Yuanling Jietan Tea

Yuanling Jietan Tea

　　Yuanling Jietan Tea is a specialty of Yuanling County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Known as one of the top ten famous teas in Hunan, Jietan Tea has a long history and was listed as an imperial tribute during the Tang Dynasty, enjoying great popularity at that time. It is rich in nutrients, with high water extract content and abundant levels of tea polyphenols and amino acids. Moreover, thanks to its excellent ecological environment, Jietan Tea has extremely low lead content and is classified as pollution-free organic green tea. In September 2011, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China designated Yuanling Jietan Tea as a National Geographical Indication Protected Product.

　　Jietan Tea is produced in Yuanling County, Hunan Province, with its main tea gardens located in Jietan, at an elevation of over 100 meters. It lies south of the surging Yuan River and north of the Wuling Mountain Range, within a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone. The area enjoys abundant rainfall, with an average annual temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius, average annual precipitation of 1440.9 millimeters, and a frost-free period of 272 days. The climate is often misty and humid, with soft sunlight, creating a unique environment described as “even the hottest summer days feel like cool autumn, and clouds and mist roll over the landscape all year round.” The mild climate, abundant light and heat, and high-quality soil and water resources make it highly suitable for tea cultivation. The tea produced here features deep roots, lush leaves, large buds, and soft texture. It has been famous since the Han Dynasty. The "Jingzhou Land Records," compiled during the Western Jin Dynasty, noted that “all seven counties of Wuling produce tea, but the best comes from here,” indicating the superior quality of tea from Yuanling, one of the seven counties. The "Kuodi Zhi" (Geographical Records), compiled under the direction of Wei King Li Tai of the Tang Dynasty, recorded that Wuyue Mountain in Yuanling had many tea trees, and local people would dance and sing around the tea trees in celebration during joyful events, a tradition enjoyed by all ages in the village. Lu Yu, the Tea Sage and author of the world's first monograph on tea, the "Classic of Tea," also cited this. Quan Deyu, a high-ranking official of the Tang Dynasty, wrote in the preface to Lu Zhi’s "Han Yuan Ji" that “(Yuanling) has many tea-producing areas, but the tea from Jietan is the best.” Starting from the Tang Dynasty, Jietan Tea evolved from a daily beverage for common people to an imperial tribute, gaining nationwide fame and even spreading to Japan. In subsequent dynasties—Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing—Jietan Tea continued to be an imperial tribute. The "Yuanling County Annals" from the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty recorded: “The earliest-picked (Jietan Tea) is called Maojian, and now it is used as tribute.” In September 1972, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka mentioned Jietan Tea during his visit to China, referring to it as the “Tea of Sino-Japanese Friendship.” In 1985, a Japanese government delegation visited Hunan for inspection. After evaluation and discussions, they officially named Jietan Tea the “Tea of Sino-Japanese Friendship,” bringing new momentum to its production and development. This ancient tea regained attention and affection, successively obtaining organic tea certifications from Japan’s “JONA” and the EU’s “IMO,” frequently appearing on lists of premium teas, and winning more than 10 international and domestic gold awards. In 1991, at an international tea culture festival attended by over 400 regions across 17 countries, Jietan Tea stood out among competitors to win the gold award, being named an “International Cultural Famous Tea” and included in the "China Famous Teas Record." In 2006, it won the gold award at the Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival. In May 2010, at the China (Shanghai) International Tea Expo, Jietan Tea stood out from over 1,600 tea samples and received the highest award in the green tea category—the “Special Gold Award.” In September 2011, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China designated Yuanling Jietan Tea as a National Geographical Indication Protected Product.

　　High-grade Jietan Tea is characterized by its fine, tightly rolled strips with a round and curved shape, a glossy green color, uniform and bright appearance; it emits a delicate and lasting fragrance. The tea liquor is bright green and clear, with a mellow, refreshing taste and a sweet aftertaste. The leaves are tender green, neat, and bright. Jietan Tea has been rated as a high-quality famous tea in Hunan Province multiple times and was listed as a high-quality product by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1985. When brewed, the tea leaves first stand upright, their tips pointing toward the surface of the water. Gradually, as they absorb water, they expand, stand upright, and sway in the air before slowly sinking to the bottom of the cup in a motion resembling shrimp swimming. Opposite the Jietan Tea plantation lies Yinhua Mountain, and nearby flows a small stream called Bishui. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, someone brewed Jietan Tea with water from Bishui. When drinking close to the cup, the aroma seemed faint, but stepping back revealed an overwhelmingly rich fragrance that was hard to describe. Even more astonishingly, it is said that an elderly man, who treasured Jietan Tea like a precious gem, kept it hidden away and rarely drank it. Whenever he missed it too much to bear, he would take it out just to look at and smell it. When feeling unwell, he would only drink a small amount—and instantly feel refreshed and free of pain.