Different cultivation models have an impact on the ecological environment of Tea gardens and the quality of tea. This article provides a brief overview of the main types of tea gardens in Yunnan and their cultivation methods.

1. Ancient Tree Tea Garden

Ancient tea trees are those with a tree age of over a hundred years, serving as living fossils that bear witness to Yunnan being the origin of tea trees. They possess rich genetic diversity. Since the discovery of an 800-year-old cultivated ancient tea tree by Jiang Quan in Nan Nuo Mountain, Menghai County, Yunnan Province in 1951, ancient tea trees have been found in dense forests across more than 40 counties (cities, districts) in the province.

Ancient Tree Tea Garden

The ethnic minorities in Yunnan have a long history of cultivating and utilizing tea trees. Initially, people planted tea trees within natural forests, which evolved into a harmonious ecosystem between tea and the natural forest. The ancient tea garden ecosystem is rich and preserves a large amount of wild plant resources. Yunnan's unique natural environment provides a guarantee for the survival of ancient tea trees. These trees mostly grow in rugged mountains and are scattered sparsely, with tall tree shapes. The species richness within the ancient tea gardens and their superior ecological environment have formed a harmonious ecosystem among various plants in these ancient gardens.

The growth of tea trees relies on natural regulation. The light in the garden is weak, with low average daytime temperatures, high average nighttime temperatures, a small diurnal temperature range, and moderate humidity, all of which are suitable for the growth of tea trees and conducive to the formation and accumulation of substances within the tea trees. There are epiphytic and parasitic plants on ancient tea trees, making ancient tree tea a genuine natural product. This mechanism aligns with the requirements of green, ecological, and organic foods for their original environments, thus ancient tree tea is highly favored by the market and consumers.

In recent years, due to the ability of ancient tea trees to generate higher economic benefits, the demand for ancient tree tea in the market has increased significantly. As a result, ancient tea trees have suffered from exploitative harvesting, causing physiological damage to the tea plants, sparse branches and leaves, decline in vigor, and even death.

2. Terrace Tea Garden

Terrace tea gardens refer to the densely planted strip tea gardens established after the founding of New China. The characteristics of this type of tea garden include concentration, connectivity, and high yield. Over several decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the cultivation model of tea gardens in our country has evolved, and tea production has entered a professional, mechanized, and commercial operation management model. Production yields have greatly increased, meeting market demands.

Terrace Tea Garden

3. Original Tea Garden

In practice, we observed a type of tea garden in areas such as Xishuangbanna and Pu'er in Yunnan, where the plants are scattered with an approximate planting distance of one meter. The plants undergo light pruning during their growth process and reach a height of around two meters. Their age is similar to that of terrace tea gardens, but their cultivation and management model resembles that of ancient tea gardens. Some are cultivated from population varieties, while others are transformed from clonal terrace tea gardens. These gardens are often planted on hillsides and form small ecological systems with surrounding natural forests. Their growth patterns are closer to the original environment of tea trees.

Original Tea Garden