Xingning Dancong Tea

Xingning Dancong Tea

　　Xingning Dancong Tea is a specialty of Xingning City, Meizhou, Guangdong Province. As a premium variety in Guangdong’s famous teas, Xingning Dancong Tea is grown at high altitudes with superior ecological environments, cultivated naturally and processed using a combination of traditional methods and modern refined techniques. The tea boasts a unique aroma, mellow taste, and golden, crystal-clear infusion, and has been awarded the championship title for Guangdong Dancong Tea multiple times.

　　Xingning Dancong Tea is the first product recommended by the Provincial Consumers' Committee. The tea is categorized by season: spring tea, summer tea, autumn tea, and snowflake tea. Due to seasonal variations, the resulting teas differ in flavor, price, and grade. Dancong Tea contains various essential trace elements for the human body. Regular consumption can aid in weight loss, reduce greasiness, improve digestion and appetite, boost energy, and uplift the mood. It is a green food suitable for all ages. Xingning Dancong Tea is especially favored by people from all walks of life for its excellent color, aroma, and mellow taste.

　　I. Production History

　　Meizhou City is located in the transitional zone between the South Subtropical and Central Subtropical climate regions, with soils predominantly red or yellow, acidic or slightly acidic, and a pH value ranging between 4.5 and 6.5. These soil and climatic conditions are quite suitable for tea tree growth.

　　Meizhou has a long history of tea production, and farmers have long had the habit of planting tea trees and processing tea. The "Huizhou Prefecture Records" from 960–1280 AD mention the production of local tea in Changle (now Wuhua County). Monks from generations past at Lingguang Temple on Yinna Mountain in Meixian District and at Xizhu Temple on Xiyang Mountain in Dapu County planted tea trees and processed tea in front of their temples. During the Ming Dynasty, tea production had spread throughout the city, and during the Qing Dynasty, famous tea-producing areas emerged in various counties, such as Qingliangshan Tea from Meixian, Guantian Tea from Xingning, Tianzhu Mountain Tea from Wuhua, Matu Tea from Fengshun, Xiyang Tea from Dapu, Guo Tea and Nantai Tea from Pingyuan, and Huangkeng Tea from Jiaoling — collectively known as the eight famous local teas. After Shantou became a trading port in 1860, tea became an export commodity, with Meizhou’s teas being shipped to Southeast Asian countries. Qingliangshan Tea, in particular, was tightly rolled and uniform, with a fragrant and rich aroma, emerald-green and clear soup, and a mellow, refreshing taste, making it highly popular with consumers and well-regarded among overseas Chinese. During the Anti-Japanese War, due to the fall of Shantou, exports were disrupted, tea prices fell, and years of war left farmers unable to manage tea gardens. Tea cultivation was limited to scattered plots in mountainous areas or near temples. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Party and the government led farmers in reclaiming and developing new tea gardens, establishing state-owned and collective tea farms to develop tea production. In the 1960s, Jiaoling County took the lead in establishing state-owned tea-focused farms and Guangfu Tea Farm. Meixian developed Qingliangshan, and Xingning established the Nanhua Gang State-Owned Tea and Forest Farm. Dapu County formed the collectively owned Xiyang Tea Farm on Xiyang Mountain, introducing superior varieties such as Yunnan large-leaf and Meizhan, and promoting advanced techniques like high-standard land clearing, deep plowing, improved soil, deep furrows with thick fertilization, grass mulching, staged pruning for canopy maintenance, and batched leaf retention harvesting. Tea-making processes were reformed to include semi-mechanized or mechanized production. Tea garden areas continued to expand, yields increased year by year, and quality significantly improved. By 1980, the tea garden area had expanded from 494 hectares in 1949 to 2,467 hectares, and tea production increased from 73.55 tons in 1949 to 710.90 tons.

　　In 1990, the tea planting area in Meizhou reached 5,600 hectares, with a total output of 2,238 tons, representing increases of 124.6% and 256.8% respectively compared to 1978. By 1996, the tea garden area reached 12,000 hectares, including 7,333 hectares of productive gardens, producing 6,000 tons of tea. In 2000, the total tea garden area was 12,000 hectares, with a total output of 8,300 tons.

　　II. Famous and High-Quality Brands

　　After the reform and opening-up in 1979, many tea brands from Meizhou successively received various provincial and national awards for excellence.

　　In 1989, Nanhua Brand Qilan Tea produced by the Xingning County Tea Farm won the title of High-Quality Product from the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　In 1990, Nanhua Brand Qilan Tea from the Xingning County Tea Farm and Fengshan Brand Shuixian Tea from Tanzhen Town, Fengshun County, were recognized as National Green Foods.

