China Tea Plantations and Distribution

China Tea Plantations are becoming popular destinations for tea tours in China, especially the famous and most beautiful tea plantations. Tea plantations and gardens are good sites to experience Chinese tea culture, such as tea picking, tea making and tasting teas, etc.

As a country with long history of drinking tea, China is one of the most important tea-producing countries. The written history of tea consumption in China goes back longer than in any other country, thousands of years. According to a report released by the China Social Science Academy Press, China is the world’s largest tea producer.  In 2007, China produced over 30% of the world’s production of tea, almost 1.2 million tons of tea out of the world’s almost 3.9 million tons. Most of the tea produced in China is consumed in China, although tea is also an important export good for China.

China’s tea production is widespread, with tea grown in thousands of counties across 21 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), including Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Sichuan, Fujian, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Taiwan, Shandong, Tibet, Gansu, and Hainan. Vertically, tea trees are cultivated at elevations as high as 2,600 meters, and as low as just a few meters above sea level. Different regions support various types and varieties of tea trees, affecting the quality, suitability, and adaptability of the tea, thus creating a diverse tea structure.

Nationally, tea-growing areas can be divided into four major tea regions: the Jiangbei Tea Region, Jiangnan Tea Region, Southwest Tea Region, and South China Tea Region.

Tea-Producing Areas

Tea tends to be produced mostly in the provinces towards the south and east of China, where the climate is humid and ranges from tropical to subtropical, although teas are grown commercially from Hainan Island down in the extreme south to Shandong Province in the north, from Tibet in the southwest to Taiwan across the Straits. Because of varying geographic location and climate, different regions grow various kinds of tea. In general, there are four tea-producing areas.

South West of China (Southwest China Tea Region)

The area is considered to be the original birthplace of the tea plant. It embraces the southwest provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, producing green, black, post-fermented and compressed teas.  Although with a big span of altitude, the climate of most parts of this region is relatively moderate and stable, especially in Yunnan. Famous teas from this region inlcude Dianhong black tea, aged Shai Hong black tea, ripe and raw pu’er tea, Mengding yellow tea, and Duyun Maojian green tea, wherein Pu’er tea from Yunnan Province is the most famous in China and abroad.

The Southwest China Tea Region is located in the southwestern part of China, south of the Milun Mountain and Daba Mountain, north of the Hongshui River, Nanpan River, and Yingjiang, west of the Shennongjia, Wushan, Fangdoushan, and Wuling Mountains, and east of the Dadu River. This region includes parts of Guizhou, Sichuan, northern Yunnan, and southeastern Tibet. It encompasses Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and southeastern Tibet, making it one of China’s oldest tea regions. The region has abundant tea tree varieties, including shrub-type, small tree-type, and in some areas, tree-type tea trees. It primarily produces black tea, green tea, tuo tea, compressed tea, and Pu’er tea, and is one of the main bases for developing large-leaf black teas.

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is the center of tea tree origin. The terrain is complex, with most areas being basins and plateaus, and the soil types are diverse. In central and northern Yunnan, the soil is mainly red soil, mountain red soil, and brown soil; in Sichuan, Guizhou, and southeastern Tibet, yellow soil predominates with some brown soil. The soil’s organic matter content is generally richer than in other tea regions, and the soil conditions are suitable for tea tree growth. The altitude varies greatly in regions of the same latitude within the Southwest Tea Region, leading to significant climate differences. Most areas have a subtropical monsoon climate, with mild winters and not-too-hot summers.

Sichuan

The Sichuan tea industry has risen in national rankings, significantly increasing its influence. Sichuan has established three major tea production areas: Western Sichuan, Southern Sichuan, and Northeastern Sichuan. The rate of premium tea mechanism has reached over 70%, leading the nation. Sichuan has the highest tea consumption in all tea houses across China.

