Westward Mountain Insect Tea

Westward Mountain Insect Tea

　　In the scenic area of Westward Mountain grows a peculiar tea tree—the Xishan White Tea. This tea is made using a unique process and differs from other varieties in color, aroma, and taste, making it highly favored by tea enthusiasts. However, despite possessing this distinctive characteristic, Xiufeng County has yet to bring a finished product to market. The locals of the Westward Mountain area and insightful individuals in Xiufeng believe—

　　Westward Mountain Insect Tea Will Shine One Day

　　　　Westward Mountain, also known as Xishan, is located within Xishan Township, 12 kilometers east of Xiufeng County. It was a renowned Buddhist site during the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republic of China period, with its influence extending to Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, and Zhejiang provinces, earning the title “The First Southern Mountain of Buddhism in Southwest China.” The mountain once hosted the highly famous Fengchi Temple and the “Eight Great Temples of Xishan,” which enjoyed considerable renown at the time. To this day, dozens of cliff inscriptions remain, left by eminent monks, scholars, and military-political figures from both within and beyond the province who visited the mountain. There are also historical relics such as the Wangsong Stele, which records the life and Buddhist philosophy of Yu Song, the founding patriarch of Westward Mountain, and the Oath Stele, which is closely related to the Ming Dynasty's Jianwen Emperor. With deep cultural significance, it is one of the main tourist attractions within the provincial-level scenic area of Xiufeng.

　　　　Westward Mountain features unique peaks, peculiar rocks, beautiful springs, and serene forests. Its geological structure consists of Jurassic quartz sandstone from the Mesozoic era, with red acidic soil on the surface—conditions ideal for the growth of tea trees and various other plants. The mountainous area sits at an altitude of 1,400 to 1,600 meters, with mist-shrouded conditions for over half the year and a moist climate. The soil and climatic conditions here are similar to those of most high-quality tea-producing regions across the province and beyond. The Xishan White Tea is produced in just such a unique natural and cultural environment.

　　　　Compared to other teas, Xishan White Tea has three distinct characteristics: first, while the majority of tea plants are shrubs, Xishan White Tea is an arbor tree that can grow over 4 meters tall, with broader leaves than typical tea foliage; second, the undersides of Xishan White Tea leaves are covered with white fuzz, from which the tea gets its name; third, white tea does not produce fruit or seeds, so propagation must be done via cuttings rather than seeds. Xishan White Tea grows among the diverse array of trees on Westward Mountain and can only be identified by older local farmers—truly a hidden gem nestled deep in the mountains.

　　　　The production process of Xishan White Tea is largely the same as that of other teas: after picking, it undergoes frying, rolling, and sun-drying to create the final product. However, the process of turning the tea into insect tea is vastly different from the production of other types of tea.