Xizhou Berry Tea

Xizhou Berry Tea

Xizhou Berry Tea is a protected geographical indication product.

　　  Xizhou Berry Tea, commonly known as Xizhou Vine Tea or Moldy Tea, is a specialty of Yongshun County, Hunan Province. It is a beverage made from the vines of the wild liana plant "Ampelopsis grossedentata," processed in the mountainous regions of Yongshun. It gets its name from Yongshun County’s location in the ancient territory of Xizhou.  Figure 1: Berry Tea

　　  It is made from the vines of the wild liana plant "Ampelopsis grossedentata" and processed into a beverage. Named after Yongshun County’s historical association with the ancient Xizhou region, it is rich in soluble sugars, flavonoids, and various trace elements, making it a new type of green beverage that combines nutrition, medical benefits, and health care.

　　　    Yongshun County is abundant in wild berry tea (scientific name: Ampelopsis grossedentata), with large distributions in areas such as Wanping. With the support and attention of the National Ministry of Agriculture and the Provincial Department of Agriculture, the county has actively developed tea bases. By 2010, nearly 10,000 acres of berry tea bases had been established in over 10 towns including Maoba, Runya, Wanping, Shaba, Guanba, Tayi, and Shouche. The "Xizhou Brand" berry tea trademark was registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the product obtained certification as a pollution-free agricultural product. The Yongshun County Party Committee and County Government have prioritized the development of berry tea as a key focus of the county's agricultural restructuring. In 2007 alone, the finished tea production of berry tea in Maoba Township reached 12.2 tons, with sales exceeding 3 million yuan.

　　Quality and Efficacy

　　　　    According to nutritional analysis by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medical Sciences, every 100 grams of berry tea contains 9.4 grams of water, approximately 1218.3 kilojoules of energy, and main nutrients including 20.4 grams of protein, 0.8 grams of fat, 5.23 milligrams of carotene, 6.32 milligrams of vitamin E, 10.1 milligrams of iron, 1.58 milligrams of zinc, 411.3 milligrams of calcium, 0.67 milligrams of copper, and 10.62 micrograms of selenium. Its surface is covered with a natural layer of plant protein frost. Its nutritional profile is relatively comprehensive, similar to that of green tea, black tea, and floral tea. Tests have shown that the total flavonoid content in berry tea reaches 6%, an unusually high level for flavonoids. Flavonoids are a major component of traditional Chinese herbs and are substances with high biological activity. Their minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations are equivalent to the same amount of berberine, with no side effects. Among the total flavonoids, dihydromyricetin is the most abundant and is clinically used for anti-inflammatory, cough-suppressing, asthma-relieving, and phlegm-reducing purposes. It also effectively dilates coronary blood vessels and reduces vascular fragility. Dihydromyricetin has special efficacy in relieving alcohol poisoning, lowering blood pressure, inhibiting platelet aggregation in vitro and thrombus formation in vivo, reducing blood lipid and blood sugar levels, enhancing SOD activity, and protecting the liver. The soluble sugars, amino acids, and trace elements it contains can stimulate saliva production and quench thirst. Clinically, it is used for anti-inflammatory, cough-suppressing, phlegm-removing, and blood vessel-dilating purposes, as well as for reducing vascular fragility. It is a green food and medicinal beverage that combines nutrition, medicine, and health care. Regular consumption can regulate kidney function, help prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatism, and rheumatoid arthritis, and is also highly effective in treating pharyngitis and oral ulcers. Dihydroflavonol, which has anti-hypertensive, cough-suppressing, phlegm-removing, lipid-lowering, and liver-protecting properties, is unique to wild berry tea.

　　Production Environment

　　　　    Yongshun County is located on the edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and in the middle section of the Wuling Mountain Range. It features a mid-subtropical mountainous monsoon climate that is warm and humid, with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and ample heat, as well as mountainous terrain characterized by fertile soil, deep valleys, dense forests, and year-round cloud cover—conditions that are very suitable for the growth of berry tea. The area has abundant wild berry tea (scientific name: Ampelopsis grossedentata), especially in places like Wanping in Yongshun County. Additionally, the county has a thousand-year history of processing berry tea using methods similar to those for green tea, accumulating extensive experience in berry tea production.

　　    Maoba Township is the concentrated production area of Xizhou Berry Tea, hence it is also locally referred to as "Maoba Berry Tea." Maoba Township is located in the northeast of Yongshun County, governing 18 administrative villages and 98 villager groups, with an average elevation of 450 meters. The soil is fertile and rainfall is abundant. Six villages—Sanpo, Yadong, Fanjia, Maoba, Kexi, and Liaojia—are known for their abundant wild berry tea, yielding 2,000 kilograms per year. The entire township is suitable for large-scale artificial cultivation of berry tea.

　　Geographical Indication Product Protection

　　　　    In accordance with the "Regulations on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products," the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China reviewed the application for the protection of Xizhou Berry Tea as a geographical indication product and approved the implementation of protection starting August 25, 2005 (Announcement No. 122, 2005).

　　Protection Scope

　　　　    The protection scope of the Xizhou Berry Tea geographical indication product is based on the range proposed in the "Request to Include Xizhou Berry Tea in the Geographical Indication Product Protection List" (Yong Zheng [2004] No. 11) issued by the People’s Government of Yongshun County, Hunan Province, covering the entire administrative region of Yongshun County, Hunan Province.