Famous Teas:

  • Green Tea: Meng Mountain’s Mengding Tea, Mengding Ganlu, Mengding Chunlu, Wanchun Silver Leaf, Yuye Changchun; Ya’an’s Emei Mao Feng, Jin Jian Tea, Yucheng Silver Bud, Yucheng Yunwu, Yucheng Luya; Guanxian’s Qingcheng Xueya; Yongchuan’s Xiuya; Qionglai’s Wenjun Green Tea; Emei Mountain’s Eixin, Bamboo Leaf Green; Leibo’s Huanglang Maojian; Daxian’s Sanqing Bilian; Leshan’s Muo Ruo Xiangming; Chongqing’s Bashan Silver Bud, Jinyun Mao Feng, Dazhu Song Ming.
  • Black Tea: Yibin’s Early White Tip Gongfu Black Tea, Nanchuan’s Large Leaf Black Fragmented Tea.
  • Compressed Tea: Chongqing Tuo Tea.

Chongqing

Chongqing people have traditionally enjoyed Tuo tea due to its strong flavor, rich aroma, durability, and affordability, with an annual sales volume of 2700 tons. Chongqing Tuo tea is known for its strong taste, lingering sweetness, and high quality, having won international gold awards. Notable types include Shancheng Tuo Tea and Export Tuo Tea, which dominate the Chongqing Tuo Tea market. Approximately 80% of Chongqing Tuo tea comes from Yunnan.

Yunnan

Yunnan is the top tea-producing province in China, with a tea cultivation history of over 1700 years, making it one of China’s oldest tea regions. Its long history of tea production, rich genetic resources, and advantageous low-latitude plateau climate have made it globally recognized as the origin of tea trees and a major tea production base in China.

Famous Teas:

  • Green Tea: Menghai’s Nannuo Baihao, Yunhai Baihao, Bamboo Tube Fragrant Tea; Yiliang’s Baohong Tea; Dali’s Cangshan Snow Green; Mojian’s Yunjian; Luxi’s Mayu Tea; Mouding’s Huafuo Tea; Daguan’s Cuihua Tea.
  • Black Tea: Fengqing and Menghai’s Dianhong Gongfu Black Tea, Yunnan Black Fragmented Tea.
  • Black Tea: Xishuangbanna and Simao’s Pu’er Tea. Compressed Tea includes Xiguan’s Yunnan Tuo Tea.

Guizhou

Guizhou is located at the junction of the Jiangnan, South China, and Southwest tea regions, with mountainous and hilly areas accounting for 92.5% of the province. It boasts over 7 million acres of vast “tea seas,” and its tea garden area has ranked first in the country for seven consecutive years. The entire province can be seen as the “central tea mountain” on China’s tea map.

In southwestern Guizhou, early-harvest green tea such as Pu’an tea, picked in early February, is the first sign of “spring” in Guizhou tea; in northwestern Guizhou, high mountain teas often grow in the “high mountain mist” at altitudes above 1400 meters.

Zunyi in northern Guizhou and Duyun in southern Guizhou are known for their prestigious teas. Guizhou’s famous teas include Du Yun Maojian, Meitan Cuiya, and Zunyi Red, all of which are concentrated in these areas. Zunyi is also one of the regions for the green gem.

In eastern Guizhou, Tongren not only produces high-quality green teas like Shiqian Tea and Fanjing Cui Feng but has also developed an export tea industry. Notably, Guizhou matcha is produced here. The Guizhou Tea Group’s 140,000-acre ecological tea garden, combined with EU food safety standards and Japanese top matcha production techniques, enables Guizhou matcha to be exported overseas, making Guizhou tea not only “go out of the mountains” but also “go abroad.”

Guizhou’s tea industry currently promotes “three greens and one red,” with the three greens being Du Yun Maojian, Meitan Cuiya, and Green Gem, and the one red being Zunyi Red. These four varieties are excellent local types. Although Guizhou tea has strong inherent advantages, it missed early promotion opportunities due to inconvenient transportation and information isolation, remaining less known to tea enthusiasts. The transformation is not a one-day process, and the green tea market is highly competitive. However, there is hope that Guizhou tea will soon gain broader recognition in the public eye.

