Jinxiu Wild Tea

Jinxiu Wild Tea

　　Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County is situated in the central-eastern part of Guangxi within the Dayao Mountain area. The region features dense forests, high mountains with frequent fog, fresh air, fertile soil, excellent water quality, mild climate, and abundant rainfall, providing uniquely favorable natural and climatic conditions as well as ecological advantages for tea production. Jinxiu is acknowledged as one of the most suitable tea-growing regions in the country and is a premium production area for high-quality teas. In 2005, 10,000 mu of tea plantations in Jinxiu passed the autonomous region’s pollution-free certification, and in 2009, the county was designated as a national demonstration county for the tea industry technology system.

　　Jinxiu County has a long history of tea production. Historical records indicate that tea cultivation began as early as the Tang Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, Dongwen Tea and Bainiu Tea were listed as tributes to the imperial court. In the 1950s, wild Bainiu Tea discovered in Bainiu Village, Luoxiang Township, was noted for being tough enough to crush copper coins, making it one of the most unique teas in Guangxi (as recorded in *The History of Guangxi Tea* by Chen Aixin). In recent years, the county’s Party committee and government have introduced a series of measures and policies to promote agricultural restructuring, enhance productivity, and increase farmers’ income. Tea production has been prioritized as a key pathway for mountainous-area farmers to escape poverty and achieve prosperity, as well as a distinctive industry for the county’s economic development. The tea industry has grown rapidly, gradually becoming a pillar sector for mountain farmers to lift themselves out of poverty and a top-performing sector overall. Currently, the county has 40,000 mu of tea plantations, covering 46 administrative villages across 9 townships. Major cultivated varieties include Fuyun No. 6, Fuding Dabao, Fuding Dabai, Mingshan Baihao 131, Mingshan Zao 311, Guilv No. 1, Shiyatai Tea, and local wild tea varieties. In 2012, the tea planting area reached 29,800 mu, with total tea output of 480 tons and output value of 43.2 million yuan. In 2013, the tea area expanded to 34,100 mu, yielding 534 tons with an output value of 50.2 million yuan, marking year-on-year growth of 14.43%, 11.25%, and 16.2%, respectively.

　　Jinxiu County is rich in wild tea resources, including nationally recognized premium tea cultivars such as Bainiu Tea. Wild tea is abundant in polyphenols and other compounds essential for producing high-quality black and dark teas. Since 2012, the county has undertaken large-scale artificial propagation of wild tea. To date, 127 mu of standardized wild tea seedling nurseries have been established, cultivating 15 million wild tea seedlings, ensuring a steady supply for future large-scale planting. In 2014, Jinxiu County newly planted 3,800 mu of wild tea.