Longhu Lotus Leaf Tea

Longhu Lotus Leaf Tea

　　In the historic, culturally rich, and scenically beautiful Huaiyang County of China lies the millennia-old Longhu Lake, spanning tens of thousands of acres. For thousands of years, villagers along the lake have made a living from it, with traditions such as lotus flowers, lotus roots, cattails, and fishing being passed down through generations.

　　　　On October 19, 2011, under the leadership of Secretary Ling from Dongguan Community, we visited the Bihexiang Specialty Co., Ltd. in Huaiyang County and closely observed the lotus leaf tea, a “one village, one product” specialty brand of the county. Secretary Ling gave us a detailed introduction to the origins of “lotus leaf tea.”

　　　　In 2006, several residents in Dongguan Community of Huaiyang County began experimenting with making “lotus leaf tea” using leaves from Longhu Lake. However, due to technical issues, they were unsuccessful—the resulting tea was of poor quality and failed to gain market acceptance for its taste. After learning of the situation, the town government conducted market research and consulted relevant experts, concluding that lotus leaves have significant health benefits and that using them to produce tea held great market potential. As a result, they organized multiple study trips to learn tea production techniques elsewhere and also invited technical experts to Huaiyang to provide on-site guidance. After persistent efforts, in 2009, they finally succeeded in developing the specialty “Lotus Leaf Tea” of Longhu.

　　　　In 2010, building on earlier progress, the town government helped local lotus leaf tea producers establish the “Huaiyang Bihexiang Specialty Co., Ltd.”—the first enterprise in Henan Province to use wild, tender lotus leaves as raw materials and employ advanced processing technology to produce and sell lotus leaf tea. The company’s “Bihexiang” brand lotus leaf tea uses pure, natural white lotus tender leaves from Longhu as its main ingredient, fully retaining the health-promoting properties of both the lotus leaf and flower. It offers benefits such as clearing summer heat, promoting diuresis, invigorating yang, dispersing stagnation, removing blood stasis, and stopping bleeding. It has notable health effects for people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, or high cholesterol, middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as women who wish to maintain a slim figure. As a result, the tea has earned the reputation of being the “new noble among teas.”

　　　　Since its launch in the market, the “Bihexiang” lotus leaf tea from Dongguan Community has won widespread popularity among consumers for its unique quality. It has become another distinctive calling card for Huaiyang’s external promotion. Alongside “Nini Gou” (clay figurines) and “Daylily,” it has become a must-buy local specialty for visitors traveling to Huaiyang to pay homage to Fuxi, the human ancestor. According to statistics, in 2010, over 2,000 jin (approximately 1,000 kg) of lotus leaf tea were produced, generating an output value of more than 2 million yuan; in 2011, production exceeded 3,000 jin, with output surpassing 3.5 million yuan. Currently, lotus leaf tea alone contributes nearly 500 yuan in additional income per capita for residents of Dongguan Community.

　　　　Lotus leaf tea production is highly seasonal, with only the period from June to August each year suitable for production. To further expand production scale, the Chengguan Hui Ethnic Town Government of Huaiyang County plans to assist the “Bihexiang Specialty Co., Ltd.” in coordinating funding and relocating to a new production base. The preliminary site chosen is Xian’ge New Village. Meanwhile, the town is organizing lakeside administrative villages to increase the cultivation area of lotus leaves to ensure a stable supply of raw materials. By 2015, the goal is to achieve an annual production of 10,000 kilograms of lotus leaf tea, with output value exceeding 10 million yuan.