Jinsha Tribute Tea

Jinsha Tribute Tea

Jinsha Tribute Tea is a product with geographical indication status.

　　Jinsha Tribute Tea is a specialty of Jinsha County in Bijie City, Guizhou Province. Jinsha County has been honored by the China Tea Marketing Association as the "Hometown of Chinese Tribute Tea."

　　Jinsha Tribute Tea has a long history. Historical records show that in 135 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty decreed it as a tribute tea, and it became widely popular across the country during the Qing Dynasty. With a history of more than two thousand years, provincial experts have confirmed that Jinsha is likely the birthplace of tribute tea culture in western China and even the whole country. To this day, Jinsha preserves over 40 ancient cultivated tea tree clusters, some with a history of a thousand years—extremely rare in the nation.

　　The development momentum of Jinsha’s tea industry has continued to attract attention and recognition from outside. The “Qingchi Maojian” tea from the Guizhou Jinsha County Tea Professional Cooperative won a gold award, while “Qingchi Green Tea” received a silver. Four brands from Guizhou Tianling Tea Co., Ltd.—“Tianling Cuipian,” “Tianling Yuping,” “Tianling Maojian,” and “Tianling Nverhong”—swept three golds and one silver in a major competition. More good news followed: Jinsha County was awarded the title of “Hometown of Chinese Tribute Tea” by the China Tea Marketing Association. This was the county’s first honor bearing the name “China,” and it is expected to strongly promote its efforts to become a key tea-producing region in the province. The Jinsha Qingchi Tribute Tea is currently competing in the selection for Guizhou’s Top Ten Famous Teas. Jinsha County aims to develop 180,000 acres of tea plantations within three years, expanding to 250,000 acres by 2020, with tea industry output surpassing 1.5 billion yuan.

　　Region: Guizhou

　　Applicant: Jinsha County Agricultural Technology Extension Station

　　Year of designation: 2014

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Jinsha Tribute Tea includes 26 towns: Chengguan Town, Shatu Town, Andi Town, Yumo Town, Yan Kong Town, Qingchi Town, Lantou Town, Yuancun Township, Guantian Township, Houshan Township, Changba Township, Mukong Township, Chayuan Township, Huajue Township, Gaoping Township, Pingba Township, Xiluo Township, Longba Township, Guihua Township, Shichang Miao-Yi Autonomous Township, Taiping Miao-Yi Autonomous Township, Qingmen Miao-Yi-Gelao Autonomous Township, Malu Miao-Yi Autonomous Township, Anluo Miao-Yi-Man Autonomous Township, Xinhua Miao-Yi-Man Autonomous Township, and Datian Miao-Yi-Buyi Autonomous Township. Its geographical coordinates are: 105°47′–106°44′ east longitude, 27°07′–27°46′ north latitude, covering a cultivation area of 1,250 square kilometers. Jinsha Tribute Tea is planted on 150,000 acres, with an annual yield exceeding one million kilograms.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　External Sensory Features: The tea leaves are hook-shaped, green and glossy with fine hairs; they emit a strong chestnut aroma; the infusion is bright yellow-green; the taste is mellow with a sweet aftertaste; the leaf base is tender, green, and uniform. Internal Quality Indicators: Analysis by the Guizhou Provincial Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Testing Center shows that Jinsha Tribute Tea is rich in nutrients, including 14–15% tea polyphenols, 2.7–3.0% caffeine, 3.4–3.8g/100g theanine, 0.2–0.3g/100g glutamic acid, 0.2–0.3g/100g tyrosine, 0.1–0.2g/100g arginine, among others. The production of Jinsha Tribute Tea strictly follows the technical regulations set by the Guizhou Provincial Tea Standards.