Zian Tribute Tea

Zian Tribute Tea

　　Zian Tribute Tea is produced in the mountainous southern region of Fangji Town, Gushi County, Henan Province. It currently covers an area of 1,500 acres of tea plantations. The area features overlapping mountains, lingering clouds and mist, humid air, and moderate sunlight — all ideal natural conditions for tea production. During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was known as “Zian Immortal Sprout.” Legend has it that the name originated from the tale of “the immortal of Zian planting tea on Cloud Mist Ridge while riding a crane.” Zian Tribute Tea has a long history. In the third year of the Qiande era during the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, thirteen official tea farms were established, one of which was Zian. Shen Kuo recorded in "Dream Pool Essays: Volume Twelve": “Among the six state-run trading offices and thirteen tea markets, the Zian market (now within Fangji County, Gushi) sold 283,030 jin of tea, generating revenue of 13,689.348 guan…”. This shows that in the Song Dynasty, the output and market reach of Zian Tribute Tea were no less significant than those of today. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Zian Tribute Tea from Gushi experienced decline and revival. By the Qing Dynasty, green teas such as Cloud Mist, Golden Needle, and Sparrow’s Tongue from Zian were submitted as tribute. In the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), Zian green tea from Gushi was showcased at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, earning widespread acclaim overseas.