Puer Tea Expert – WU QIYING
Position and Roles:
- Founder of the Pu’er Ripe Tea Piling Technology
Life and Career:
Wu Qiying吴启英, born in December 1938 in Lujiang County, Anhui Province, was a pioneering figure in the Pu’er tea industry and the founder of the Pu’er ripe tea piling technology. Her contributions revolutionized the production and quality of Pu’er tea, making it a prominent product both nationally and internationally.
Background:
- Education and Early Career: Wu Qiying graduated from the Tea Department of Anhui Agricultural College in 1963. Responding to the call to support China’s border regions, she moved to Yunnan and began working at the Kunming Tea Factory, where she was later recognized as a senior tea engineer.
- Career Achievements: Wu served as the director of the Kunming Tea Factory before her retirement. Her work laid the foundation for the modernization of Pu’er tea production.
Major Contributions:
- Pu’er Ripe Tea Piling Technology (1974): Wu invented the Pu’er ripe tea piling technology, significantly improving the quality of Pu’er tea and reducing the fermentation time from years to approximately 45 days. This innovation enabled the industrialization and standardization of Pu’er tea production, making it accessible across China and internationally.
- Research and Recognition (1983): Wu led a research project on Pu’er tea fermentation technology, in collaboration with Yunnan University’s Institute of Biology. The project concluded that microorganisms play a dominant role in post-fermentation, earning the 1984 Science and Technology Achievement Award from the Yunnan Provincial Government, the only provincial award in this field.
- Lifetime Achievement: In January 2007, Wu was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Master of Chinese Pu’er Tea title at the inaugural China Pu’er Tea Business Conference held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Legacy and Impact:
- Industry Transformation: Wu’s invention and subsequent promotion of the Pu’er ripe tea piling technology facilitated the mass production of Pu’er tea and replaced traditional methods. Her techniques were first implemented at Kunming Tea Factory and then extended to Menghai and Xiguan Tea Factories, leading to a widespread adoption across Yunnan Province.
- Market Influence: The Pu’er ripe tea produced using Wu’s technology quickly gained popularity in the Hong Kong and Macau markets and replaced Guangdong’s “fermented tea.” This marked a new era in Pu’er tea production, now considered modern Pu’er tea.
- National Honor: In May 2008, Wu Qiying’s “Wu Qiying” brand tea products, including Golden Buds and Jade Dew, were selected as state gifts for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, marking a significant honor in the Pu’er tea industry. These teas were presented in porcelain jars and were archived for historical records and museum display.
Wu Qiying’s pioneering work has had a lasting impact on the Pu’er tea industry, and she is revered as the “Mother of Modern Pu’er Tea.” Her legacy continues to influence tea production and quality standards in China and beyond.