Weng'an Tea

Weng'an Tea

　　Weng'an tea is a specialty of Weng'an County in Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province. In line with the goals of developing modern agriculture and based on local conditions, Weng'an has adopted a differentiated development model to produce premium teas such as white tea and golden leaf tea, making the tea industry a pillar sector for enriching the people and revitalizing the county.

　　As the saying goes, “Good mountains and good water produce good tea.” Weng'an is located in the central part of Guizhou. It has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, with undulating mountains, frequent clouds and fog, abundant rainfall, simultaneous rain and heat, and fertile soil. Most of the soil is yellow earth developed from sandy shale, which is slightly acidic—ideal for tea tree growth. The county has over 200,000 mu of land suitable for tea cultivation and is recognized as a tea-suitable area in Guizhou’s agricultural regionalization plan.

　　Weng'an County has a long history of tea production. While there are many tea varieties, green tea is especially prominent in terms of planting area, output, and economic value. According to the *Weng'an Agricultural Annals*, in 1944 the county produced 9.5 tons of tea and was listed as a major tea-producing county by the Guizhou Agricultural Improvement Institute. Weng'an green tea is widely favored for its tender green color, fragrant aroma, fresh and mellow taste, bright green liquor, long-lasting brew, and rich aftertaste. Research by the Guizhou Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine once demonstrated its significant liver-protecting effects. In 1993, it won the prestigious Golden Boy Golden Cup Award at the American International Light Industrial Products Expo. In 2007, it received a silver award at the International Forestry Expo. In April 2010, the "Mansheng" brand Mansheng Gongchun tea from Weng'an Mansheng Tea Co., Ltd. won the gold award at the 2010 "China Green Cup," while Mansheng Gongya took the silver award.

　　In recent years, Weng'an County has adhered to a three-pronged approach involving “large growers, small households, and leading enterprises,” employing a development model characterized by “government guidance, farmer participation, large grower leadership, and leading enterprise drive” to boost the tea industry. By 2012, the county’s tea plantation area exceeded 100,000 mu. That year, the productive tea gardens yielded 1,970 tons of dried tea, generating an output value of 38.612 million yuan, effectively increasing the income and prosperity of residents in tea-growing areas.