Wuyuan Green Tea

Wuyuan Green Tea

Wuyuan Green Tea is a geographical indication protected product.

Wuyuan Green Tea is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Wuyuan Green Tea is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Abbreviated as “Wu Lv,” Wuyuan County is located in the mountainous region of northeastern Jiangxi, embraced by the Huaiyu and Huangshan mountain ranges. With its high elevation, towering peaks, beautiful landscapes, fertile soil, mild climate, abundant rainfall, and year-round misty conditions, it is highly suitable for tea cultivation. Here, “green spreads across the hillsides, and every household produces fragrant tea,” making it one of China’s famous green tea producing regions.

　　Wuyuan Green Tea has a long history. The renowned Tang Dynasty tea expert Lu Yu mentioned in his Classic of Tea that “tea from Shezhou is grown in the valleys of Wuyuan.” In the History of the Song Dynasty—Food and Commodities, Xieyuan Tea from Wuyuan was listed as one of the six “supreme” famous teas in the country. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was offered as tribute to the imperial court. In the Ming Dynasty, Wuyuan County contributed about 2,500 kilograms of tea as annual tribute.

　　Starting from the 18th century, “Wuyuan Green Tea” entered the international market. During the Qianlong era, it was exported to Britain. In the Xianfeng era, four tea companies in Wuyuan—Yudechang, Yudehe, Hudedexin, and Jinlongtai—produced thousands of boxes of green tea for sale in Hong Kong, yielding substantial profits. The “Xinliuxiang” green tea made by Yude Sheng was also exported as far as Western Europe. During the Guangxu era, tea merchant Yu Jieran built the “Xiangxin Industrial Garden,” cultivating thousands of pots of chloranthus and jasmine for scenting flower-scented teas.

　　Wuyuan teas come in a wide variety of types and are of superior quality. Famous varieties include “Shanghai Zhou,” “Large Leaf Variety,” “Small Leaf Variety,” “Round Leaf Variety,” “Long Leaf Variety,” and more. The leaves are soft, tender, thick, and rich in effective components, making them ideal for producing high-quality green tea. Using the fine “Shanghai Zhou” tea variety as raw material, the meticulously crafted “Mingmei” tea boasts a lasting, high fragrance with orchid-like notes, a mellow and refreshing taste, clear emerald-green liquor, tender yellow-green buds and leaves, tightly twisted and slender strips with visible tips, and a glossy emerald color. Wuyuan Green Tea is made from one bud and two leaves picked after the Qingming Festival, undergoing processes such as fixation, shaping and rolling, segmented drying, stem screening, winnowing, and blending. The resulting flower-scented tea once won a gold medal at the Nanyang Industrial Exposition. The “Zhulan Longjing” finely produced by tea merchant Yu Yeqing won first prize at a British exhibition. Famous Wuyuan green tea varieties include Zhenmei, Gongxi, and Zhucha. Zhenmei Grade 1 received a Quality Product Certificate from the Ministry of Commerce in 1982.

　　The geographical indication protection area for Wuyuan Green Tea is based on the scope proposed in the “Request for Designating Wuyuan Green Tea as a Geographical Indication Protected Product” (Wu Fu Zi [2007] No. 134) issued by the People’s Government of Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, covering the entire current administrative region of Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The external features of “Wuyuan Green Tea” are tightly twisted strips with a greenish luster; internally, it offers a lasting, fragrant aroma, a fresh and mellow taste, bright and clear emerald-green liquor, and tender, even, and bright green leaves. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Moisture ≤7.0%, total ash ≤7.0%, powder ≤1.0%, water extract ≥36.0%. 3. Safety Requirements: The hygiene and safety indicators of “Wuyuan Green Tea” comply with the regulations of Non-polluted Food—Tea (NY5244—2004).

　　Geographic Scope

　　Wuyuan Green Tea is produced in Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. The production area lies between longitude 117°22′–118°11′ and latitude 29°01′–29°35′, at elevations ranging from 33 meters to 1,630 meters. It borders Kaihua County of Zhejiang Province to the east, connects with Dexing and Leping cities of the same province to the south, neighbors Fuliang County of the same province to the west, and adjoins Xiuning County of Anhui Province to the north. The production area includes 16 towns (townships)—Duanxin, Xitou, Jiangwan, Qiukou, Dazhangshan, Tuochuan, Zheyuan, Tsinghua, Sikou, Ziyang, Taibai, Zhongyun, Fuchun, Xucun, Zhenzhu Mountain, and Zhentou—comprising a total of 171 administrative villages, with a protected area of 10,333.3 hectares and an annual output of 7,000 tons.