Pearl Orchid Tea

Pearl Orchid Tea

　　Pearl Orchid Tea: A Fine Brew Nurtured by Wuling Clouds

　　When talking about Qianjiang’s cuisine, one must mention Pearl Orchid Tea. “Don’t underestimate Pearl Orchid Tea. It originated in the Three Kingdoms period and flourished in the Qing Dynasty, winning the favor of Emperor Qianlong, who even commissioned a poetic floral ink plaque that has been passed down through generations.”

　　Pearl Orchid Tea is made primarily from the region’s unique selenium-rich green tea and the precious pearl orchid flower, using both traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. The resulting tea leaves are tender, fresh, and vibrant green, with an elegant, rich, and long-lasting fragrance. Its taste is pure, refreshing, and mellow, while also being rich in selenium. The tea broth is bright yellow-green and crystal-clear, making it a premium-grade tea that uplifts the spirit, refreshes the mind, and leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth — truly a masterpiece among teas.

　　For a time, the best tea was produced around the Qingming Festival, while the best pearl orchid flowers bloomed around mid-July, making it difficult to align the two due to their mismatched seasons. However, Pengda Group’s Chongqing Pearl Orchid Imperial Tea Co., Ltd. overcame this challenge through technical innovation, achieving the perfect combination of tea and flower — giving rise to the popular brand of Pearl Orchid Tea we know today.

　　Coincidentally, another long-renowned local specialty is the Pagoda Vegetable.

　　In the Wuling Mountain region, there is a unique vegetable that resembles a caterpillar or silkworm larva, known as Di Gu Niu, also called Pagoda Vegetable or “Fairy Mountain Jade Bead.” With its crystal-clear appearance, cool and crisp texture, it is rich in stachyose, beneficial for bile and urination, nourishing yin and enriching blood. Not only does it aid digestion, but it also helps relieve alcohol intoxication, making it a rare natural health food.

　　According to the person in charge of Qianjiang Fairy Mountain Jade Bead Food Co., Ltd., this little-known item, rare elsewhere, is abundant in the Wuling Mountains. It can be packed in baskets or pickled in jars — so much so that locals not only have enough for themselves but also plenty left to sell. Currently, the product has been exported to countries such as Japan and South Korea.