Matu Tea

Matu Tea

　　Fengshun Matu Tea is produced at an altitude of 915–956 meters on terraced fields in the Matu Administrative Zone of Longgang Township, Fengshun County. It is made from the Small-Leaf Oolong tea variety. The tea leaves undergo double roasting and double rolling to create a tightly rolled leaf with a grayish-green, glossy appearance. It offers a sweet, refreshing, and fragrant taste, with a liquor color that is greenish with a slight yellow tint. The tea is widely exported to Southeast Asia and enjoys a longstanding reputation.

　　Introduction to Famous Matu Tea

　　Known as the “Plateau of Meizhou,” Matu is one of the most suitable regions in Meizhou for tea cultivation. Over 300 years ago, high-mountain green tea started being grown here. The tea gardens are mainly located on high-altitude terraced fields that are shrouded in clouds year-round and covered with lush vegetation. The tea plants are the rare and precious Small-Leaf Oolong variety, and the tea is produced using a unique traditional handmade process. The resulting green tea features long, eyebrow-like leaves with a grayish-green, glossy color, tender and soft leaf bottoms, and a liquor that is greenish with a slight yellow hue. It has a mellow, refreshing taste, an aromatic and rich flavor, refreshes the mind, and leaves a lasting aftertaste. As a result, the high-quality Matu Tea has gradually become a locally renowned tea, and in 1984, it was recognized as one of the Eight Famous Teas of Meizhou. Overseas Chinese residing in Southeast Asia, as well as compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, often ask someone to purchase or personally travel to Matu to buy several kilograms of Matu Tea when they return home to visit family—it is considered an excellent gift for relatives and friends. Villagers in Matu say that in 1929, the Commander-in-Chief led the Red Army to stay in Matu Village. After tasting Matu Tea, he spoke highly of it, greatly encouraging and inspiring the tea farmers. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Fengshun County Committee Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China composed a folk song titled “A Cup of Matu Tea for You,” expressing nostalgia for the Commander-in-Chief’s appreciation of Matu Tea. The lyrics go: “Matu green tea covers the hills, every leaf releases fragrance so fine. The Red Army planted seeds of red tea (note), sown in the mountains and planted in our hearts. Oh brothers of the Red Army, come back please, have a cup of Matu Tea with me.”