Heshan Tea

Heshan Tea

　　  Heshan people began cultivating tea during the Song Dynasty. By the early years of the Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty, the tea planting area reached 5,333.3 hectares, with an annual production of 85,000 piculs of rough tea. The annual tea export volume was 60,000 piculs, shipped to Europe, America, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and other regions. Heshan tea is renowned for its tightly rolled leaves, glossy color, bright infusion, strong and refreshing aroma, sweet and smooth taste, as well as its properties in clearing heat and aiding digestion. Among them, the teas from Gulaoshan, Zhaiwu Baishuidai, and Heshan Mashi are considered the best. "Gulaoyinzhen" is the elegant name for Gulaotea, resembling Shoumei in shape but shaped like silver needles, with silvery fuzz visible on the back of the leaves, a clear emerald leaf color, and a brew that is clear with a slight light green tint, offering a mellow and lingering aftertaste. Tea grown at Shiyantou (a place name) has a particularly rich and intense fragrance. The "Heshan County Annals" from the Qianlong period stated: "The flavor of Gulaotea rivals that of Wuyi tea yet possesses its own unique fragrance; among all local products, this is the one that stands out above the rest." Originally, tea farmers from Gulao, Heshan, and Baishuidai relied on tea cultivation for their livelihoods, and the main street of Heshan was named "Tea Merchant Street." In the late 1930s, due to war, tea production declined. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, efforts were made to revive tea production. During the 1970s–1980s, a large-scale tea production base was established at Héchéng Farm, and a Tea Science Research Institute was founded at Taoyuan Mashan. In 1998, the city's total tea cultivation area harvested was 153.9 hectares.

     Gulaoyinzhen

     Gulaoyinzhen is produced at Shiyantou in Lishui, Gulao Town, hence also called Yantou Tea. This tea features tightly rolled, straight needle-like leaves with a silvery-gray color; once brewed, the infusion is bright emerald green, with tender leaves and a mellow, fragrant taste. A light sip brings a cool, smooth sensation on the tongue, offering great comfort; drinking more quenches thirst and stimulates saliva production, leaving the whole body feeling refreshed. It has long been hailed as an exquisite tea, enjoying fame both domestically and abroad. By the late Qing Dynasty, it had already gained high acclaim and become one of China’s renowned tea brands.

     Mashi Tea

     The Mashi Tea brand is named after its place of origin. Mashi Mountain is located about 6 kilometers northwest of Heshan, standing tall and majestic. The lush green tea gardens covering the mountain are widely known. The foothills of Mashi Mountain consist of rolling hills with loose, soft yellow soil, facing the sun and sheltered from the wind—ideal conditions for growing oolong tea. After planting, the fields are covered with mountain grass in winter and nourished by the spring warmth, promoting vigorous growth. Over 200 years ago, six households of the Yang family from Huizhou, totaling 20 people, migrated here and cleared terraced tea fields along the slopes. Later, two brothers, Lian Changjing and Lian Changzhen, moved here and cultivated 4 hectares of tea fields. At its peak, there were 20 tea farming households with over 200 people. Tea leaves were harvested seasonally, with spring tea picked around Qingming Festival and autumn tea around Bailu. Traditional processing methods were used. When brewed with boiling water, the tea leaves stand upright one by one, releasing a rich fragrance, with a sweet, smooth, and aromatic taste, making it an excellent gift. During the late Qing and early Republican periods, major tea shops such as Meizhen, Shufang, Hengxinglong, Yusheng, Xinguangxing, and Lianchangsheng were established along Heshan Street, all jointly funded by local merchants. This street is still known today as "Tea Merchant Street."

     Chashan Jasmine

     The main production area of Chashan Jasmine is Gulao Tea Mountain. With a planting history of nearly 50 years, it was first introduced by a person known as Uncle Qiuchang, and later spread to many households. The current planting area is about 1.5 hectares, with an annual yield of 7.5 tons. Jasmine is an herbaceous plant, planted in spring and blooming in summer with snow-white, fragrant flowers. Harvesting takes place before the blossoms open. The flowers are hand-picked, with an average person picking 4 to 5 pounds per day. After picking, they undergo either steaming and sun-drying or drying processes; those dried in sunlight turn golden yellow and form needle-like shapes, called Jasmine Needles. According to medical texts, Jasmine Needles help soothe the lungs, relieve depression, clear heat, and remove toxins, thus commonly used in medicine. Mixing Jasmine Needles with oolong tea creates a brew that is fragrant, sweet, cool, thirst-quenching, and heat-clearing. This is a traditional practice among the people of Chashan and is also served as a special treat for guests.