Guizhou is the only original ecological tea region in China with “low latitude, high altitude, and low sunlight.” Most areas of Guizhou are shrouded in mist throughout the year, which suits the tea tree’s shade tolerance. The soil is mainly acidic, loose, well-drained, and rich in trace elements such as selenium and zinc.

Major Tea Production Areas:

  • Guiyang: Yangai, Kaiyang, Jiuan
  • Zunyi: Meitan, Fengfeng, Zheng’an, Yuqing
  • Tongren: Yinjiang, Shiqian, Songtao, Jiangkou, Dejiang, Yanhe, Sinan
  • Bijie: Jinsha, Nayong
  • Anshun: Puding, Xixiu, Zhenning
  • Liupanshui: Shuicheng, Panxian
  • Southwest Guizhou Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture: Pu’an, Qinglong
  • South Guizhou Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture: Duyun, Guiding, Dushan, Pingtang
  • Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture: Leishan, Liping, Kaili Xianglu Mountain, Danzhai, Zhenyuan

South of China (South China Tea Region)

This area includes the southern provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, Hainan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which are endowed with rusty-red soil, an annual average temperature of 19-22 Centigrade degrees and the most annual rainfall among all tea-producing areas in China. It is mostly famous for black tea, Oolong and white tea production, with lots of varieties and excellent quality. Tie Guan Yin and Da Hong Pao belong to the most popular types.

The South China Tea Region is located in southern China, encompassing areas south of the Dazhang River, Yanshi River, Meijiang River, Lianjiang River, Xunjiang River, Hongshui River, Nanpan River, Wuliang Mountain, Baoshan, and Yingjiang. It includes central and southern Fujian, Taiwan, central and southern Guangdong, Hainan, southern Guangxi, and southern Yunnan. This region is considered one of the most suitable areas for tea tree cultivation in China.

In the South China Tea Region, there are various types of tea tree species, including trees, small trees, and shrubs. The tea resources are extremely abundant, producing types such as black tea, oolong tea, flower tea, white tea, and Liu Bao tea. The region’s large-leaf black teas are known for their strong tea liquor.

Except for a few areas in northern Fujian, northern Guangdong, and northern Guangxi, the annual average temperature ranges from 19°C to 22°C, with the lowest monthly average (in January) between 7°C and 14°C. The tea-growing season lasts for more than 10 months, and the annual precipitation is the highest among Chinese tea regions, generally between 1200 mm and 2000 mm. Taiwan, in particular, experiences very high rainfall, often exceeding 2000 mm annually. The soil in this region is mainly red soil, with some areas also having red and yellow soil. The soil is deep and rich in organic matter.

Fujian

Fujian has a long history of tea production, dating back to the Tang Dynasty with varieties such as Lamei tea, Fangshan Luya, Baiyan tea, Xiaojiang Garden tea, Tang tea, and Fuzhou Zhenghuang tea. During the Song Dynasty, Jianzhou (now Jian’ou County) was the main production area for tribute tea, producing more than 40 types of Bei Yuan tribute tea, and Wuyi tea from Wuyi Mountain is also very famous. Today, Fujian’s traditional and newly created premium teas exceed 60 varieties, including oolong tea, green tea, white tea, black tea, and flower tea.

Famous Teas:

  • Oolong Tea: Wuyi Rock Tea, Da Hong Pao, Minbei Shui Xian, Anxi Tieguanyin, Huang Jin Gui, Yong Chun Buddha’s Hand, Ba Xian Tea, Ba Jiao Ting Long Xu Tea, Bai Ya Qi Lan, Zhangping Shui Xian Cake Tea.
  • Black Tea: Zhengshan Xiaozhong, Bai Lin Gongfu, Tan Yang Gongfu, Zhenghe Gongfu.
  • Flower Tea: Fuzhou Jasmine Tea.
  • Green Tea: Tianshan Green Tea, Qi Jing Tang Green Tea, Shiting Green Tea, Dingfeng Maojian, Xueshan Maojian, Fuyun Qu Mao, Daxian Peak Mao Tea, Funing Yuanxiao Green.
  • White Tea: Bai Hao Yin Zhen, Bai Mao Hou, Bai Mudan, Gong Mei, etc.

