Qifo Tribute Tea

Qifo Tribute Tea

Qifo Tribute Tea is a protected geographical indication product.

Qifo Tribute Tea is a protected geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Qifo tea is produced in Qifo Township, Qingchuan County, Sichuan Province. The lowest altitude is 580 meters, the highest is 2,100 meters, and the average altitude of the tea-growing area is around 800 meters. The climate is mild, with abundant rainfall, lush forests, year-round misty mountains, perennially flowing streams at the foothills, fertile soil, warm winters and cool summers, and no industrial pollution sources — making it an ideal environment for producing organic tea. Qifo has a long history of tea production. Historical records indicate that as early as 1066 BC, after King Wu of Zhou led eight southern states to victory against King Zhou of Shang, the Marquis of Ju (Ju State, covering today’s Guangyuan region, with its administrative center at present-day Laozhao Hua, known as Jiameng Pass), offered local produce such as mulberry, silk, cinnabar, lacquer, and tea to King Wu. This is the earliest known written record of tea being presented as a tribute. Especially during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, she had a particular fondness for Qifo Tribute Tea. She even appointed a dedicated tea official to establish a tribute tea garden in Qifo, ensuring an annual tribute. Hence, the saying passed down through generations: “If the Empress hasn’t tasted Qifo tea, no other herb dares bloom first.”

　　Relying on modern science and technology, Qifo tea has gradually developed a series of products including Qifo Xiuya and Qifo Tribute Tea. It has won two international awards (the Malaysia Kuala Lumpur International Famous Tea Quality Award in October 2001 and the Japan "No Qingchuan County Tea Conference" Science and Technology Development Award in September 1999), five ministerial or provincial-level awards (China Tea Cup, Ganlu Cup, Tea Expo), and two municipal-level awards. These achievements have greatly enhanced the reputation of Qingchuan Qifo tea, which is now a nationally protected geographical origin product.

　　Qifo has a long history of tea production. Historical records indicate that as early as 1066 BC, after King Wu of Zhou led eight southern states to victory against King Zhou of Shang, the Marquis of Ju (Ju State, covering today’s Guangyuan region, with its administrative center at present-day Laozhao Hua, known as Jiameng Pass), offered local produce such as mulberry, silk, cinnabar, lacquer, and tea to King Wu. This is the earliest known written record of tea being presented as a tribute. Especially during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, she had a particular fondness for Qifo Tribute Tea. She even appointed a dedicated tea official to establish a tribute tea garden in Qifo, ensuring an annual tribute. Hence, the saying passed down through generations: “If the Empress hasn’t tasted Qifo tea, no other herb dares bloom first.”

　　Clarification

　　The unique quality of Qifo Tribute Tea is determined by the distinctive geographical environment of Qifo Township, and its brand name also originates from the tribute tea garden established there by Empress Wu Zetian. Today, all 32 townships across Qingchuan can use the Qifo Tribute Tea geographical indication brand, but authentic Qifo Tribute Tea is made solely from the fresh leaves of ancient wild tea trees native to Qifo Township. Tea produced in other townships or using modern improved varieties introduced into Qifo Township results in varying degrees of quality reduction. There are three tea processing factories in Qifo Township alone, and I have tasted their Qifo Tribute Tea. Among them, Lügou Tea Workshop is the smallest in scale, but its Lügou-brand Qifo Tribute Tea is made entirely from fresh leaves of locally grown wild tea trees, offering somewhat more guaranteed quality.

　　The protected geographical indication range of Qifo Tribute Tea is based on the scope proposed in the Qingchuan County People's Government of Sichuan Province’s Request for Defining the Protected Geographical Indication Product Area of “Qifo Tribute Tea” (Qingchuan Government [2007] No. 43). It includes the current administrative regions of 32 townships in Qingchuan County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province: Qingxi Town, Qiaolou Township, Sanguo Township, Haoxi Hui Ethnic Township, Fangshi Town, Quhe Township, Qianjin Township, Lean Temple Township, Qiaozhuang Town, Kongxi Township, Banqiao Township, Walie Township, Chaba Township, Huangping Township, Daba Township, Guanzhuang Town, Suhe Township, Hongguang Township, Shibei Township, Magong Township, Maoba Township, Liangshui Town, Dayuan Hui Ethnic Township, Zhuyuan Town, Malu Township, Qifo Township, Louzi Township, Muyu Town, Qima Township, Guanyindian Township, Shazhou Town, and Yingpan Township.