　　In 1992, Nanhua Brand Dancong Tea produced by the Xingning County Tea Farm won the title of Provincial Famous Tea and ranked first; Nanhua Brand Golden Osmanthus Tea and Dancong Tea from Guangfu Tea Farm also received Provincial High-Quality Product titles.

　　In 1994, Guiling Brand Dancong Tea from the Jiaoling County Agricultural Comprehensive Development Office and Dancong Tea from Dawangkeng Village, Pingyuan Town, Dapu County, won Silver Awards for Provincial Famous Tea; Golden Osmanthus Tea from Dangping Tea Farm in Changzhi Town, Dapu County, won a Silver Award for Provincial High-Quality Product; Dancong Tea from Guangfu Tea Farm and Nanhua Brand Golden Osmanthus Tea from the Xingning County Tea Farm received Provincial High-Quality Product titles; Jian Shen Brand Jian Shen Tea series from Meizhou Jian Shen Tea Factory won the National Gold Award for Most Favorite Health Product.

　　In 1995, at the National Agricultural Expo, Xizhu Brand Dancong Tea and Kuding Tea from Xiyang Tea Group Company in Dapu County won National Gold Awards, and Xizhu Brand Oolong Tea won a National Silver Award.

　　In 1996, 15 tea products in the city received titles of Guangdong Famous and High-Quality Teas, including one famous tea and 14 high-quality teas. These were: Shikeng Brand Dancong Tea from Shixiang Town, Meixian, which won the Provincial Famous Tea title and ranked first in the province; Huangfeng Brand Dancong Tea from Angtiāntiān Tea Farm in Jiaoling County, which won a Provincial High-Quality Product title and ranked among the top high-quality teas in the province; Guiling Brand Dancong Tea from the Jiaoling County Agricultural Comprehensive Development Office, which also received a Provincial High-Quality Product title; Dancong Tea from Baiyashan Tea Farm in Jingxin Town, Xingning, Nanhua Brand Dancong Tea and Qilan Tea from the Xingning County Tea Farm, Lotus Mountain Brand Dancong Tea from Fengshun County Tea Company, Sanfeng Brand Dancong Tea and Qilan Tea from the Xingning Famous and High-Quality Tea Demonstration Farm, Huangyoubi Tea Forest from Jiaoling County producing Huangfeng Brand Dancong Tea, Dancong Tea from Huangfengwo Tea Farm in Jingnan Town, Xingning, Baiye Brand Dancong Tea from Dongfang Tea Farm in Dapu County, Guangfu Brand Dancong Tea from Guangfu Tea Farm in Guangdong Province, Tieying Brand Dancong Tea from Tieshan Famous Tea in Xingning, and Meijian Tea from Shangguantang Farm Tea Factory in Meizhou — all receiving Provincial High-Quality Product titles. Angtiāntiān Tea Farm in Jiaoling County was awarded the honorary title of “Famous and High-Quality Tea Production Base” by the Agricultural Reclamation Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office for Developing South Subtropical Crops.

　　In 1997, at the 97 China International Tea Technology and Culture Exchange Conference and China International Tea Industry Exhibition held in Beijing, Meizhou was awarded the title of “China’s Renowned Dancong Tea Hometown.” Among the 104 tea products across the country that were awarded gold awards, 15 from Meizhou received this honor. These included: Weihua Qiniangshan Brand Dancong Tea, Dapu Xizhu Brand Huangzhi Xiang, Xizhu Brand Dancong Tea, Xingning Huangfengwo Brand Dancong Tea, Huangfengwo Brand Qilan Tea, Huangfengwo Brand Golden Osmanthus Tea, Nanhua Brand Dancong Tea, Tieying Brand Dancong Tea, Tieying Brand Golden Osmanthus, Tieying Brand Qilan Tea, Sanfeng Brand Dancong Tea, Jiaoling Huangfeng Brand Dancong Tea, Meixian Shikeng Brand Dancong Tea, and Yingshuai Brand Dancong Tea. Additionally, two products received Special Awards: Meixian Kejia Brand Baiye Dancong Tea and Meixian Jian Shen Brand Jian Shen Tea; three received Silver Awards: Sanfeng Brand Qilan Tea from the Xingning Famous Tea Demonstration Farm, Zhuzhuang Kuding Tea from Xizhu Brand in Dapu, and Jiayi Brand Kuding Tea; and two received Bronze Awards: Zhuzhuang Brand Dancong Tea and Xizhu Brand Xiyang Oolong Tea.

　　In 1998, Nanhua Brand Qilan Tea from the Xingning County Tea Farm and Fengshan Brand Shuixian Tea from Tanzhen Town, Fengshun County, received Provincial High-Quality Product titles.

　　The rapid development of famous and high-quality tea production in Meizhou and the continuous improvement in product quality have injected new vitality into tea production and provided a broad market. The production of famous and high-quality teas has become a flagship product of Meizhou’s “Three Highs” agriculture.