Nanchuan Big Tree Tea

Nanchuan Big Tree Tea

Nanchuan Big Tree Tea is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Nanchuan Big Tree Tea is a product certified under the Agricultural Geographical Indications system.

　　Hometown of Big Tree Tea — Nanchuan

　　Nanchuan Tea (scientific name: Camellia nanchuanica) is a species in the genus Camellia of the Theaceae family. It is found in Sichuan and other parts of mainland China, typically growing at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, often within broad-leaved forests. It has not been artificially cultivated or introduced so far.

　　The unique ecological climate and environmental conditions of Nanchuan District are suitable for tea tree growth. Historical records indicate that Nanchuan has over 1,700 years of tea production history. As early as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Mao Wenxi’s "Tea Manual" documented, “Fuzhou produces three types of tea, with Binhua being the finest (today’s Nanchuan)...” Nanchuan boasts abundant tea tree resources, with 64,700 mu of existing tea plantations. The Jinfo Mountain area is home to a large number of wild large tea trees. It is reported that Wu Juenong, a renowned tea expert and then Vice Minister of Agriculture, organized tea specialists to conduct surveys and research on the wild tea tree resources of Jinfo Mountain. The budding periods are divided into three major categories — early, mid, and late — comprising eighteen varieties. A large wild tea tree located at Liu Jiao in Chashu Village, Delong Township, is the largest in Nanchuan and is honored as the “King of Tea Trees.” According to measurements by tea experts from Southwest University, this tea tree is over 1,400 years old and represents a valuable primitive genetic resource. It plays an important role in studying the origin and breeding of tea plants worldwide. Research on the suitability of Jinfo Mountain’s wild large tea trees for processing showed that the green tea produced had a rich aroma, strong flavor, and good endurance for brewing. The oolong tea produced was even better, while the black broken tea outperformed small- and medium-leaf varieties from Sichuan and collective varieties from Fujian, approaching the quality of Yunnan large-leaf varieties. These teas are rich in internal components, especially amino acids, which reach an exceptionally high level of 4299.1 mg%. The variety features large leaves, soft leaf texture, strong cold resistance, yellowish-green leaves, and excellent final tea quality. In 2008, the wild big tree tea of Jinfo Mountain obtained organic tea certification. On May 30–31, 2010, Zhou Guofu, President of the China International Tea Culture Research Association and Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, visited Nanchuan to inspect the tea industrialization efforts. He tasted the wild big tree tea from Jinfo Mountain, expressed high hopes for Nanchuan’s tea industry, spoke highly of the wild big tree tea, and inscribed the phrase “Heaven-bestowed Buddhist Tea” with great appreciation.

　　Nanchuan Tea – Morphological Characteristics

　　It is a small arbor, 5–8 meters tall, with young branches glabrous and buds covered in soft hairs. The leaves are leathery, elliptical, 5–13 cm long and 4–6.5 cm wide, with an acute apex, cuneate or slightly rounded base, dark green and slightly glossy upper surface, grayish-green and glabrous lower surface, 7–8 pairs of lateral veins visible on both surfaces, indistinct reticulate veins, margins densely set with fine serrations, and petioles 8–10 mm long. Flowers are terminal in leaf axils, white, 6 cm in diameter, with 7–9 mm long glabrous pedicels; two early-deciduous bracts; five nearly round sepals, 6–7 mm long, glabrous; seven to eight obovate petals, 2.5–3 cm long, glabrous; stamens distinct, 2.3 cm long, glabrous; ovary with 4–5 chambers, glabrous; style 1.5–1.8 cm long, 4–5-lobed at the apex. The capsule is oblate, 4–5 cm in diameter and 2.5–3 cm high, grooved, 4–5-valved, with 1–2 mm thick woody valves. It grows in broad-leaved forests at elevations of 1,300 meters.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The production area of Nanchuan Big Tree Tea is mainly concentrated between 107°02′09″–107°18′06″ east longitude and 28°31′48″–28°53′16″ north latitude. It is distributed across five townships south of Jinfo Mountain, east of Baizhi Mountain, and north of Sanjie Mountain: Delong Township, Hexi Town, Guhua Township, Dayou Town, and Sanquan Town (Mazui Village). The eastern boundary reaches Shijia Village in Guhua Township, the southern boundary reaches Caoba Village in Hexi Town, the western boundary reaches Chashu Village in Delong Township, and the northern boundary reaches Mazui Village in Sanquan Town. The elevation ranges from 800 to 1,600 meters, covering an area of 700 hectares with an annual yield of 100 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External sensory characteristics: Robust shape, deep green color, strong varietal aroma, bright yellowish-green soup color, fresh and mellow taste with a sweet aftertaste, and uniformly bright yellowish-green leaf base. 2. Unique internal components: Water extract ≥35%, moisture ≤6.5%, ash ≤6.5%. 3. Safety requirements: Products within the Nanchuan Big Tree Tea geographical indication protection area strictly follow the national “Pollution-Free Tea Production Technical Regulations” (NY/T5018—2001), and the use of pesticides and fertilizers complies with the national “Pollution-Free Tea” (NY5244—2004) standards.