Hefeng Tea

Hefeng Tea

Hefeng Tea is a geographical indication protected product.

Hefeng Tea is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　In the third batch of China's Famous and High-Quality Economic Forest Counties announced at the end of 2004, Hefeng County was honored with the title of "China's Tea County."

　　Hefeng County has 108,000 mu of tea plantations, with last year’s total tea production reaching nearly 6,500 tons, a total output value of 145 million yuan, export earnings of 3.8 million US dollars, and direct cash income for farmers of 50 million yuan. Tea has become the foremost pillar industry for farmers' prosperity in the county. During tea production, the county has focused on applying new and practical technologies such as mechanical pruning and harvesting, clonal varieties, processing of premium teas, and pollution-free production. Out of the 108,000 mu of tea plantations, 95,000 mu have been certified by the China Organic Tea Development and Certification Center.

　　The tea industry is Hefeng County’s premier calling card, the top priority in cultivating specialty industries, and the primary source of income growth for farmers. The county has united efforts to build a tea industry framework that features “standardized production, branded products, quality testing, certified processes, market regulation, and leading enterprises.” To date, the county’s tea plantation area has reached 250,000 mu, with an annual tea output value exceeding 500 million yuan and direct cash income for tea farmers of 260 million yuan. Today, Hefeng’s green tea, white tea, dark tea, and Yihong black tea brands are not only popular in the domestic market but also sell well internationally.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Hefeng Tea is produced in nine townships of Hefeng County, Hubei Province: Zouma Town, Tielu Township, Wuli Township, Yanzhi Township, Zhongying Township, Xiaping Township, Wuyang Township, Taiping Township, and Rongmei Town. Hefeng is located in the southwestern part of Hubei Province, in the heart of the Wuling Mountain Range. Its geographical coordinates are between 109°45′–110°38′ east longitude and 29°38′–30°14′ north latitude. It borders Wufeng County and Shimen County of Hunan Province to the east, Sangzhi County of Hunan Province to the south, Laifeng County and Xuan’en County of Hubei Province to the west, Enshi City of Hubei Province to the northwest, and Jian Shi County and Badong County of Hubei Province to the north. The county spans approximately 85 kilometers from east to west and 67 kilometers from north to south, covering a total land area of 2,892 square kilometers. The total tea production area is 8,800 hectares, with an output of 10,422 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Hefeng County has a diverse range of soil types, including seven major categories—red soil, yellow brown soil, mountainous yellow brown soil, limestone soil, fluvo-aquic soil, purple soil, and paddy soil—comprising 15 subcategories, 44 soil genera, 1,469 soil species, and 201 variants, covering a total area of 4.3295 million mu. The soils in the county are generally neutral to slightly acidic, commonly nitrogen-deficient, severely zinc-deficient, but rich in organic matter. Some soils have poor physical properties. The county’s topography consists of three-dimensional landform types: low mountains, mid-high mountains, and high mountains. The overall terrain comprises flat land, gentle slopes, and steep slopes, interspersed with river valley plains, all surrounded by high mountains.

　　(2) Hydrology: Hefeng County has a vast territory with crisscrossing rivers and streams, including six major river basins: the Lou River, Xianying River, Linxi River, Wangjia River, Baiquan River, and Jiangping River. The main river, the Lou River, originates from the Yunwu Mountain Range in the northwest, flows through mountain valleys, and meanders southeastward before exiting at Jiangkou into Sangzhi County, Hunan Province.

　　The total length of the river is 147.5 kilometers, with a drop of 1,455 meters along its main course. The area enjoys abundant rainfall year-round, with an average annual precipitation of 1,430 mm.

　　Hefeng County is a well-known mountainous hydropower-producing region in Hubei Province and even across China. There are no large factories in the area, and no emissions of “three wastes” or air pollution, nor any history of heavy metal contamination. According to monitoring by environmental authorities, the surface water in Hefeng County meets the national Class II water quality standards under the “Surface Water Environmental Quality Standards.” The water is clear, colorless, odorless, transparent, with a pH value between 4.5 and 7.5. Relevant indicators such as arsenic ≤0.05, cadmium ≤0.005, and lead ≤0.05 comply with both Chinese and World Health Organization drinking water quality guidelines.

　　(3) Climate: Hefeng County has a subtropical monsoon climate, with distinct seasons, an average daily temperature of 10–15°C, and significant diurnal temperature variations. The average annual relative humidity is 76%, with 1,960 hours of annual sunshine and a frost-free period of 249 days. Rainfall varies little across the county, with an average annual precipitation of 1,710 mm, concentrated between April and September, accounting for 90% of the yearly total. Seasonal distribution is as follows: March to May averages 466 mm (31%), June to August averages 380 mm (25%), September to November averages 320 mm (21%), and December to February averages 250 mm (16%).

