bud and one leaf as raw material, undergoing seven traditional procedures: strict green leaf sorting, fixed-quantity fixation, directional initial rolling, secondary stir-frying, "∧" shaped secondary rolling, shaping and fuzz forming, and slow drying over low heat. After the liberation, the Liang family passed on their secret techniques and formulas to the state, allowing the traditional craftsmanship to thrive. Tea production expanded from just 4–5 kilograms before liberation to over 500 kilograms today, while maintaining the original high quality. The product is sold both domestically and internationally.