Sanlang Temple Tea

Sanlang Temple Tea

　　Sanlang Temple Tea is a specialty of Nansanlang Temple Village, Yaozhuang Township, Jia County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province. Since ancient times, Sanlang Temple has been known as the “Hometown of Tea Matchmakers.” Its tea is described as “sweet, smooth, fragrant, and refreshing, with the cup full yet never overflowing.” Legend has it that King Zhuang of Chu, after drinking it during the “Battle of Qinghe,” bestowed upon it the name “Jade Spring Well.”

　　Sanlang Temple belongs to Yaozhuang Hui Ethnic Township in Jia County. The way the character “三” (three) is written here is particularly unique — it features the “毛” (fur) radical extending outwards. It is said to be an ancient character with the same meaning as “三.” According to local legend, this character was inscribed by the brush of an ancient emperor, which is why it has been passed down through generations. However, there is also another explanation, claiming it originates from a mythological tale — though many locals can’t elaborate clearly. This character has become a notable cultural landmark in the area. Buses from cities such as Jia County and Pingdingshan go directly here, with the words “毛（Note: this character is written with the fur radical extending outwards）Lang Temple” painted on their sides. The peculiar “毛” character often surprises first-time visitors, but it is something the locals take for granted and find nothing unusual about.

　　Sanlang Temple boasts a long and storied civilization and was once known in ancient times as Apricot Blossom Village. The town has been home to excellent springs since ancient times, one of which is called “Jade Spring.” “Jade Spring refers to King Zhuang of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period.” (as seen in the inscription on the “Jade Spring Pavilion Stele” within the Jade Spring Pavilion in Sanlang Temple) It is said that in the first year of King Jing of Zhou’s reign during the Spring and Autumn Period (606 BC), after King Zhuang of Chu quelled the rebellion of the Chief Minister Dou Jiao, he “drank from this spring, found it incredibly refreshing, even better than fine jade nectar, and thus named it: Jade Spring.” (from the “Jade Spring Pavilion Stele”) For over two thousand years, this place has been renowned not only for its spring but also for its tea. The teahouses and tea culture here are widely celebrated, especially its fragrant tea, beef, roasted rabbit, and roasted chicken, all famous throughout history. Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, the father-and-son literary duo Su Xun and Su Shi, traveling from Sichuan to Bian (Kaifeng), once visited here out of admiration to enjoy tea and express their sentiments.

　　The National Geological and Mineral Resources Bureau’s Henan Testing Center conducted tests on the spring water, which contains over forty kinds of trace elements essential to the human body and offers nutritional and health benefits.