China currently has a tea garden area of 1.1 million hectares. The distribution of tea-producing areas is vast, extending from the eastern coast of Taiwan Province at 122°E longitude in the east, to Yigong in the Tibet Autonomous Region at 95°E longitude in the west, and from Yulin in Hainan Island at 18°N latitude in the south, to Rongcheng County in Shandong Province at 37°N latitude in the north. This spans 27 degrees of longitude from east to west and 19 degrees of latitude from north to south. A total of 21 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and 967 counties and cities produce tea leaves. The country is divided into four major tea regions: the Southwest Tea Region, South China Tea Region, Jiangnan Tea Region, and Jiangbei Tea Region.
1. Southwest Tea Region
The Southwest Tea Region is located in the southwestern part of China, including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan provinces and the southeastern part of Tibet. It is the oldest tea-producing area in China. The region is rich in tea plant varieties and produces black tea, green tea, tuo tea, compressed tea, and Pu'er tea, among others. It is one of the main bases for developing large-leaf broken black tea in China.
The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is the center of origin for tea plants. The terrain is complex, with significant altitude variations in some areas at the same latitude, leading to considerable climatic differences. Most areas have a subtropical monsoon climate, with mild winters and cool summers. The soil conditions are also relatively suitable for tea plant growth. In Sichuan, Guizhou, and southeastern Tibet, yellow soil predominates, with some brown soil; in Yunnan, lateritic red soil and mountainous red soil are mainly found. The organic matter content in the soil is generally richer than in other tea regions.
2. South China Tea Region
The South China Tea Region is located in southern China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hainan, and other provinces (autonomous regions). It is the most suitable area for tea plant growth in China. There are various types of tea plant varieties, including arbor, small arbor, and shrub types, making tea resources extremely abundant. The region produces black tea, oolong tea, scented tea, white tea, and Liupao tea, among others. The large-leaf broken black tea produced here has a relatively strong tea liquor concentration.
Except for a few areas such as northern Fujian, northern Guangdong, and northern Guangxi, the annual average temperature ranges from 19°C to 22°C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is between 7°C and 14°C. The tea growth period exceeds 10 months per year. The annual precipitation is the highest among China's tea regions, generally ranging from 1,200 mm to 2,000 mm. Taiwan Province has particularly abundant rainfall, often exceeding 2,000 mm per year. The soil in the tea region is mainly lateritic red soil, with some areas also having red soil and yellow soil distribution. The soil layer is deep, and the organic matter content is rich.
3. Jiangnan Tea Region
The Jiangnan Tea Region is located in the southern part of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, including Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi provinces and southern Anhui, southern Jiangsu, and southern Hubei areas. It is the main tea-producing area in China, with an annual output accounting for approximately two-thirds of the national total. The main tea categories produced include green tea, black tea, dark tea, scented tea, and various special famous teas with distinct qualities, such as West Lake Longjing, Huangshan Maofeng, Dongting Biluochun, Junshan Yinzhen, and Lushan Yunwu.
Tea gardens are mainly distributed in hilly areas, with a few in higher altitude mountainous regions. These areas have distinct four seasons, with an annual average temperature of 15°C to 18°C. Winter temperatures generally drop to around -8°C. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm, with the most rainfall occurring in spring and summer, accounting for 60% to 80% of the annual total, while autumn is dry. The soil in the tea region is primarily red soil, with some areas having yellow soil or brown soil, and a few having alluvial soil.
4. Jiangbei Tea Region
The Jiangbei Tea Region is located on the northern bank of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong provinces and northern Anhui, northern Jiangsu, and northern Hubei areas. The Jiangbei Tea Region mainly produces green tea.
The annual average temperature in the tea region ranges from 15°C to 16°C. The absolute minimum temperature in winter is generally around -10°C. Annual precipitation is relatively low, ranging from 700 mm to 1,000 mm, and it is unevenly distributed, often causing drought stress for tea plants. The soil in the tea region mostly belongs to yellow-brown soil or brown soil, which is a transitional type between northern and southern soils in China. However, in a few mountainous areas, favorable microclimates exist, so the quality of tea is not inferior to that of other tea regions, such as Liuan Guapian and Xinyang Maojian.