Madeng Tea

Madeng Tea

　　Madeng Tea is one of the eight famous teas in Yunnan Province. It is produced in Madeng Village, Zhedong Township, Zhenyuan County, a place known for its beautiful mountains and clear waters. As a tree-type large-leaf variety, Madeng Tea features emerald green liquor, rich color and aroma, long steeping endurance, a refreshing aftertaste, and does not leave an oily residue on teacups. It is considered a high-quality tea served by the local Yi people to honored guests. Madeng Tea has a history of over 200 years. Before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, it was used as a tribute and was produced in limited quantities. After the founding of New China, Madeng Tea achieved significant development and now covers over 1,000 acres. More than 100 dan (approximately 5 metric tons) are delivered to the state annually, and it is sold both domestically and internationally as a premium product. In 1990, during her visit to China, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand highly praised Madeng Tea after tasting it at a banquet hosted by the Yunnan Provincial Government. She expressed her desire to take some back to Thailand, and the provincial government happily gifted her some. This incident became widely celebrated. Today, Madeng Tea is exported to Japan, Southeast Asian countries, and Hong Kong SAR.

　　The History of Madeng Tea:

　　Legend has it that over a hundred years ago, Li Xuedong, a general under Li Wenming’s rebel army against the Qing Dynasty, retreated with his troops to the Wenshan Ailao Mountain stronghold in Zhedong, Zhenyuan. Over a thousand soldiers unfortunately contracted typhoid fever and dysentery, but three elderly and frail soldiers remained unharmed. Upon inquiry, they said they regularly drank locally grown Madeng Tea. Li Xuedong then obtained some Madeng Tea: for those with mild symptoms, he had them brew and drink the tea frequently with boiling water, and they recovered in two or three days. For the more severely ill, he added ginger, salt, and burnt sticky rice to the tea, boiled it into a concoction, and administered it. These patients also recovered after two or three days. As a result, Madeng Tea gained great fame and was called “an excellent therapeutic beverage.” At the 1981 Yunnan Provincial Famous and High-Quality Tea Evaluation Conference, Madeng Tea earned the honor of being one of Yunnan’s eight famous teas and gained the favor of many consumers.

　　On May 14, 1990, during her visit to China, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand highly praised Madeng Tea after tasting it at a banquet hosted by the Yunnan Provincial Government. She immediately expressed her wish to take some back to Thailand, and the provincial government was pleased to present her with 200 jin (approximately 100 kilograms) of spring-harvested Madeng Tea. This incident became widely celebrated.