Currently, the structure of tea consumption is roughly as follows: Oolong tea, white tea, and small-leaf black tea are the most consumed and highest quality specialty teas nationwide. Among these, Anxi Tieguanyin and Wuyi Rock Tea are also listed among the top ten teas in the country.

Tieguanyin and Da Hong Pao have become synonymous with Fujian tea. Fujian, as the birthplace of the four major tea types—black tea, oolong tea, white tea, and flower tea—has produced globally popular Zhengshan Xiaozhong and Tan Yang Gongfu black teas, as well as nationally renowned Fuzhou Jasmine Tea.

Guangdong

Guangdong has a long history of tea production, with varieties such as Luofu tea, Lingnan tea, Shaozhou Sheng Huang tea, Xixiang Yan Gao tea, and Xiqiao tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, the province has more than 40 traditional and newly created premium teas, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, yellow tea, black tea, flower tea, and health teas.

Famous Teas:

  • Oolong Tea: Fenghuang Dancong, Lingtou Dancong, Fenghuang Shui Xian, Shigu Ping Oolong, Raoping Sezong, Da Ye Qi Lan, etc.
  • Green Tea: Gulao Tea, Lechang Bai Mao Tea, Guangbei Yin Jian, Renhua Yin Hao Tea.
  • Black Tea: Yingde Black Tea, Jin Hao Tea, Lychee Black Tea.
  • Flower Tea: Rose Black Tea, Guangzhou Jasmine Tea, Chrysanthemum Pu’er Tea.
  • Health Tea: Pin Chang Chun Jian Ti Oolong Tea.

Guangdong is renowned for its tea culture, with locals known for their tea appreciation. This has made Guangdong the largest tea-consuming province in China. Guangdong people prefer locally produced oolong tea and green tea, with particular popularity for varieties such as black tea, Dancong tea, and Sezong tea.

Guangxi

Guangxi has a long history of tea production, with varieties such as Lüxian tea, Xiangzhou tea, and Rongzhou bamboo tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, the region has more than 30 traditional and newly created premium teas, including black tea, green tea, black tea, and flower tea.

Famous Teas:

  • Black Tea: Guangxi Black Fragmented Tea.
  • Black Tea: Cangwu Liu Bao Tea.
  • Green Tea: Guiping Xishan Tea, Lingyun Bai Mao Tea, Qintang Maojian, Lijiang Silver Needle, Bai Niu Tea, Longji Tea, Guilin Maojian, Tunba Tea, Nanshan Bai Mao Tea, Longshan Green Tea.
  • Flower Tea: Hengxian Jasmine Tea, Osmanthus Tea.

Hainan

Hainan has a long history of tea production, with varieties such as Qiongshan bud tea and leaf tea dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Today, the province has more than 10 traditional and newly created premium teas, including red tea and green tea.

Hainan, located at the southernmost tip of China, is renowned for its “Hua Xia’s First Early Spring Tea.” The tea industry is a distinctive and emerging industry in Hainan Province.

Famous Teas:

  • Red Tea: Hainan Black Fragmented Tea, CTC Black Fragmented Tea.
  • Green Tea: Baisha Green Tea, Wuzhishan Xian Hao, Jinding Longjing, Longling Qi Lan, Chunlan, Hainan Da Bai Hao, Longling Maojian, Baima Ridge Tea, etc.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, loose-leaf tea is predominantly sold. Tea shops use transparent glass containers for easy viewing and brew the tea on-site.

Tea houses and food stores make up 80% of the market, offering mid- to low-range teas, while home consumption accounts for 20%, with high-end teas such as Longjing being popular.

South of Yangtze River (Jiangnan Tea Region)

This area lies south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, covering the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and the southern parts of Anhui and Jiangsu. This region has the most centered tea production in China,  with four distinctive seasons and abundant precipitation. Green tea is the principal variety turned out here, such as the famous Longjing. But in some mountainous regions where the local climate is agreeable to tea growing, several premium teas are produced. These include  Black tea and Oolong tea, for example the famous Keemun tea and Phoenix Dancong.

