Guiding Yunwu Tribute Tea

Regarding Guiding Yunwu Tribute Tea, Lu Yu, the Tea Sage of the Tang Dynasty, recorded in *The Classic of Tea · On Tea Origins*: “Fuzhou produces three types of tea, with Binhua being the finest, made in early spring.” “In central Qian, tea is produced in Sizhou, Bozhou, Feizhou, and Yizhou… Unfortunately, the yield is too small, and when one manages to obtain it, the flavor is exceptionally good.” The Tea Sage praised the taste of Yunwu Tribute Tea as extremely good but lamented its limited production.

It is called tribute tea because, during the Tang Dynasty, Yunwu tea was presented as an offering to the imperial court for the enjoyment of the royal family. This also serves as proof that the tea from Yunwu Mountain is of very high quality.

Yunwu tea is a type of green tea, and its production process is highly meticulous. Freshly picked “one bud and two leaves” are immediately spread out to cool. After three hours, they undergo processing steps including high-temperature fixation → rolling → ball rubbing → tipping → drying → foam removal and sorting → grading and storage. The tea has a smooth texture and a rich, fragrant taste. It is renowned for its characteristics of “tight, slender, curled leaves with visible tips, even and greenish luster, bright greenish-yellow infusion, delicate aroma, fresh and brisk taste, strong aftertaste, tender and uniform leaf base, vibrant and bright appearance.”