Changqing Tea

Changqing Tea

Changqing Tea is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　“Changqing is one of the highest-latitude tea-producing regions in China. Tea cultivation was resumed here starting from the 1950s,” said an official from the agricultural department of Changqing District. After long-term technical improvements and varietal enhancements, the current Changqing Tea has been developed. By the end of 2011, the tea plantation area in Changqing reached 2,000 mu, with a total tea output of 100 tons and an average output value of 16,200 yuan per mu.

　　“Currently, suitable areas for tea cultivation in Changqing District include some mountainous regions in Wande Town, Shuangquan Town, Mashan Town, and four streets under the Wufengshan Subdistrict Office, covering a total area of over 30,000 mu,” introduced an official from the agricultural department of Changqing District. Development goals for the tea industry have been set: in 2012, 2,000 mu of new tea gardens will be developed, including 1,200 mu in Wande Town. By the end of 2014, the total tea garden area in Changqing District is expected to reach 10,000 mu, with a total tea output of 500 tons. A national-standard tea garden of 10,000 mu, centered around Matao and Pozhuang villages, will also be established.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The existing tea plantation area of the Changqing Tea base covers 1,000 hectares, extending from Basha Village in Wande Town in the east to Dazhangzhuang Village in Shuangquan Township in the west, from Matao Village in Wande Town in the south to Shiwo Village in the Shiwu Subdistrict Office of Wufengshan in the north. It encompasses 32 administrative villages across five townships (subdistrict offices), with geographic coordinates between 116°43′ to 117°03′ east longitude and 36°23′ to 37°30′ north latitude. The total protected area spans 1,000 hectares, with an annual tea production of 900 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Origin Selection and Special Requirements: The environment for the pollution-free tea bases of Changqing Tea must comply with the requirements of the "Pollution-Free Food – Tea Growing Environment Conditions" (NY 5020-2001). 2. Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Changqing Tea mainly selects cold-resistant, pest- and disease-resistant varieties suitable for close planting and dwarf cultivation methods, such as Jiukeng, Huangshan, Fuding Dabai, Shucha Early, and Longjing series. 3. Production Process Management: 3.1 Soil Management: Soil management in tea gardens mainly includes shallow plowing and weeding, deep plowing for soil improvement, intercropping, mulching, and irrigation. Timely irrigation and proper drainage: Irrigate before bud break and after fertilization according to soil moisture conditions, and provide winter irrigation in early winter. Ensure timely drainage during the rainy season to prevent waterlogging. 3.2 Rational Pruning and Harvesting: Cultivate high-quality and stable-yield tree canopies through rational pruning. 3.3 Winter Management: Conduct winter irrigation around the “Start of Winter” solar term, ensuring the underground soil layer is soaked to a depth of 60 cm. Perform shallow hoeing to loosen the soil promptly after watering. Young tea gardens are protected through soil mounding for winter, while mature producing gardens adopt measures such as base soil mounding, windbreak installation, or covering the canopy with grass. 3.4 Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Employ manual, physical, and biological methods to control pests and diseases, reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and fully protect and utilize natural enemies. The use of highly toxic or high-residue pesticides is strictly prohibited. 4. Regulations on Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing: Tea picking and processing must comply with relevant national production and processing procedures and standards. 5. Production Record Requirements: Establish comprehensive, accurate, clear, and neat enterprise production archives, including farming records, agricultural input usage records, pest and disease control records, and harvest and sales records.