Basic Introduction to Saxian Red Border Tea
The Fujian Province Saxian Hongyuan Tea Co., Ltd. has researched, developed, and inherited the traditional production techniques of “Red Border Tea.” The company's chairman is a national-level tea evaluator with thirty years of experience in the tea industry, fully mastering the entire production process of “Red Border Tea.” Currently, our company is the sole producer of “Red Border Tea.”
Mr. Lin Zhongping, head of the Fujian Province Saxian Hongyuan Tea Co., Ltd. (with over three decades of experience in the tea industry and a national-level tea evaluator), felt great regret upon learning about its history and felt a sense of duty and obligation to revitalize this historically renowned tea from Saxian, Fujian. In 2007, Mr. Lin Zhongping and several skilled tea production experts dedicated themselves to researching and developing “Red Border Tea.” They combed through a vast amount of ancient literature, visited old tea shops in Saxian, collected data, and conducted extensive research and excavation work. Finally, in 2010, they proudly reintroduced this recovered “Red Border Tea” to the tea table and passed on its legacy.
Upon its release, the Red Border Tea received unanimous recognition and praise from industry insiders such as Zhang Tianfu, a towering figure in the Chinese Tea industry, and Luo Shaojun, director of the China Tea Testing Center and president of the Chinese Tea Research Institute. Due to the widespread fame of two other well-known teas in Fujian, there is little mention of “Red Border Tea” in most cities across the province. Although this tea is excellent, it has low name recognition and is primarily targeted for export to Europe and America rather than the domestic market.
Product Characteristics
“Red Border Tea” belongs to the semi-fermented Oolong Tea category. It is sourced from authentic high-altitude tea gardens in Saxian and refined using traditional handcrafted methods. Its appearance is robust and darkly lustrous, with a rich and lasting aroma, prominent floral notes, a mellow and refreshing taste that leaves a sweet aftertaste, a clear orange-red infusion, and soft, bright yellow-green leaves with vivid red edges.
Historical Folklore
The original production area of Red Border Tea is in Fujian-Sanming-Saxian, where it has a history dating back nearly two hundred years. According to the “Saxian Gazetteer,” “There are two kinds of tea in Saxian: one is Oolong, and the other is Red Border. Oolong is dried by fire, while Red Border requires sun-drying; their methods slightly differ.”
By the end of the Tongzhi era in the Qing dynasty, Red Border Tea began to be exported abroad, with a recorded 18,000 cases sold, approximately 360 tons. By the fifteenth year of the Guangxu reign, Red Border Tea exports reached an all-time high of 60,000 cases, totaling 1,200 tons, but then gradually declined each year.
In the early Qing dynasty, Langkou in eastern Saxian became a significant tea distribution center due to its unique and convenient land and water transportation. From here, Saxian's Red Border Tea was shipped to Hong Kong, Britain, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere, enjoying widespread acclaim and popularity for nearly half a century.
By the late Qing dynasty, factors such as war and natural disasters (for example, on March 26th, in the fifth year of the Guangxu reign, a fire broke out at the Xiangsheng tea shop in Langkou, destroying many tea shops and claiming over 200 lives, including tea pickers, workers, and children) completely altered the fate of tea farmers and merchants. Around 1928, due to rampant banditry and political unrest, tea gardens were abandoned, and tea shops either destroyed or closed, leading to the gradual disappearance of Oolong and Red Border Teas.
Awards and Honors
In 2010, the Saxian Hongyuan Tea Co., Ltd.'s “Hongyuan” brand “Red Border Tea” was entered into the prestigious tea competition at the Shanghai World Expo, winning the “Gold Prize” for the Shanghai World Expo's Outstanding Tea Competition. In 2011, the “Hongyuan” trademark was honored with the title of “Famous Trademark of Fujian Province.” Also in 2011, it won the Quality Award at the eighth “Min Tea Cup” Shui Xian Oolong Tea Evaluation.