Basic Introduction to Wenxian Green Tea
Wenxian Green Tea is a specialty product of Wenxian County, Gansu Province, and is a Chinese National Geographical Indication (GI) product.
The tea is produced in high-altitude tea-growing areas in the north. The production area is far from towns, characterized by large mountains and deep valleys, with a high forest coverage rate and a clear diversity of biological species. The environment is clean and free from pollution. Cultivation mainly involves small- and medium-leaf group varieties, with fewer picking cycles, resulting in superior quality. Wenxian Green Tea primarily features a flat or curled shape, a lustrous green color, a bright infusion, a high and lingering aroma, and a refreshing and mellow taste.
Around the Qingming Festival, Wenxian Green Tea consists of one bud and one leaf (a tender bud wrapped by a single leaf), resembling a flag and spear. Its appearance is flat and upright, smooth and even, with a verdant hue slightly tinged with yellow. When brewed, it emits a delicate orchid-like fragrance that is long-lasting and clear. The liquor is clear and bright, the taste sweet and fresh, and the infused leaves uniform, with flags and spears interlaced. As a High-mountain tea, Wenxian Green Tea has a longer growth cycle, and its amino acid and Caffeine content is higher than other teas, giving it a distinct advantage. It has received praise from experts and peers in national tea evaluations, making it a rare treasure among teas. Regular consumption of this tea can help refresh the mind, aid digestion, promote diuresis, prevent heatstroke, and protect against radiation.
Wenxian is located at the northernmost edge of tea cultivation in China, bordering Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces and connected to the Bashan Mountains and Shu waters. It belongs to the Jiangbei tea region, with a humid climate and low elevation, making it a primary tea-producing area in Gansu Province. Starting in 2014, Wenxian County consolidated all local tea brands under the unified “Wenxian Green Tea” brand and registered it as a national GI product. A tea museum, the only one of its kind in Gansu Province, was established to showcase the history of tea industry development, product displays, and Tea culture experiences. Several tea-themed agritainment establishments like Cha Yuan Renjia were also built. The unique “tea” industry has become a prestigious brand attracting merchants from within and outside Gansu Province.
Product Characteristics
The raw materials for Longnan Green Tea are single buds or one bud with one or two leaves. The product is characterized by robust buds and leaves, rich internal composition, high fragrance, and good brewing capacity, as well as high-quality safety standards. The shape is primarily flat or curled; flat-shaped tea has flat and upright buds and leaves, smooth and glossy, in shades of emerald green or light green, with a bright green or yellow-green liquor, a chestnut or fresh fragrance, and a fresh and rich taste. The infused leaves are yellowish-green and intact. Curled-shaped tea has tightly coiled buds and leaves, a lustrous green color, a bright greenish-yellow liquor, a high and lasting fragrance, often with a chestnut or fresh scent, and occasionally a natural floral aroma. The taste is refreshing and mellow, and the infused leaves are yellowish-green and soft.
History and Folk Customs
Tea cultivation in Wenxian has a long history, dating back to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty according to historical records. The most famous is Wenxian Bi Kou Green Tea, which is made from finely picked young shoots through meticulous hand processing. It is known for its clear and high fragrance, rich and refreshing taste, and excellent brewing quality, enjoying a high reputation both inside and outside the province.
Awards and Honors
On September 26, 2013, the original General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of China approved the geographical indication protection for “Wenxian Green Tea.”