The Jiangnan Tea Region is located in the southern part of the Yangtze River Basin in China, south of the Yangtze River, north of the Dazhangxi, Yanshi, Meijiang, and Lianjiang rivers. It includes areas such as northern Guangdong, northern Guangxi, northern Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, southern Hubei, southern Anhui, and southern Jiangsu. This region is one of China’s main tea-producing areas, with an annual output accounting for about two-thirds of the national total. The main types of tea produced include green tea, black tea, dark tea, and floral teas, with notable varieties such as West Lake Longjing, Huangshan Maofeng, Dongting Biluochun, Junshan Yinzhen, and Lushan Yunwu.

The Jiangnan Tea Region is mostly situated in low hill and low mountain areas, but it also includes high mountains with elevations around 1000 meters, such as Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, Lushan in Jiangxi, and Huangshan in Anhui. The climate in these regions features distinct seasons, with an average annual temperature of 15°C to 18°C and winter temperatures generally around -8°C. Annual rainfall ranges from 1400 to 1600 millimeters, with the majority falling in spring and summer (60% to 80% of the annual total), and autumn being relatively dry. The soil in this tea region is mainly red soil, with some yellow soil or brown soil, and a few areas with alluvial soil. The tea trees grown here are mostly shrub-like medium-leaf and small-leaf varieties, with a smaller portion being small tree-type medium-leaf and large-leaf varieties. The Jiangnan Tea Region is well-suited for developing green tea, oolong tea, floral teas, and special teas.

Jiangsu

Jiangsu has a long history of tea production, with notable teas such as Yangxian Zisun, Runzhou Tea, Dongting Mountain Tea, and Shugang Tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, the province has over 30 traditional and newly created high-quality teas, including green tea, black tea, and floral tea.

Notable Teas:

  • Green Tea: Dongting Biluochun, Nanjing Yuhua Tea, Maoshan Qingfeng, Yangxian Xueya, Wuxi Mao Tea, Jinshan Cuiya, Jintan Que She, Jingxi Yunpian, Nanshan Shoumei, Qianfeng Xuelian, Maoshan Changqing, Yinya Tea, Yangzhou Lvyang Chun, Shuixi Cui Bai, Taihu Cuizhu, Erquan Yinhao.
  • Floral Tea: Suzhou Jasmine Tea.
  • Black Tea: Yixing Black Tea.

Zhejiang

Zhejiang also has a long history of tea production, with famous teas such as Guzhu Zisun, Jingshan Tea, Jiukeng Tea, Wuzhou Fang Tea, Ju Yan Tea, Dongbai Tea, Shuanxi Tea, Lingyin Tea, Tianmu Tea, and Mingzhou Tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The province now has over 70 traditional and newly created high-quality teas, including green tea, black tea, yellow tea, floral tea, and white tea.

Notable Teas:

  • Green Tea: Chaoqing Mei Tea, Zhu Tea, Longjing Tea, Guzhu Zisun, Jin Award Huiming Tea, Pujiang Chunmao, Yin Monkey Tea, Tianmu Qing Ding, Yandang Maofeng, Dongbai Chunya, Kaihua Longding, Jingshan Green Peony, Jinchuan Tea, Jiukeng Maojian, Mogan Jianya, Tianzun Gongya, Huading Yunwu, Putuo Buddha Tea, Shuanglong Yinzhen, Jiande Bao Tea, Guyu Chun, Wuzhou Ju Yan, Qiandao Yuye, Wangfu Yinhao, Quangang Huibai, Linhai Panhao, Anji Bai Pian, Panlong Tea, Xiangguliang Baihao, Pan’an Yunfeng, Wanghai Tea, Songyang Yufeng, Taibai Dingya, Xiandu Quhao, Xueshui Yungreen, Shijian Tea, Lanxi Maofeng, Shuanglong Yinzhen, Donghai Longshe, Siming Shier Lei, Siming Longjian Tea.
  • Black Tea: Yuehong, Jiugui Hongmei.
  • Yellow Tea: Pingyang Huangtang.

