Jinyun Sweet Tea

Jinyun Sweet Tea

　　It refers to the tree species Castanopsis eyrei of the beech family, a tall tree with long, pointed leaves, young shoots that are slightly purplish-red, slender trunks, and few branches. It is now primarily distributed along the ridges of Jinyun Mountain in Beibei District, Chongqing, with a very small annual production of only a few thousand kilograms. Jinyun Sweet Tea is produced by harvesting tender leaves and shoots during spring and summer, then steaming, stir-frying, and roasting them to dryness. The tea broth is fresh and clear with a verdant hue, offering a fragrant, mellow, and smooth aroma. Its sweet aftertaste lingers long after drinking. Moreover, the tea is non-irritating and beneficial to the stomach and overall health when consumed regularly. It was a featured product at the 1937 Paris International Exposition of Products. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Commander Zhu De would drink this tea liberally every morning and evening during his visits to Beibei.