Basic Introduction to Yaoshan Ruicao Quecha

Ruicao Que is produced in Yaoshan, southern Anhui, also known as Yaoshan Tea, and belongs to the category of historic famous teas. On Yaoshan stands the ancient Yaoshan Temple and the remains of Yaoshan Street, where Yaoshan Tea was first created. Yaoshan is a branch of the Tianmu mountain range running north-south, with an altitude of 487 meters. To its east stands Xianghua Peak in Guangde, to its south Mount Gao Feng in Ningguo, to its north Lake Nanyi, and to its west, connected to Bishan Longquan Cave in Xuancheng. Historically part of Xuancheng, it now belongs to Langxi and is located at the boundary between Langxi and Xuancheng.

The extraordinary tea Rui Que is produced in Baiyanggang, Yao Village Township, south of Lang County, on the southern side of Shifengshan Provincial Scenic Area, on the same latitude line as the world-renowned Huangshan and Jiuhua Mountains. The area boasts rich tourism resources, high vegetation coverage, a warm and humid climate, abundant rainfall, and climatic conditions favorable for the growth of various flora and fauna.

The tribute tea “Ruicao Que” of the Tang Dynasty grows within the Baiyanggang scenic area. The sunny slope of Yaoshan, Baiyanggang, has an altitude of 487 meters, with towering ancient trees, lush forests, green bamboo, gurgling streams, and misty clouds. The tea fields have black gravel soil, particularly suitable for tea growth. The tea plants are naturally wild and unique, covering about 8,000 mu of fresh leaf picking area. The finished tea is flat and straight like a sparrow's tongue, uniformly sized, emerald green in color, with barely visible white down, a high and lasting aroma, a light yellow-green clear broth, a fresh and mellow taste, a lingering aftertaste, and truly a rare gem among famous teas. From the Tang through the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, there are detailed historical records of “Ruicao Que.”

Geographical Scope

Yaoshan Ruicao Que is produced in seven townships: Yao Village, Feili, Lingda, Shizi, Biqiao, Nanfeng, and Taocheng in Langxi County, Anhui Province. Located in southeastern Anhui, Langxi has geographical coordinates of 119°03′50″ to 119°20′49″ east longitude and 30°04′47″ to 31°15′41″ north latitude. To its east lies Guangde County, to its north lie Liyang City and Gaochun County in Jiangsu Province, to its west borders Xuancheng District, and to its south connects Ningguo City. The total land area is 1,090 square kilometers.

Product Characteristics

The distinctive features of Ruicao Que are its upright and slightly flattened shape, plumpness, uniform size, consistent shape, emerald green color, barely visible white down, a high and lasting aroma, a light yellow-green clear broth, a fresh and mellow taste, a lingering aftertaste, and bright green leaves at the bottom of the cup that are evenly formed into whole leaves.

Historical Folklore

Tea production in ancient Xuancheng's Yaoshan is recorded in Lu Yu's “Tea Classic” from the Tang Dynasty. Ruicao Que is produced in Yaoshan, southern Anhui, also known as Yaoshan Tea, and belongs to the category of historic famous teas. On Yaoshan stands the ancient Yaoshan Temple and the remains of Yaoshan Street, where Yaoshan Tea was first created. Yaoshan is a branch of the Tianmu mountain range running north-south, with an altitude of 446 meters. To its east stands Xianghua Peak in Guangde, to its south Mount Gao Feng in Ningguo, to its north Lake Nanyi, and to its west, connected to Bishan Longquan Cave in Xuancheng. Historically part of Xuancheng, it now belongs to Langxi and is located at the boundary between Langxi and Xuancheng. According to the “Tea Spectrum” by Mao Wenshi of the Five Dynasties and Shu, “Xuancheng County has Mount Ya, small square cakes laid out with twisted buds on their surface. The eastern side of this mountain faces the morning sun and is called the sunny slope, and the tea there is the best. The governor once recommended it to people in Jingluo, naming it Ya Mountain Yangpo Hengwen Tea.” In his poem “Replying to Zhang, the Magistrate of Xuancheng, Who Gifted Me Yaoshan Tea,” Mei Yaochen of the Northern Song Dynasty wrote, “I once read poems by the Tang people praising the excellent tea of Yaoshan. Crows brought tea seeds here, and thus the mountain became known as Yaoshan. Along with the initial sprouts and flags, they are picked amidst mist and clouds. Although the south of the river is rich in tea production, nowhere else has tea like this. It is delicate like a sparrow's tongue, and when boiled, it is compared to dew-covered sprouts. People compete to dry it in green reed ovens, not valuing it less than wine-filtering gauze…” In “The Catalogue of Flowers and Fruits,” Wang Xiangjin of the Ming Dynasty specifically named “Ya Mountain Yangpo Hengwen Tea” as another name for “Ruicao Que.” In “Records of Famous Places,” Cao Xuequan of the Ming Dynasty wrote, “Mount Ya is north of Jianshan and produces tea, which is used as tribute tea. As stated in the classics, its taste is similar to that of Qizhou. Mei Xun wrote a line about brewing tea with snow from Mount Ya filling a bowl.” By the Qing Dynasty, there were even more historical records of Yaoshan Tea.

Ruicao Que is named Hengwen Tea due to the main and lateral veins of its tea plant variety forming a large angle, resembling horizontal patterns. Also known as Yaoshan Tea because it is produced in Yaoshan, it gained nationwide fame over a thousand years ago, making it a rare gem among China's historic famous teas. Yaoshan is a branch of the Tianmu mountain range running north-south, with Xianghua Peak (in Guangde) to its east, Mount Gao Feng (in Ningguo) to its south, Lake Nanyi to its north, and Bishan Longquan Cave (in Xuancheng) to its west. Historically under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng County, it underwent several changes and is now located in the border area between Yao Village in Langxi County and Shuidong in Xuancheng. Yaoshan Tea is produced on the sunny eastern slope of the mountain within Langxi. Recent field investigations discovered the remains of the ancient Yaoshan Temple and the site of Yaoshan in Yongfeng Village, Yao Village Township, Langxi County, leading to the conclusion that Yaoshan Temple was the original creation site of Yaoshan Tea.

In “A Differentiation of Yaoshan” written by Zhang Suomian of Ningguo County during the Qing Dynasty, he wrote, “According to the Comprehensive Gazetteer, Yaoshan produced tea that used to be offered as tribute, belonging to Jianping, hence the differentiation.” Langxi County was formerly known as Jianping County, established in the first year of Endong Arch (998 AD). Both Tanganqian's “Miscellaneous Records of Zao Forest” and A Shitan's “Qing Dynasty Regulations” record that Jianping County annually contributed 25 catties of bud tea. Since Langxi County had no other historically famous teas, the tribute tea referred to here must be Ruicao Que. According to the “Annals of Xuancheng County” of the Qing Dynasty, “Below Yangpo Mountain, high-quality tea used to be produced, known as Ruicao Que or Hengwen. East of Shuidong, there are Mount Xiang, Lion Mountain, Stone Wall Mountain, and Twin Peaks (ancient name Yaoshan), which produce Hengwen tea.” This expands the production area of Hengwen tea from the sunny slope of Yaoshan to the mountains east of Shuidong. Surveys conducted by relevant departments in Xuancheng City in villages such as Bishan, Wangcun, and Forward in Shuidong Town found tea varieties of Hengwen with tree ages over 50 years.

In summary, as an ancient tribute tea, Ruicao Que, produced on the sunny slope of Yaoshan, is beyond doubt. However