Junan Green Tea

Junan Green Tea

Junan Green Tea is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Junan Green Tea, a specialty of Junan County in Shandong Province and a China Geographical Indication agricultural product, has earned the county the reputation as the "Hometown of Green Tea." The product comes in seven major series: "Da Bai Yin Jian, Da Bai Chun Luo, Cui Ya, Lu Jian, Mao Feng, Song Zhen, and Xue Lian." Junan Green Tea has been recognized by the China Tea Research Institute for its unique and superior qualities including "thick leaves, high infusion endurance, rich aroma, and strong taste." It has won 116 awards at national, provincial, and municipal tea competitions, including 20 at the national level and 50 at the provincial level. It has also been honored with titles such as "China Famous Brand Product" and "Most Trusted Shandong Product by Consumers," and the county has been named the "Hometown of Chinese Tea."

　　Tea cultivation in Junan County is mostly distributed in the hilly areas of the eastern and southern parts, primarily in towns such as Zhu Bian, Zhuang Gang, Tuan Lin, and Zhu Lu, which serve as key bases for high-quality green tea production and ecological gardens in Shandong Province. The teas produced include bud-shaped, needle-shaped, flat-shaped, and bunch-shaped varieties. These teas feature tightly rolled, robust, and emerald-green leaves with abundant fuzz, a chestnut-like aroma, a rich and mellow taste, bright green liquor, and tender, golden-green leaf bottoms that are plump and intact. They offer a refreshing experience, and are believed to invigorate the spirit, improve qi flow, stimulate saliva production, quench thirst, sharpen the mind, aid digestion, reduce greasiness, clear heat, and detoxify—thus contributing to health and longevity. In 1978, the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Tea Research Institute rated it as having premium qualities such as "thick leaves, high infusion endurance, rich aroma, and strong taste."

　　Honors and Certifications

　　In 1994, during the first "China Tea Cup" premium tea competition, "Xue Ya" won the top prize among all premium teas in the province. In 1995, at the second China Agricultural Fair, it won two gold and three silver awards and represented Shandong's famous teas at the 29th World Agricultural Expo. In 1997, at the third China Agricultural Fair, "Song Zhen" tea was recognized as a China Famous Brand Product. In 1998, "Jiu Fang Hui Chun" tea won first place among the top ten famous teas in Linyi City. In 1999, at the third China "China Tea Cup" premium tea competition, it won three first prizes and three excellence awards, including the "Lu Nan Qing" brand green tea, which received the right to use the national "Green Food Label." In 2001, at the China (International) Agricultural Expo, "Yu Ya" and "Bi Ya Chun" green teas were certified as famous brand products. Cheng Qikun, a renowned figure in China’s tea industry, praised Junan Green Tea after tasting it, saying, "In the south there is Hangzhou’s Longjing, in the north there is Yimeng’s Yu Ya." In 2001, it swept all the gold medals at the first premium tea competition press conference held by the Shandong Tea Culture Association.

　　Growing Environment

　　Junan County is located in the scenic eastern part of the Yimeng Mountain area in Shandong Province, bordering the Yellow Sea to the east, adjacent to Rizhao Port—the eastern bridgehead of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge—and neighboring Lianyungang, the eastern bridgehead of the Eurasian Continental Bridge, to the south. It features a warm temperate monsoon semi-humid continental climate, with an average annual temperature of 12.7°C, a frost-free period of 198 days, an average annual sunshine duration of 2,458.9 hours, and an average annual rainfall of 856.5 mm. The air is clean, sunlight is abundant, the diurnal temperature variation is large, water quality is pure, and the soil is rich in organic matter. These superior natural conditions, along with fast and convenient transportation facilities, provide excellent conditions for tea production. It is said, "In the south there is Hangzhou’s Longjing, in the north there is Yimeng’s Yu Ya."

　　Junan Green Tea is produced in 13 towns in Junan County: Zhu Bian, Zhuang Gang, Tuan Lin, Zhu Lu, Fang Qian, Wen Tan, Ping Shang, Lao Po, Xiang Gou, Shi Zi Lu, Xiang Di, Ting Shui, and Shi Lian Zi. Junan County is situated in the southeastern coastal region of Shandong Province, with geographic coordinates between 118°33′–119°11′ east longitude and 35°06′–35°24′ north latitude. It stretches 44 km from north to south and 50 km from east to west. The average elevation of Junan County is 200 m, with the highest point being Ma Qi Shan in the northern part of the county at 662.2 m above sea level, and the lowest point being in front of Chen Jia He Village in Zhuang Gang Town at 19.9 m above sea level. The main production areas of Junan Green Tea are located in the southern and southeastern parts of the county, including Zhu Bian, Zhuang Gang, Tuan Lin, Zhu Lu, Fang Qian, and Wen Tan towns, all at elevations above 100 m. Junan County borders Rizhao City to the east, Jiangsu Province’s Ganyu County to the south, Linshu County to the southwest, Linyi City to the west, Yinan County to the northwest, and Ju County to the north. The overall terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west, with the eastern part sloping from north to south and extending in a ridgeline shape toward the southeast and southwest. The area is dominated by low mountains and hills, which are extensions of the Laoshan–Wulian mountain ranges. There is significant variation in elevation within the county, forming various microclimates. The current vegetation is mainly cropland, covering about 66% of the total area, with forest coverage exceeding 30%. The land area spans 1,752 square kilometers.