Basic Introduction to Yuqing Bitter Tea
The Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea is a perennial evergreen plant, primarily growing in areas at altitudes of 400-800 meters, within the mid-to-lower layers of mixed forests. It has strong shade tolerance and thrives under conditions of 14-17°C temperatures, in relatively humid environments with a pH value of 5-7 in slightly acidic calcareous soils. The Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea is processed from the young shoots and leaves of the robust Ligustrum plants. It is entirely different from the “large-leaf bitter tea” produced in Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, and other regions. It is a Caffeine-free substitute tea beverage that grows in the Karst topography of the Wujiang River Basin in Guizhou Province. This area boasts pristine landscapes without any environmental pollution, providing a unique environment for the cultivation of high-quality small-leaf bitter tea in Yuqing County.
Nutritional Value
The Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea, as tested by the Chengdu Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other institutions, contains 2.7% total sugars, 1.01% reducing sugars, 22.37% protein, 18.02% tea polyphenols, and 52.37% water-soluble substances. It also contains multiple amino acids and essential trace elements, with higher levels of flavonoids, γ-amino acids, plant polysaccharides, sodium, potassium, and Selenium, and extremely low caffeine content (only 0.087%). Flavonoids can treat cardiovascular diseases; plant polysaccharides are bioactive substances with effects such as lowering blood Sugar, lipids, and blood pressure, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and they have no toxic side effects; sodium and potassium are essential macronutrients, and blood pressure is related to their levels. Therefore, the Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea is a health and medicinal substitute tea beverage.
Product Characteristics
The Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea is characterized by its emerald green color, fresh and lasting aroma, slightly bitter yet sweet taste (with a lingering sweetness), tight and twisted appearance, and a unique mouthfeel. It has the distinctive “three greens” feature: dry tea is green, infused leaves are green, and the infusion is green.
Historical Folklore
The Yuqing small-leaf bitter tea has a long history as a traditional wild beverage. According to Volume II, Chapter V, Section I of the “Annals of Yuqing County,” there is a mention of “small-leaf Ligustrum.” In Volume XI, Chapter II, Section II, it records: “The Kangxi-era ‘Annals of Yuqing County' listed tea as a local product. … It was grown sporadically and processed by hand, with low quality, and the people mostly drank wild bitter tea and sweet tea.” The processed bitter tea was not only consumed locally but also sold to surrounding counties. Before the 1970s, bitter tea was still processed and consumed using wild resources. After the 1970s, some households began planting it sporadically around their homes, increasing the production of bitter tea products, while processing techniques remained traditional. Since 1998, the Yuqing County Party Committee and Government decided to develop bitter tea as a pillar industry to address rural issues, adopting a “company + base + farmer” model to promote its growth. They established 37,000 mu (approximately 24.67 square kilometers) of small-leaf bitter tea gardens, producing 150 kg of fresh tea leaves per mu annually, with a value of 2,000 yuan per mu, and 35 kg of dried tea per mu, with a value of 5,600 yuan per mu.