Wuzi Xianhao

Wuzi Xianhao

Wuzi Xianhao is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　　Wuzi Xianhao tea is a type of green tea, produced in Xixiang County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, known as the "Famous Tea Hometown of China." It was first created in 1984 and is a famous-brand product of Shaanxi Province. The tea leaves resemble orchid blossoms, with emerald green color, and the leaf base shows evenly tender sprouts forming distinct buds.

　　　　Basic Introduction:

　　　　Wuzi Xianhao is a premium green tea, produced at Wuzi Mountain, a sacred Taoist site in southern Xixiang County, Shaanxi Province. It is a nationally recognized premium green tea developed by tea research technicians in Xixiang County. It serves as the official diplomatic gift tea of the Shaanxi Provincial Government and is hailed as the "Queen of Teas."

　　　　The tea gardens are located in southern Shaanxi, eastern Hanzhong region, with an average annual temperature of 14.7°C, annual rainfall of 1000–1500 mm, and altitude ranging from 600 to 1200 meters, providing suitable conditions for tea cultivation. The soil is slightly acidic with high organic matter content. The tea-growing areas feature lush forests, fresh air, fertile soil, and an ideal tea-growing environment described as "mountains washed by rain, spring-like all year round."

　　　　Xixiang County in Hanzhong City has a long history of tea cultivation, which began in the Warring States period, flourished in the Qin and Han dynasties, thrived in the Tang and Song dynasties, and prospered in the Ming and Qing dynasties. [2] According to the Xixiang County Annals, tea production in Xixiang started in the Qin and Han dynasties and peaked in the Tang and Song dynasties. Historical records mention that "men neglected farming and women neglected weaving, as the people worked day and night without ceasing to produce tea." The Ming History’s Treatise on Food and Commodities states that in the early Ming Dynasty, Xixiang was one of the main distribution centers for the "tea-for-horses" trade.

　　　　The tea was first developed in 1984, and after two years of effort, the project succeeded. In early 1985, it passed provincial technical appraisal and new product evaluation, and was selected for display at the National Quality Products Exhibition, where it received widespread acclaim. In 1986, it was awarded the title of National Famous Tea, passed the national re-evaluation in 1990, won the "Chinese Cultural Famous Tea" award at the Hangzhou International Tea Culture Festival in 1991, received national quality certification for famous tea in the same year, obtained Green Food certification in 1995, was named a Shaanxi Famous Brand Product in 1997.

　　　　Planting Scale:

　　　　As of the end of June 2012, the tea plantation area in Hanzhong City had expanded to 588,000 mu, with total output reaching 96.619 million tons and total output value nearing 1 billion yuan. The city ranks first in Shaanxi Province in both tea planting area and output, accounting for 58% and 71% of the province’s totals respectively. There are 48 enterprises across Hanzhong managing nearly 120,000 mu of tea gardens that have received pollution-free, green, or organic tea certifications. The city has eight tea-producing counties, making up 72.7% of its total county (district) count, and 112 tea-producing towns, accounting for 47.9% of all towns. There are over 600 tea processing enterprises, more than 300 operating businesses, 4,000+ processing machines, with an annual processing capacity of around 15,000 tons. The city has 13,000 tea-farming households and 11 specialized tea trading markets. The Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government attach great importance to the development of southern Shaanxi’s tea industry, having established a series of preferential policies to support it. As early as 1998, when adjusting its agricultural structure, the Hanzhong Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government designated tea as a featured leading industry and provided key support. In 2004, Hanzhong made the "Decision to Strengthen and Expand the Hanzhong Tea Industry," with the municipal finance allocating special funds for industrial development each year. In 2007, another important decision, "Accelerating the Development of 600,000 Mu of High-Yield, Dense-Planting Eco-Tea Gardens for Modern Agricultural Industrialization," provided strong assurance for industry growth. Last year, the Hanzhong municipal finance provided over 5 million yuan in support funding for the tea industry.

　　　　Efficacy and Effects

　　　　Wuzi Xianhao is a nutritious product rich in trace elements such as zinc and selenium. It offers benefits including anti-viral properties, quenching thirst and cooling the body, refreshing the mind, detoxifying and promoting urination, reducing greasiness and aiding digestion, weight loss and skin beautification, enhancing beauty and longevity, lowering blood lipids and pressure, resisting radiation, and preventing cancer.

　　　　Regular consumption of Wuzi Xianhao can supplement essential vitamins required by the human body. Green tea contains large amounts of antioxidants such as flavonoids and theanine, which help detoxify and combat oxidation, strengthening the body’s resistance and immunity. Drinking green tea regularly helps flush out bodily waste, ensuring intestinal health, and plays a significant role in disease prevention.

　　　　Wuzi Xianhao can also enhance the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs. Taking anti-inflammatory medication with 5% concentration Wuzi Xianhao green tea water can boost their effectiveness, thanks to components in the tea such as catechins and phylloquinone. These compounds also possess strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

　　　　Wuzi Xianhao can aid digestion and relieve acute diarrhea caused by bacterial infections. It also aids in weight loss. People frequently exposed to paint, computers, and similar environments are advised to drink more green tea, as are smokers and drinkers. For the elderly, cold-brewing the tea—using cool boiled water—is recommended, as it helps lower the "three highs" (hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia).

　　Geographic Range

　　　The 22 administrative towns and townships under the jurisdiction of Xixiang County, Shaanxi Province: Chengguan Town, Gucheng Town, Yankou Town, Wuliba Town, Shahe Town, Yanghe Town, Luojiaba Township, Lianghekou Town, Zuoxi Township, Gaochuan Town, Luo Town Township, Chazhen, SiShang Township, Xiakou Town, Majiawan Township, Sanhuashi Township, Bailongtang Town, Sangyuan Town, Baimianxia Township, Sidu Town, Liushu Town, and Dahe Town.

　　Unique Qualities

　　　　Wuzi Xianhao tea is a type of green tea, produced in Xixiang County, Shaanxi Province, known as the "Famous Tea Hometown of China." Its leaves resemble orchid blossoms, with emerald green and fresh luster, covered in white down; it boasts a lasting fragrance, clear and bright soup color, mellow taste with a refreshing and sweet aftertaste, and aesthetically pleasing leaf base showing evenly tender sprouts forming distinct buds.

　　Cultural Stories

　　　　According to the Xixiang County Annals, tea production in Xixiang began in the Qin and Han dynasties and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties. Historical records mention that "men neglected farming and women neglected weaving, as the people worked day and night without ceasing to produce tea." The Ming History’s Treatise on Food and Commodities states that in the early Ming Dynasty, Xixiang was one of the main distribution centers for the "tea-for-horses" trade.

　　Wuzi Xianhao was first developed in 1984, and after two years of effort, the project succeeded. After evaluation by relevant experts, it received unanimous praise and was selected for display at the National Quality Products Exhibition in 1985, where it was widely acclaimed.