Jiangxi

Jiangxi has a long history of tea production, with notable teas such as Jizhou Tea, Lushan Tea, Poyang Fuliang Tea, Jiexiao Tea, Xishan Heling Tea, and Xishan Bailu Tea from the Tang Dynasty. The province now has over 50 traditional and newly created high-quality teas, including green tea, black tea, and oolong tea.

Notable Teas:

  • Green Tea: Lushan Yunwu, Doghead Brain, Wulv, Wuyuan Mingmei, Shangrao Baimei, Liangdu Yinzhen, Magu Tea, Shuangjing Green, Lingyan Jianfeng, Wengong Yinhao, Wanlong Songzhen, Xiugu Maojian, Jinggang Cui Lv, Quangang Longzhao, Ruizhou Huangbo Tea, Wuyuan Moju, Tiangong Tea, Luofeng Tea, Jing’an Feicui, Xiaobu Rock Tea, Qianling Yinhao, Dazhangshan Yunwu Tea.
  • Black Tea: Ninghong Kungfu.
  • Health Tea: Ninghong Weight Loss Tea.

Hunan

Hunan has a long history of tea production, with notable teas such as Jietan Tea, Luxiang Tea, Qujiang Thin Slices, Hengshan Tuanbing, Yueyang Hangao, and Yuezhou Huangling Mao dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, the province has over 60 traditional and newly created high-quality teas, including green tea, black tea, dark tea, yellow tea, and floral tea.

Notable Teas:

  • Green Tea: Jietan Tea, Guzhang Maojian, Jianghua Maojian, Wugai Mountain Rice Tea, Gaoqiao Yin Feng, Anhua Songzhen, Dongting Chunya, Shimen Niudi Tea, Taojiang Bamboo Leaf, Donghu Yinhao, Shikou Yinya, Biyu Chun, Gudong Chunya, Shimen Yinfeng, Dongting Chun, Xiangbo Green, Linglong Tea, Shuangfeng Biyu, Taiqing Yunfeng, Baishi Maojian, Chenzhou Biyun, Huifeng Tea, Yuebei Da Bai Tea, Nanyue Yunwu Tea.
  • Yellow Tea: Weishan Maojian, Junshan Yinzhen, Beigang Maojian.
  • Black Tea: Black Brick Tea, Fu Brick Tea, Flower Brick Tea.

Hubei

Hubei has a long history of tea production, with notable teas such as Qimen Tuanhuang, Huanggang Tea, Ezhou Tuanhuang, Shizhou Fang Tea, Guizhou White Tea, Bijiang Tea, Mingyue Tea, Nanmu Tea, and Cactus Tea dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, the province has over 70 traditional and newly created high-quality teas, including green tea, black tea, dark tea, yellow tea, and floral tea.

Notable Teas:

  • Green Tea: Cactus Tea, Enshi Yulu, Cheyunshan Maojian, Xiazhou Bifeng, Dengcun Yunwu, Jiangxia Bifang, Songzi Bijiang, Shennong Qifeng, Zhushan Yin Feng, Xixiang Biyuzan, Tiantai Cuifeng, Shuangqiao Maojian, Zhaojun Maojian, Qinglong Que She, Sanxia Baojian, Niangniangzhai Yunwu Tea, Changyang Mingfeng, Yijian Xianfeng Tea, Songfeng Tea, Guishan Yanlv, Jinshui Cuifeng, Shui Xian Rongou, Nuo Yuan Qingfeng, E Nan Jian Chun, Jinzhuyun Feng, Wudang Zhenjing, Wufeng Chunmei, Longzhong Tea, Tiantang Yunwu, Rongmei Tea, Wudong Green Peak, Xuan’en Gong Tea.
  • Yellow Tea: Yuanan Luyuan.
  • Black Tea: Yihong Kungfu.
  • Pressed Tea: Qing Brick Tea, Mi Brick Tea.

