Anhua Tea

Anhua Tea

　　Anhua Tea

　　Tea is a pillar industry of the rural economy in Anhua. Anhua Gongfu black tea is representative of "Hunan Black Tea" (Huhong), standing alongside Anhui’s "Qihong" and Fujian’s "Jianhong" as one of China’s authentic black teas, exported to Europe and America and renowned overseas.

　　For a long time, tea has been a major traditional industry in Anhua and one of the main sources of fiscal revenue. Currently, the county has a total tea-growing area of 120,000 mu, with an annual output of around 5,000 tons and an annual output value of 30 million yuan. Since the 1990s, Anhua County has focused on developing premium and high-quality teas, achieving significant progress and giving rise to three major branded teas.

　　Anhua Songzhen (Anhua Pine Needle)

　　In 1959, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Anhua Tea Experimental Farm created the premium green tea "Anhua Songzhen" using the region’s unique natural conditions and superior soil to cultivate fine tea varieties. "Anhua Songzhen" is made from tender one-bud-one-leaf shoots through eight processes: withering, fixing, rolling, pan-firing, cooling, shaping, drying, and sorting.

　　"Anhua Songzhen" is a representative of needle-shaped green teas among China’s specialty greens. Its leaves are long, straight, round, tight, and fine, resembling pine needles with a uniform emerald green color and visible white pekoe. It boasts a rich aroma, mellow taste, clear liquor, and excellent infusibility.

　　Shortly after its debut, "Anhua Songzhen" quickly gained fame for its distinctive qualities, joining the ranks of China’s famous teas and earning widespread acclaim both domestically and abroad, along with numerous awards. In 1962, it was named one of Hunan Province’s top three teas; in 1964, it was selected for an international exhibition and received praise from both Chinese and foreign visitors; starting in 1986, it was twice recognized as a Ministry of Commerce premium tea; in 1988, it won the Gold Award at China’s First Food Expo; on March 7, 1989, the front page of the China-foreign Products Newspaper featured a detailed report on it, with the tea’s name inscribed by Li Duo, a renowned calligrapher and director of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; in 1988, it also received the Golden Cup Award for Hunan’s "Five Famous Foods"; in 1989, it was named a high-quality agricultural product by the Ministry of Agriculture; in August 1994, it won the Gold Award at the Ulaanbaatar Trade and Industry Expo; in the same year, it was designated a national tourism product by a joint evaluation of the National Tourism Administration, Ministry of Domestic Trade, China National Light Industry Council, and China National Textile and Apparel Council; from 1991 to 1997, "Anhua Songzhen" was named a provincial famous tea five times. Its annual output is around 5 tons. Anhua Yinhao (Anhua Silver Tip)

　　Developed jointly from 1992 to 1994 by the Economic Crops Station of Anhua County Agriculture Bureau, the Economic Crops Station of Yiyang Regional Agriculture Bureau, and Tangxi Tea Farm in Anhua County. It features a tightly rolled, slender appearance with visible white pekoe. The liquor is bright, and the aroma is long-lasting—hence the name "Yinhao" (Silver Tip). In 1994, it was named a "Famous Tea of Hunan" by the Provincial Agriculture Department; in 1995, it won the Gold Award at the Provincial Xiangcha Cup; in 1997, it earned a Silver Award in the Provincial Famous and Premium Teas Competition; in 2000, it received a Silver Award at China’s Second International Famous Tea Competition. Its annual output is around 1 ton, divided into Special Grade and Grade One.

　　Qiuxi Silver Coin Tea

　　Produced by Anhua Qiuxi Tea Factory in 1995, this tea features visible white pekoe, a high and lasting aroma, a mellow taste, and a shape resembling silver coins—hence the name "Silver Coin Tea." In 1995, it applied for a national patent (Patent No. 9523603.2); in 1996, it won the Gold Award at the Hunan "Xiangcha Cup"; in 1998, it received a Silver Award at China’s First International Tea Culture Expo; in December 2001, it was certified as organic tea by the China Organic Tea Research and Development Center. Its annual output is around 2 tons.

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