Rongxian Oil Tea

Rongxian Oil Tea

Rongxian Oil Tea is a Geographical Indication Certification trademark.

　　Rongxian Oil Tea is a specialty of Rong County, Zigong City, Sichuan Province. The cultivation of oil tea in Rong County has a long history. The main varieties grown locally are Dahongpao and Qingguo Xiaocha, with approximately 65,000 acres relatively concentrated in planting areas. Rongxian Oil Tea has been granted a National Geographical Indication Certification trademark.

　　According to the Rong County Annals, oil tea has a long history of cultivation in the area. Local mountain residents once had afforestation experience involving planting pine, cypress, tung trees, and oil tea. Tea oil is one of the main sources of cooking oil for people in the mountainous regions.

　　Currently, there are two major categories (green fruit and red fruit) and 11 high-quality varieties of oil tea in Rong County. These varieties are high-yielding and have high oil extraction rates. Some individual plants can yield up to 110 jin (approximately 55 kg) per year. The trees enter their peak fruiting period after 8 years, and with proper scientific management and care, they can maintain stable production for up to 80 years. The oil extraction rate of dried tea seeds ranges from 30–43%, while that of fresh tea seeds is generally 8–15%. The oil tea variety also exhibits strong resistance to adverse conditions.

　　In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rong County vigorously promoted the transformation of low-yield forests and the establishment of high-standard new tea plantations. The oil tea planting area reached over 100,000 acres, making it the county with the largest area and highest oil production in Zigong City. Currently, oil tea in Rong County is widely distributed, with 24 out of the county’s 27 towns and townships having oil tea plantations in their forested areas. Among them, approximately 65,000 acres are relatively concentrated, primarily in Baohua Town, Shuanggu Town, Dongxing Town, Tiechang Town, and Dujia Town.

　　The wood-produced edible oil extracted from oil tea seeds is rich in Vitamin E, fatty acids, and camellia glycosides. Its unsaturated fatty acid content exceeds 90%, far higher than that of vegetable oil, peanut oil, and soybean oil. As a result, oil tea seed oil is also known as “Oriental Olive Oil.”

　　In 2013, the “Rongxian Oil Tea” application submitted by the Rongxian Oil Tea Association was approved and registered by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China as a National Geographical Indication Certification trademark. The trademark registration number is: 13084375.

　　Rongxian Oil Tea

　　Rongxian Oil Tea Association

　　13084375

　　Edible Oil