Luokeng Black Tea

Luokeng Black Tea

　　Luokeng Black Tea is produced in the Luokeng tea-growing area of the Luokeng Crocodile Lizard National Nature Reserve in Qujiang District, Shaoguan City. Luokeng tea has a long history, dating back over 1,200 years. In the Tang Dynasty, Lu Yu’s *Classic of Tea – Chapter on Production Regions* praised the tea grown under Snowflake Rock in Luokeng as “often obtained, with an exceptionally fine taste.” During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the *Yingde County Annals* specifically noted, “Tea from Luokeng... has an ancient aroma and mellow flavor, like an unassuming yet genuine person, truly distinctive and beyond the ordinary.” The *Qujiang County Annals* and *Shaoguan Prefecture Annals* from the Guangxu and Xuantong eras described Luokeng tea as having “a red color and mellow taste that remains unchanged overnight, specifically effective in dispelling summer heat.” The Luokeng Black Tea production area lies within a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, where prevailing winds from the north and south are common throughout the year, leading to distinct seasonal temperature shifts, abundant rainfall, and large day-night temperature differences. The soil is fertile, and the ecological environment remains largely pristine and moist, with an average annual temperature of 20.4°C. The region also features an extensive network of rivers and streams. These premium climatic and geographical conditions provide a naturally unpolluted environment ideal for growing Luokeng Black Tea. Luokeng Black Tea is a strip-shaped tea with reddish-brown hues and a smoky, aged aroma. Its liquor is bright red and richly colored, with a thick, mellow taste and a sweet aftertaste. It has an invigorating effect and does not develop off-odors or sourness even if steeped and left for 2–3 days. It is particularly effective in helping prevent and control conditions such as hypertension, high blood sugar, and fatty liver. The main production process for Luokeng Black Tea includes: withering – rolling – fermentation – drying – refining – packaging – finished tea. Major producers of Luokeng Black Tea include: Guangdong Snowflake Rock Tea Industry Co., Ltd., Shaoguan Qu1keng Monkey-Picked Black Tea Industry Co., Ltd., and the Qujiang District Luokeng Original Ecology Tea Industry Production & Sales Cooperative.

　　About the Luokeng Tea Factory

　　Lu Yu’s *Classic of Tea* from the Tang Dynasty stated: “Tea from Shaoguan is often obtained, with an exceptionally fine taste…”; during the Song Dynasty, Yu Jing, a renowned statesman from Shaoguan, wrote numerous poems about tea processing and appreciation, reflecting the thriving tea culture of Shaoguan at the time. In the Qing Dynasty, the *Shaoguan Prefecture Annals* noted: “Tea from Luokeng retains its flavor overnight, is especially effective in dispelling summer heat, and offers lingering fragrance even after seven infusions.”

　　The Luokeng Tea Factory of Qujiang District, Shaoguan City, is located in Luokeng Town within the Luokeng Crocodile Lizard National Nature Reserve. The highest peak in Luokeng, “Chuan Di Ding,” stands at an elevation of 1,568 meters and is covered with wild tea trees. Yao ethnic tea farmers have lived here for generations, making a livelihood by harvesting tea. In the early years after liberation, the products of Luokeng Tea Factory were famous for being exported overseas, particularly throughout Southeast Asia, but for various reasons, production ceased in the late 1980s. Starting in 2002, the Shaoguan Mingxiang Tea House resumed production and operation, introducing premium tea varieties such as Fujian Tieguanyin and Taiwan Cuiyu Oolong. In 2008, a tea cooperative was established. In 2010, the factory developed an oolong-style black tea called “Fruit Aroma & Honey Flavor.” In 2011 and 2013, “Fruit Aroma & Honey Flavor” won first prizes in the ninth and tenth China Tea Cup competitions, respectively. The Luokeng Tea Factory, in collaboration with the Luokeng Tea Cooperative, is now fully committed to building the Luokeng organic tea brand.