Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea

Sanqing Mountain Cloud-Mist Tea is a type of green tea and a renowned specialty from Yushan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. As the name suggests, it is made from leaves picked from tea trees grown at high altitudes on Sanqing Mountain, processed through traditional green tea steps such as fixation, rolling, and drying.

Sanqing Mountain, also known as Yushan, is situated at the junction of Yushan County and Dexing City in Jiangxi Province. It is a famous local tourist attraction and a sacred Taoist mountain. Nestled in the heart of the Huaiyu Mountain Range, the area features a mid-mountain terrain primarily shaped by granite erosion. The main body of the mountain stretches 12.2 kilometers from north to south and 6.3 kilometers from east to west, resembling the shape of a lotus leaf, with an elevation of about 1,816 meters sloping from southeast to northwest.

The main growing regions of Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea are the Zihu (elevation 150–1,567 meters) and Sanqing townships at the northern foot of the eastern side of Sanqing Mountain in Yushan County. These areas are named for their vast tea plantations covering tens of thousands of acres. The region enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate, characterized by mild temperatures, ample moisture, and distinct seasons. There are also tea refining factories in the area, making it convenient for visitors who wish to taste Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea.

Additionally, because the tea plantations are located at high altitudes and the tea trees are often shrouded in clouds and mist, the tea has earned the name “Cloud-Mist Tea.” As the saying goes, “High mountains produce famous teas, and clouds and mist yield fine teas.” We can find some historical evaluations of Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea in ancient texts. According to the Geographic Records of the Tongzhi Era of the Qing Dynasty’s Yushan County Annals: “This tea has an especially refreshing taste and is regarded as a top-grade product.”

In many high-altitude tea-growing regions, the tea is typically named by combining the mountain’s name with “Cloud-Mist Tea.” Examples include Anhui’s Gaofeng Cloud-Mist Tea, Zhejiang’s Huading Cloud-Mist Tea from Tiantai, Jiangxi’s Lushan Cloud-Mist Tea from Mount Lu, Jiangxi’s Dazhangshan Cloud-Mist Tea, Jiangxi’s Meifeng Cloud-Mist Tea, Jiangxi’s Yushan Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea, Sichuan’s Yucheng Cloud-Mist Tea, Jiangsu’s Huaguoshan Cloud-Mist Tea from Lianyungang, Hubei’s Yingshan Cloud-Mist Tea from Yingshan, Hubei’s Xiongdong Cloud-Mist Tea from Yidu, Hubei’s Jiuhuang Cloud-Mist Tea from Baokang, Hunan’s Nanyue Cloud-Mist Tea from Mount Heng, Guizhou’s Guiding Cloud-Mist Tea, Guangxi’s Xiangqi Cloud-Mist Tea from Zhaoping, and Shaanxi’s Baxian Cloud-Mist Tea from Pingli, among others.

Today, Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea is carefully cultivated and meticulously processed, gaining fame for its “green color, fragrant aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape.” High-grade Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea features tightly rolled, slender, and elegantly curled leaves. When steeped in hot water, it emits a floral fragrance, yielding a clear and bright liquor with a tender green hue and glossy appearance, along with a long-lasting, lingering aftertaste. When tasting this tea, start by savoring its aroma before enjoying its flavor—sip slowly and savor the lingering fragrance that lingers on the palate and stimulates saliva production.

Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea is highly resistant to multiple infusions, maintaining its rich aroma even after several brews. This is due to the natural conditions of the high mountains—cool and misty weather, along with limited direct sunlight—which contribute to the tea's characteristics of thick leaves, abundant fine hairs, a mellow and sweet taste, and excellent endurance for repeated brewing.

This concludes the introduction to Sanqing Cloud-Mist Tea. When you visit Shangrao in Jiangxi, be sure to stop by the tea-growing region and enjoy a cup of this local cloud-mist tea～