Leaves of Fortune: Discovering the Best Tea Regions on Earth

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second to water. Teas have been enjoyed across the world for thousands of years.

Unsurprisingly, all teas are not created equal.

It is not difficult to see the differences between a regular and extraordinary tea. The overt and subtle differences in quality, that makes a tea truly superior, can be seen in fresh tea leaves.

The pursuit of creating an excellent batch of tea begins with growing an quality tea tree. Trees have been hybridized and bred for numerous purposes throughout the millenia, spanning back to the time of dynasties. Ultimately, the highest quality tea trees grow in high elevations with full sunlight. This is a combination for success because a tea tree plant will grow slowly in these climates, allowing more time for leaves to accumulate flavor. Tea is farmed in the southern regions of China. There are many provinces that are known for growing quality teas.

The Main Growing Regions in China:

Jiangnan (South of the Yangtze river) 江南

Jiangbei (North of the Yangtze river) 江北

Huanan (South China) 华南

Xinan (South West China) 西南

Yunnan

The tea tree plant emerged thousands of years ago in Yunnan. There are several hundred year old trees that are still producing tea leaves to this day. The climate of this growing region is temperate with an abundance of sunshine and a large amount of rainfall in the summer. Yunnan is known for producing the highest quality of Pu'er and Dark teas.

Fun Fact: The neighboring province, Guanxi, is famous for producing osmanthus-scented teas. Osmanthus flowers are native to the Guanxi and neighboring regions.

Fujian

Fujian is a subtropical region on the southeast coast of China. Fujian is a mountainous region with an abundance of forestry. A massive portion of the world's Chinese tea supply is produced in this region, including some of the highest quality teas in the world. Many oolong teas originated from Fujian, with the most notable areas being Anxi county, and Wuyishan mountains.

Fun Fact: Fujian shares a border with Guangdong, home to the Feng Huang Shan (凤凰山) phoenix mountains. This unique region is the origin of Feng Huang dancong oolong tea.

Zhejiang

Zhejiang province is somewhat mountainous, with vast stretches of land covered in hills. There is consistent rainfall and high humidity all year round. The summer season provides the most rainfall, with the presence of elevated humidity and tropical storms. The world famous LongJing tea (龙井) originated from Zhejiang. Many of the world's most incredible green teas are grown and produced in this subtropical region.

Jiangsu

Jiangsu is a province located on the east coast of China. The climate is more temperate than southern regions, with well defined seasons and moderate rainfall throughout the year. Jiangsu province is a major source of green tea agriculture. The famous Bi Luo Chun (碧螺春) green tea originated in Jiangsu province.

Fun Fact: The traditional Yixing (宜兴) teapot, made of distinctly purple Yixing clay, originated from Jiangsu.

Shandong

In the northernmost portion of China's tea farming landscape, the climate is harsher. In Shandong, the climate is much drier and cooler than southern subtropical growing regions. Although the tea produced in this province is less in quantity compared to southern provinces, some of the finest teas, such as Laoshan black tea, are exclusively made in Shandong.

Seasons of Harvest

The many cultivars of tea in China thrive in different regions, respectively. Another essential element of quality tea is the harvesting season. In certain types of tea, the season of harvest will determine whether the quality of the tea is exceptional or average. Some teas can only be produced from a harvest spanning just a few days per year.

As the imminent threat of global warming impacts agriculture across the globe, the future for many specialties of tea harvest is uncertain.

As a producer of fine Chinese teas, Golden Life Tea promises to farm, harvest, and produce teas responsibly so that the beautiful world of tea can thrive for years to come. Please recycle metal tea tins, and compost or recycle our brand's biodegradable paper packaging. We love our planet, and are committed to protecting it for future generations.

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