Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea

Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea

Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea is a specialty of Huangmei County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. Lotus leaves have effects such as cooling the blood, reducing fat, promoting saliva production, and moistening the intestines. Li Shizhen noted that regular consumption “makes one lean.” The tea is made from wild lotus leaves sourced from the natural lake Longgan Lake (historically known as Leichi), and goes through 17 meticulously refined processes including “chopping, airing, fixing, rolling, and roasting.”

　　Huangmei County has over 30,000 acres of national wetland reserve — the natural lotus leaf base at Longgan Lake, producing 2.8 million kilograms of lotus leaves and lotus stamens annually. The county actively introduced external merchants to jointly develop the lotus leaf tea project. After much effort, investors put 20 million yuan into establishing Hubei Xingxiuniang Food Co., Ltd. in the Dashengguanshan Industrial Park of the county, successfully producing lotus leaf tea. The product is in high demand with promising market prospects.

　　In August 2012, Xingxiuniang Lotus Leaf Tea was named a China Red Tourism Brand Product. The Leichi brand lotus leaf tea from the county won the gold award at the 17th China Food Expo. Currently, Hubei Xingxiuniang Food Co., Ltd., located in the Dashengguanshan Industrial Park of Huangmei County, is a comprehensive enterprise integrating planting, production, processing, and sales. Its products have all passed the ISO9001 international quality management system and the national food quality and safety QS certification. In recent years, the company has built modern, standardized factories and purchased advanced processing equipment. By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern production methods, and through processes such as fixing and baking, they have developed and produced the purely natural health tea — “Xingxiuniang” Green Lotus Aroma Series Lotus Leaf Tea — which contains no additives.

　　The main ingredient of Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea, the lotus leaf, comes from the Longgan Lake National Wetland Nature Reserve, which features a subtropical humid monsoon climate with cold winters and hot summers, distinct seasons, abundant sunlight, warm and moist air, plentiful rainfall, and a long frost-free period. The ecological environment is excellent, with minimal human activity, no pollution sources, and clear green water. These factors contribute to the unique quality of Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea. According to the Huangmei County Annals, over a thousand years ago, the people of Huangmei began picking lotus leaves from the lake to make tea for clearing internal heat and nourishing the spirit. Ancient and modern pharmacopeias and dietary works such as Compendium of Materia Medica, Diet Therapy in Daily Life, and The Complete Collection of Chinese Herbal Tea Formulas believe that lotus seeds and lotus leaves can clear heart fire, calm liver fire, purge spleen fire, reduce lung fire, as well as clear heat and nourish the spirit, lower blood pressure, promote urination, regulate fluids and sweating, stop bleeding, and consolidate essence. “Lotus leaf for weight loss makes one lean” — since ancient times, the Chinese have regarded lotus leaves as an effective remedy for slimming. Even today, hospitals still have obese patients drink lotus leaf tea.

　　The history of Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea can be traced back to the Qianlong era. Legend has it that after the founder of Huangmei Opera, Xingxiuniang, became famous, she made a living through performing, with no idle time. Continuous stage performances left her voice hoarse and her complexion haggard. Moreover, due to wearing heavy makeup daily, her skin turned sallow and her texture coarse. Upon chewing lotus leaves, she immediately felt a refreshing fragrance in her mouth and noticed gradual improvement in her voice. She then made the leaves into tea. Drinking it regularly helped her feel refreshed and energized, gradually restoring the roundness and sweetness of her vocal tones, while her skin became fairer and more delicate. She recommended the tea to fellow performers and neighbors, and everyone who tried it praised it highly. Lotus leaf tea gradually became popular in Huangmei and later developed into a traditional fine tea of the county. In the 30th year of Qianlong’s reign, during his fourth southern tour, Xingxiuniang performed for the emperor for the first time in Suzhou. Since Emperor Qianlong had a great passion for tea culture and would always collect and taste local famous teas wherever he went, the lotus leaf tea made by Xingxiuniang was fortunate enough to be chosen as an imperial tea. After drinking it, the emperor found the flavor fragrant and lingering, and was immensely pleased. He personally composed a couplet: “A renowned performer, Xingxiuniang; an eternal fine tea, Green Lotus Aroma.”

　　The production area of Huangmei Lotus Leaf Tea covers ten administrative regions under the jurisdiction of Huangmei County, Hubei Province: Huangmei Town, Xinxin Town, Dushan Town, Zhuogang Town, Konglong Town, Fenlu Town, Xiaochi Town, Dahe Town, Wuzu Town, and Liuzuo Township.