The land nurtures its unique teas, and all great and famous teas have their origins.

The reason why Anhua Black Tea maintains its unique presence in the Tea world is largely due to its growth in a glacial deposit rock environment. Glacial deposit rock, you're hearing about it for the first time, right? We bet you have questions: What is glacial deposit rock? Why mention Anhua's glacial deposit rock? What are the effects of glacial deposit rock?

Today, let's delve into this together!

01

What is Glacial Deposit Rock?

Glacial deposit rock, fully known as glacial deposit gravel mudstone, is one of the rarest types of stones in the world. It comes in dark brown, black, gray, and dark red. The rock is heavy, hard yet brittle, and contains sandstones, remains of marine microorganisms, and other small fossils within it.

02

How Did Glacial Deposit Rock Form?

According to research, glacial deposit rock formed approximately 600 to 700 million years ago. Due to extreme climatic conditions, Earth once faced a true ice age where the entire planet was like an ice ball.

The erosive power of glaciers is immense, and with the movement of the glacier body, almost the entire land was covered by ice. After the ice age, a “greenhouse climate” event occurred, causing temperatures to rise and glaciers to melt. In lower-lying areas with higher glacial content that didn't easily melt, the accumulation and sedimentation over time, along with wind erosion and sun exposure, resulted in the formation of the rare glacial deposit rock amidst these drastic temperature changes from extreme cold to extreme heat.

03

Does it Exist Elsewhere Apart From Anhua?

Anhua's glacial deposit rock is the largest and most concentrated area of this rock on Earth, accounting for about 85% of the global content. It has been hailed by the scientific community as a “world wonder.”

Due to its ancient origins, glacial deposit rock is also referred to as the “longevity stone” and a lucky stone. It has become a precious stone in Anhua, holding immeasurable value.

04

The Impact of Glacial Deposit Rock on Black Tea?

In the classic work “The Classic of Tea” by the tea sage Lu Yu, it is written: “The best tea grows on broken rocks; the second-best on gravelly soil; and the worst on yellow earth.” Su Shi wrote in his poem “Reading Zhu Boshi's Poems During Illness at Night”: “On rugged broken rocks, we find this sprout an inch tall.” Clearly, the finest teas undergo the harsh test of growing on broken rocks to produce high-quality leaves. The “broken rocks” mentioned in these two lines refer to glacial deposit rock.

Regions with glacial deposit rock form a relatively unique geographic environment and climatic conditions, which are very suitable for the growth of tea plants. Glacial deposit rock is firm yet porous, containing zinc, Selenium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and dozens of other trace elements. Therefore, tea trees grown on these rocks produce leaves rich in minerals and nutrients, with thick leaves, distinct aroma, and superior taste and physical benefits compared to other teas.

In Anhua, glacial deposit rock is a valuable resource for tea tree cultivation. On cliffs and wild slopes, tea trees grow naturally without being planted. Rare “glacial deposit rock” is the foundation of good Anhua black tea. Now we know why.