Anhui

Anhui is one of China’s largest tea-producing provinces. It has a long history of famous teas, and among China’s top ten teas, one-third come from Anhui. The region around Tianzhu Mountain and Dabie Mountain has distinct seasonal changes and significant temperature variations between day and night. It is a renowned summer retreat and an important tea production, wholesale, and distribution center in Anhui.

Top Ten Famous Teas in Anhui:

  • Huangshan Maofeng, Liu’an Guapian, Taiping Houkui, Qimen Black Tea, Tunxi Green Tea, Huoshan Huangya, Yuexi Cuilan, Jingxian Tiejian, Tianzhu Jianhao, Tongcheng Xiaohua.

Green Tea: Xiuning and Shexian Tunlu, Huangshan Maofeng and Huangshan Yinhao, Liu’an Guapian and Qishan Mingpian, Taiping Houkui, Xiuning Xiuning Songluo, Jingxian Yuzhu, Yao Xian Chuncui, Luan Yinhao, Wuyan Yinyuan, Jinlu Tea, Dazhai Maojian, Dazhai Yinhong.

  • Black Tea: Qimen Black Tea, Anhui Black Tea, Chayan Tea.
  • Yellow Tea: Huoshan Huangya, Xinyang Maojian.
  • Dark Tea: Lianhua Liuqi Tea, Shoumei, Tuan Brick Tea, Menghai Chaye, Huaihua Tea.

North of Yangtze River (Jiangbei Tea Region)

This region includes Shandong, Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan and the northern parts of Jiangsu, Anhui and Hubei. Compare to other tea regions, this one has lower temperature and less precipitation, which is only suitable for small-leaf kind of tea trees to grow. Green tea is the principal variety turned out here. But in some mountainous regions where the local climate is agreeable to tea growing, several premium teas are produced, such as Liu An Melon Seed tea from Anhui and Xinyang Maojian from Henan.

Location: Located on the north bank of the Yangtze River’s middle and lower reaches, extending from the Yangtze River in the south to the Qinling Mountains and Huai River in the north, from the Daba Mountains in the west to the Shandong Peninsula in the east. This region includes Gan’nan, Shaanxi, northern Hubei, southern Henan, northern Anhui, northern Jiangsu, and southeastern Shandong.

Climate & Terrain: The average annual temperature is 15℃ to 16℃, with winter temperatures dropping to around -10℃. The annual precipitation is relatively low, between 700 mm and 1000 mm, and unevenly distributed, often causing drought for tea trees. The terrain is complex, with soils predominantly yellow-brown or brown, a transitional type between northern and southern China. Some mountainous areas have favorable microclimates, so the quality of tea can be on par with other regions.

Major Producing Provinces and Notable Teas:

  • Shaanxi: With a long history of tea production dating back to the Tang Dynasty, notable teas include Ziyang Maojian, Ziyang Cuifeng, Shaanxi Fuzhu, Qinba Wuhmao, Ankang Yinfen, and others.
  • Gansu: One of the northernmost tea-producing areas in China, located in the forest fringe zones of Wen, Wu, and Kang counties in southeastern Gansu, where tea is a daily necessity, especially in ethnic minority areas. The tea consumption pattern is shifting from alcohol to tea, reflecting a trend towards health and fashion.
  • Shandong: Although tea production in Shandong is relatively recent, it has developed quickly since the 1970s and 1980s, with over ten notable teas, mainly green tea. Famous teas include Biyun, Rizhao Xueqing, Wulong Jian, and others. Shandong has a long tea-drinking history and a large consumption capacity, making it a major tea-consuming province.
  • Henan: Tea production in Henan dates back to the Tang Dynasty, with a history of various notable teas. Over 20 traditional and new premium teas are produced, primarily green tea. Famous teas include Xinyang Maojian, Taibai Yinmao, and others.

Tea -producing Regions in China

Top 10 Most Beautiful Tea Gardens in China

Chinese tea gardens are must-visit sites for your China Tea Culture Travel. The tea plantations in China are generally in mountains and hills in south China. Some of the tea gradens provide interactive activities like tea-making, tea ceremony, and tea processing display. Top 10 most beautiful tea gardens in China are as follows:

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