China has a long history of tea and enjoys a high reputation internationally. The status of Chinese tea in the world is like a 'Manchu-Han Imperial Feast,' which vividly depicts the characteristics of Chinese tea having many varieties and high quality.

There are various statements about China's famous teas, but the ones most frequently selected are twelve: West Lake Longjing, Dongting Biluochun, Lushan Yunwu, Huangshan Maofeng, Xinyang Maojian, Junshan Yinzhen, Yunnan Pu'er Tea, Qimen Black Tea, Liuan Guapian, and from Fujian Province, Anxi Tieguanyin, Wuyi Rock Tea, and Baihao Yinzhen. So, what are their respective famous products?

West Lake Longjing

It is China's number one famous tea, produced in the Shifeng, Longjing, Wuyun Mountain, and Hupao areas around West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Historically, it was divided into four categories: 'Shi, Long, Yun, Hu,' with those produced in Shifeng generally considered the best quality. Longjing is known worldwide for its 'four wonders': green color, rich aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape. The leaves are flat and straight, with a yellowish-green color resembling rough rice, a sweet, fresh, and mellow taste, an elegant and lofty fragrance, a jade-green and yellowish-bright liquor; the infused leaves are tender and form buds.

Dongting Biluochun

Produced in Dongting Mountain by Lake Tai in Wuxian County, Jiangsu. Biluochun tea is stir-fried from tender buds picked from tea trees in spring; for high-grade Biluochun, 136,000 to 150,000 buds are needed per kilogram of dry tea. The strips are tight and knotted, covered with white hairs, silvery-green in color, emerald and enticing, curled into a spiral, hence the name 'Biluochun.' The liquor is clear and bright, rich, mellow, and sweet, refreshing and promoting salivation, with a lingering aftertaste; the infused leaves are tender green and show emerald color.

Lushan Yunwu

Produced in Lushan, Jiangxi. Lushan, known as 'the most beautiful under heaven,' borders the Yangtze River to the north and Poyang Lake to the south, with a mild climate and beautiful landscape, making it very suitable for tea tree growth. Lushan Yunwu has fat buds with visible hairs, beautiful strip shape, strong fragrance, and sweet taste, with a clear liquor, making it a fine product among green teas.

Huangshan Maofeng

Produced in Huangshan, Anhui, mainly distributed around Yungu Temple, Songgu Nunnery, Diaogiao Nunnery, Ciguang Pavilion, and Bansi Temple on Peach Blossom Peak. Here, the mountains are high and forests dense, with short sunlight and abundant clouds and mist, providing excellent natural conditions. The tea trees are nourished by the mist and protected from extreme cold and heat, developing fine quality. Huangshan Maofeng is picked and processed very meticulously. The finished Maofeng tea has thin, flat, slightly curved leaves resembling sparrow tongues, a fragrance like white orchids, and a mellow, sweet aftertaste.

Xinyang Maojian

Produced on the peaks of mountains such as Cheyun Mountain, Jiyun Mountain, Tianyun Mountain, Yunwu Mountain, Zhenlei Mountain, Heilongtan, and Bailongtan in Xinyang, Henan, with Cheyun Mountain's Tianwu Tower Peak being the best. The finished product has thin, round, tight, and straight strips, emerald green color, and visible white hairs; the liquor is clear green and bright, with a fresh, high aroma and a fresh, mellow taste; the infused leaves show plump buds, tender green and evenly whole.

Junshan Yinzhen

Produced on Qingluo Island in Dongting Lake, Yueyang, with descriptions like 'the emperor's son in Dongting longs for spring for two thousand years, the grass grows longer.' After brewing, it rises and falls three times, with sparrow tongues containing pearls and forests of upright leaves, having high appreciation value.

Yunnan Pu'er Tea

A famous tea from Yunnan, divided into spring, summer, and autumn specifications. Spring tea is further divided into three grades: 'Spring Tip,' 'Mid-Spring,' and 'Late Spring'; summer tea is also called 'Er Shui'; autumn tea is called 'Gu Hua.' Among Pu'er teas, Spring Tip and Gu Hua have the best quality. Pu'er tea includes tuo tea, cake tea, square tea, and tight tea. Its excellent quality is reflected not only in its aroma, mellowness, and mellow taste but also in its valuable medicinal effects.

Qimen Black Tea

Abbreviated as Qihong, it has long enjoyed international fame for its high fragrance and beautiful shape. It is produced in Qimen County and surrounding areas in the southwestern part of Huangshan's branch ranges in Anhui Province. Qihong has tight, thin, even strips with beautiful tips, dark and moist color; internally, it has a clear fragrance with hints of honey, with top-grade tea even containing an orchid fragrance, rich and lasting; the liquor is bright red, with a sweet, fresh, and mellow taste, and bright red infused leaves. Drinking it plain best brings out its lasting fragrance, and even adding fresh milk does not diminish its aroma and mellowness.

Liuan Guapian

Produced in the tea areas of the Dabie Mountains in western Anhui, with the best coming from Liuan, Jinzhai, and Huoshan counties. Liuan Guapian is picked every spring. The finished tea is melon-seed shaped, hence the name, with emerald green color, clear and high fragrance, sweet and fresh taste, and endurance to brewing. This tea not only relieves heat, quenches thirst, and promotes salivation but also has strong digestive aid and medicinal effects. Ming Dynasty's Wen Long stated in 'Cha Jian' that Liuan tea is most effective for medicinal purposes, thus regarded as a treasure.

Anxi Tieguanyin

Produced in Anxi, Fujian. The processing of Tieguanyin is very complex. The finished tea has tight, knotted strips, dark, moist, sandy-green color, a natural orchid fragrance, and a pure, strong taste. Using small Gongfu tea utensils for tasting, first smell the fragrance, then taste the flavor, immediately feeling a mouthful of fragrance and endless aftertaste.

Wuyi Rock Tea

Produced in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian. Its main varieties include 'Dahongpao,' 'White Cockscomb,' 'Shuixian,' 'Oolong,' 'Rougui,' etc. Wuyi Rock Tea has a unique quality. Although not scented with flowers, the tea liquor has a rich floral fragrance, is sweet and delicious when drunk, with an endless aftertaste.

Baihao Yinzhen

Known as the 'beauty' and 'king' of tea, it is a type of white tea produced in areas like Fuding in eastern Fujian and Zhenghe in the north. Baihao Yinzhen is covered with white hairs, white as silver, slender as needles, hence the name. When brewed, 'the cup floats with tea milk,' the silver needles stand upright,交错上下, very beautiful; the liquor is yellowish bright and clear, with a clear, fragrant, and sweet taste. White tea is warm in nature and cool in effect, can invigorate the stomach and refresh the mind, dispel dampness and reduce heat, and is often used medicinally.