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Since the Jin Dynasty, the people of Hefeng have maintained the habit of producing and consuming tea, accumulating extensive experience. As early as the Western Jin Dynasty, the “Jingzhou Land Records” noted: “The seven counties of Wuling all produce tea.” The “Classic of Tea” by Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty also stated: “In the gorges and mountain valleys of Bashan, there are trees so thick that two men can hug them,” and added: “The best tea comes from the Shannan region, particularly from Xiazhou,” with Hefeng situated in the heart of the Wuling Mountains, within the “Bashan Gorges.” Thus, Hefeng is considered one of the birthplaces of tea, known for its superior quality. In 1704, Gu Cai, a Qing Dynasty literary figure, poet, dramatist, traveler, and sociologist, was invited by the playwright Kong Shangren and warmly welcomed by Tian Shunian, the chieftain of the Rongmei Tusi,

　　and spent over five months traveling through the Rongmei Tusi region. He compiled his poetic accounts into the collection “A Journey Through Rongmei,” which recorded: “... The mountains produce tea, though the profit is modest. It is collectively called Dong tea. The finest grade sells for one string of cash per jin, while the medium grade is commonly used throughout Chu Province, also known as ‘Xiangtan tea,’ hence tea merchants come and go every day without pause.”

　　In 1867, Mao Junde, the first magistrate of Hefeng, recorded in the first “County Annals”: “Rongmei tribute tea is widely cultivated, but the best comes from just a few trees behind the prefectural office... Its taste is extremely fresh and mellow. Brewed with spring water, it clears heat, removes miasma, calms the mind, relieves bloating and irritability, and treats various ailments.”

　　This shows that the history of tea cultivation and utilization in our county has deep roots. The Hefeng County Party Committee and County Government place great emphasis on tea production, consistently regarding it as a leading industry. They have successively issued policies such as the “Hefeng County Tea Industry 11th Five-Year Development Plan” and the “Decision on Further Accelerating the Development of the Tea Industry,” continuously expanding production scale, optimizing cultivation models, improving technical standards,

　　broadening sales channels, making tea production a key industry for promoting agricultural and rural economic development, and a primary means of income growth for mountain farmers. Hefeng Tea has won numerous national and provincial awards. In 2002, the Ministry of Agriculture designated Hefeng as a National Pollution-Free Tea Base County, and in 2004, it was named a National Pollution-Free Tea Export Demonstration County. In 2004, the State Forestry Administration awarded Hefeng the title of China’s Tea County. Since 2002, eight Hefeng tea companies have obtained green food and organic food certifications. Hefeng County has developed into the largest tea distribution center in southwestern Hubei.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: Hefeng Tea bases are located in the nine townships of Zouma Town, Tielu Township, Wuli Township, Yanzhi Township, Zhongying Township, Xiaping Township, Wuyang Township, Taiping Township, and Rongmei Town. The origin environment must meet the requirements of the “Technical Specifications for the Environment of Green Food Origins” (NY/T391-2000).

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Varieties suitable for local environmental conditions are chosen, such as Fuding Dabai, Zhuyeqi, Fuyun No. 6, Longjing 43, and Hetaze, all large-leaf varieties. They must comply with DB42/111-2002 for clonal tea plant seedlings.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production process of Hefeng Tea must follow the “Hefeng County Tea Production Technical Regulations” (DB422828/T001-2005). To ensure the distinctive quality of Hefeng Tea, special attention must be paid to the following aspects: ① Tea garden fertilization management: Apply organic fertilizer in winter, mainly well-rotted farmyard manure, cake fertilizer, and stable manure, combined with soil loosening and deep plowing. ② Pest and disease control: Adhere to the principle of “prevention first, integrated control.” Use agricultural, physical, and biological methods. For example, install one frequency-vibrating insect-killing lamp per 50 mu to reduce moth damage, or use highly effective, low-toxicity, residue-free pesticides permitted for green food, or traditional pesticides like Tripterygium wilfordii and pyrethrum, which are cost-effective and residue-free. Pesticide use must comply with NY/T393-2000 guidelines for green food.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing: The optimal harvest time is when there are 10–15 standard buds per square meter of tea canopy. Tea picking should be done on sunny mornings. Fresh leaves must be collected in bamboo containers and promptly transported by special vehicles to processing facilities that meet green food standards. Processing personnel must be trained in Hefeng Tea production techniques and certified. After raw materials enter the workshop, manual sorting removes impurities, followed by grading, withering, fixation, rolling, drying, shaping, tipping, and final drying according to grading standards. Hefeng Tea processing must comply with DB422828/T002-2005, the Hefeng Tea Processing Technical Regulations.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: The entire production process of Hefeng Tea must maintain accurate, clear, neat, and complete production records, which should be properly preserved for future reference.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The tea has tightly rolled, slender, straight leaves with a glossy emerald green color and visible fine hairs, representing top-grade tea.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Hefeng Tea has a lasting, fragrant aroma, a fresh and mellow taste, bright tender green liquor, and uniformly bright tender green leaves. It is rich in internal components, highly resistant to brewing, and offers a pleasant, fresh taste. Dry tea contains ≤16g of crude fiber and ≤6.0g of ash per 100g. Sanitary indicators and pesticide residues meet relevant national standards.

　　(3) Safety requirements: Hefeng Tea complies with the "Green Food Tea" standard NY/T288-2002.

　　Packaging and labeling regulations

　　(1) Grading: Hefeng Tea is divided into four grades—Special Grade, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3—according to the local standard "Hefeng Tea."

　　(2) Labeling: Users of the label shall uniformly display the agricultural product geographical indication (the name of Hefeng Tea, the public logo pattern, and the labeling format) on their products or packaging.

　　(3) Storage and transportation: Comply with the "Green Food Storage and Transportation Guidelines" (NY/T1056-2006).