Suizhou Sprout Tea

Suizhou Sprout Tea

Suizhou Sprout Tea is a Geographical Indication Protected product.

　　 Suizhou Sprout Tea is a specialty of Suizhou City, Hubei Province. It is characterized by straight, taut tea strips, plump and uniform buds, a silver-green hue with hidden emerald tones, a high and fresh aroma, mellow taste, and bright, tender green liquor. Suizhou Sprout Tea has been awarded Geographical Indication Protection status.

　　 The production area of Suizhou Sprout Tea lies in the central part of the mid-latitude monsoon circulation zone, at the junction of the Yangtze River Basin and the Huai River Basin, between 31°19′N and 32°26′N latitude. Scientific research has shown that the region within ±2 degrees of 30°N enjoys a suitable climate, where the tea produced can achieve an optimal balance between appearance and internal quality, with a phenol-to-amino acid ratio of around 10 — ideal conditions for growing high-quality green tea (references: 1. Tea Evaluation and Inspection, edited by Lu Songhou and Shi Zhaopeng; 2. Chinese Tea Classics, edited by Chen Zongmao). The area features a subtropical monsoon climate. Influenced by seasonal variations in solar radiation and monsoons, Suizhou enjoys a mild climate with distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, and plentiful rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of 960 mm, total annual sunshine duration ranging from 2009.6 to 2059.7 hours, an average annual temperature of 15.5°C, and a frost-free period of 220–240 days. The warm climate and favorable topography create an ideal ecological environment for sprout tea cultivation. The soil here is deep, loose, and well-drained, rich in organic matter and phosphorus-potassium nutrients, with an acidic pH of 4.5–6.0. The area often experiences “morning and evening mist when sunny, mountain clouds after rain,” with air rich in oxygen ions, an average annual relative humidity of 77%, atmospheric pressure of 1000.9 mmHg, total annual solar radiation of 107.9 kcal/cm², an average wind speed of 1.8 m/s. These unique geographical and climatic conditions provide superior natural advantages for tea tree growth, enabling the tea to absorb the essence of nature and the vitality of the sun and moon. The resulting Suizhou Sprout Tea features plump buds rich in amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements such as selenium and zinc. The picking standards are also very high — only the finest young buds are selected, with about 15–20 grams per hundred single buds and a length of 1.5–2 cm. The dry tea has a silver-green hue with hidden emeralds and a flat, pointed shape; the tea liquor is yellow-green and bright, with a lasting, high, and fresh fragrance, a mellow and sweet aftertaste. Suizhou Sprout Tea excels in color, aroma, taste, and appearance, making it a flagship product of Suizhou’s tea industry.

　　 Suizhou Sprout Tea is characterized by straight, taut tea strips, plump and uniform buds, a silver-green hue with hidden emerald tones, a high and fresh aroma, mellow taste, and bright, tender green liquor. When brewed, the tea buds stand upright at the bottom of the cup, resembling silver swords or post-rain bamboo shoots — a spectacular sight. Suizhou Sprout Tea has won several awards, including one of Hubei’s Top Ten Cultural Tourism Teas, the Gold Award at the China Famous Tea Competition “China Green Cup,” and the Gold Award for China Famous Tea at the International Tea Expo.

　　  The administrative regions of eight towns in Suizhou City, Hubei Province: Hongshan Town, Hedian Town, Caodian Town, Changgang Town, Sanligang Town, Huantan Town, Liulin Town, and Wushengguan Town.

　　  “Letter on Defining the Protection Scope of Suizhou Sprout Tea Geographical Indication Product” from Suizhou Municipal People’s Government, Document No. Suizheng Han [2011] 70.

　　  Suizhou Local Standard: DB4213/T23-2009 “Suizhou Sprout Tea.”