Yishan Green Tea

Yishan Green Tea

Yishan Green Tea is a product certified with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Yishan Green Tea is produced in Linyi City, Shandong Province, commonly known as the Yishan Mountainous Area. The region features a warm temperate monsoon continental climate with distinct seasons, mild weather, abundant rainfall, and ample sunlight. The annual average precipitation is around 800 mm, the average temperature is 13°C, and the annual sunshine duration ranges from 2,400 to 2,600 hours. The frost-free period lasts over 200 days, and the area has numerous hills and reservoirs. The unique geographical location, excellent soil quality, and suitable climate conditions result in Yishan Green Tea that is known for its “thick buds and leaves, high and refreshing chestnut aroma, rich and mellow taste, and exceptional infusibility,” enjoying fame both domestically and internationally. Tests indicate that Yishan Green Tea has higher levels of amino acids, tea polyphenols, and water extract compared to southern teas, making it an ideal healthy drink.

　　Yishan Tea belongs to the Theaceae family and is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Linyi City has a long history of tea cultivation, recorded in historical texts such as the "Mengyin County Annals" and the "Revised Ju Annals." During his tenure as the Shandong Censor, Wang Yue, Minister of War during the Ming Dynasty, composed the poem "Ode to Mengshan Tea," highly praising the color, quality, and fragrance of Mengshan Tea with lines such as “Ice-silk-like leaves cut in spring, stone-marrow-scented blossoms of peerless grade” and “Were Lu Yu to judge fairly, this would be the finest tea on earth.” Yishan Tea is characterized by thick leaves, superior texture, mellow taste, strong aroma, and excellent infusibility. Tests show that its main components exceed those of southern teas. Due to its superior quality, Yishan Tea is highly popular overseas.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yishan Green Tea is produced in Linyi City, Shandong Province, commonly known as the Yishan Mountainous Area. Linyi is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province, located in the southeastern part of the province. Its geographical coordinates are longitude 117°24′–119°11′ east and latitude 34°22′–36°22′ north, often referred to as the “Gateway to Southeastern Shandong.” It borders Rizhao City to the east, connects with Tai’an, Jining, and Zaozhuang to the west, neighbors Lianyungang City of Jiangsu Province to the south, and lies adjacent to Weifang and Zibo to the north. It serves as a vital corridor between the Qilu region and the Jianghuai area. Linyi administers three districts (Lanshan, Hedong, and Luozhuang) and nine counties (Feixian, Pingyi, Cangshan, Tancheng, Linshu, Junan, Yishui, Yinan, and Mengyin). The maximum north–south distance is 228 km, the maximum east–west span is 161 km, and the total area is 17,257.52 km², making Linyi the largest city in Shandong Province by both area and population among the province’s 17 prefecture-level cities.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: (1) Curled Tea: Appearance — tightly rolled, compact, and uniform strips; color ranges from emerald green to dark green across different grades, but must not be yellowish or broken. Internal quality — high aroma ranging from tender chestnut to pure; liquor color from bright tender green to bright yellow-green, free from turbidity; taste is mellow and rich, with no off-flavors; leaf bottom ranges from bright tender green to bright yellow-green. (2) Flat Tea: Appearance — flat and straight, smooth to flat depending on grade; color ranges from tender green to yellow-green, uniform and clean. Internal quality — strong chestnut aroma, ranging from tender to pure; taste is mellow, without off-flavors; liquor color ranges from bright tender green to bright yellow-green; leaf bottom ranges from bright tender green to yellowish brightness. (3) Needle Tea: Appearance — flat and straight, green and uniform. Internal quality — high and lasting chestnut aroma, bright and clear tender green liquor; taste is fresh, mellow, and refreshing; leaf bottom is uniformly bright tender green. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Yishan Green Tea features thick leaves, high aroma, fresh and mellow taste, good infusibility, bright tender green liquor, and a unique chestnut fragrance. These characteristics stem from its unique fresh leaf morphology and internal nutrients. Specific indicators include: water extract 40–45%, amino acids 4.0–4.5%, tea polyphenols 28.0–32.0%, caffeine 4.0–4.5%. In contrast, southern teas have water extract at 38.9%, amino acids at 2.39%, tea polyphenols at 24.61%, and caffeine at 3.8%. Thus, Yishan Green Tea contains 155.2% more amino acids, 46.3% more tea polyphenols, and 21.9% more water extract than southern teas. Additionally, its tea polyphenol to amino acid ratio is below 10, representing the optimal proportion for green tea quality — delivering fragrant, sweet liquor that remains mellow and highly infusible. Moreover, the unique geographical conditions of the Yishan Mountainous Area endow the tea with rich beneficial minerals, making Yishan Green Tea an ideal healthy beverage. 3. Safety Requirements: Yishan Green Tea must meet the hygiene standards for “Pollution-Free Tea” set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Products meeting any conditions specified in Article 33 of the “Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law” may not be marketed.