Chinese Tea Producing Regions
China is the largest tea producer in the world, and in fact, many regions produce tea from the northernmost province of Shandong to the southern Hainan province.
More than 20 provinces in China actually produce tea, but of course, there are big differences in total production.
Chinese teas are grown in a variety of terroirs, and on hills, and on mountain rocks, and in the ancient rainforests. The country remains unrivaled in terms of the varieties produced. There are hundreds of teas made from almost 350 known varieties.
Fujian Province
Fujian Province is located on the South East coast of China, facing Taiwan. The province has been developing its local tea-growing techniques since the Song dynasty. In the nineteenth century, Fujian was the undisputed leader in the production of high-quality artisan teas, and the development of different styles of tea and methods of tea production in China, and in the world.
Fujian is particularly important for oolong tea production, as many varieties of oolong are originated there. The two major oolong regions of Fujian are Anxi County in the south, and the Wuyi Mountains or Wuyishan, in the north of the province. Anxi is the birthplace of Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy). Wuyi is the place of origin of a number of other oolongs, including Da Hong Pao(Big Red Robe), Bai Ji Guan (White Cockscomb), and many others.
White tea is also originated in Fujian, and most of the world's supply of white tea is still produced here, in the northeast, closer to the coast, in Fuding and Zhenghe counties, such as Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle).
However, it is also home to some renowned Back teas such as Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (Lapsang Souchong) and Tan Yang Gong Fu (Panyang Congou).
Undoubtedly, Fujian is the finest tea-growing province in the country.
Hubei Province
China's Hubei Province, the homeland of China's first and foremost tea master, Lu Yu. He was born in the south of Dahong Mountain in 733 and wrote the world-famous book “Chajin”, which is regarded as the first book to talk about tea professionally and helpful for tea development in China and in the entire world.
Tea Production in Hubei started all the way back in the eighth century. Its eastern counties, bordering the province of Anhui, are considered some of the oldest tea-growing areas in the country.
The climate of Hubei is subtropical with well-defined seasons. Hubei is very humid, although rainfall is slightly less than in the bordering provinces to the south and east; the precipitation follows a strong seasonal pattern like most of China, with the heaviest rainfall from May through July.
Most of the tea plantations are located on mountain slopes at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. The province grows and produces mainly Green teas. The famous Hubei teas like the En Shi Yu Lu (En Shi Jade Dew), Cai Hua Mao Jian, Da Wu Mao Jian, Tian Tang Yun Wu Tea have been well-known in the world long ago and attract numerous tea drinkers from different places every year.
Hunan Province
This central province is one of the main centers of tea production in China. Tea growing is encouraged by favorable soil and a warm, temperate climate. Hunan is named for its location south of Dongting Lake, a lake just south of the border of Hunan and Hubei provinces. Hunan borders other tea-producing provinces, including Guangxi to the southwest, Guizhou to the west, Jiangxi to the east, and Hubei to the north.
Jun Shan Yin Zhen (Silver Needle Yellow Tea), the most famous yellow tea in the world, originates in Hunan province, on Junshan island in the middle of Dongting Lake.
Henan Province
Henan province is located in the central part of the country and is bordered to the south by the provinces of Hubei and Anhui. Its main tea-growing areas are located in the south and have the same natural conditions as the two above mentioned neighboring provinces with a mild climate and good conditions for growing trees that produce the tea's unique quality. Henan Green tea is of excellent quality. Xin Yang Mao Jian is often designated as a China famous tea.
Zhejiang Province
Zhejiang is a province on the east coast of China, just north of Fujian and south of Jiangsu. The whole area of Zhejiang province is one huge plantation. Zhejiang is one of the most important provinces of China in tea production, both in quantity and quality.
Most of Zhejiang province is covered with hills and ranges of small mountains. This region has a humid subtropical climate with distinct seasons and produces Green tea all year round.
The world-famous Zhejiang Green tea is Long Jing (Dragon Well Green Tea), also among the well-known are An Ji Bai Cha (An Ji White Tea) and Kai Hua Long Ding.
Anhui Province
Anhui is a major tea-growing province in China. The province is divided into two regions - the north and the south, with tea growing in the northern region dating back to the Tang dynasty (618AD-907AD). Most of the tea in Anhui is produced in the southern region; even in this area, the climate is cold enough that the tree line is around 5,900ft (1,800m), and the highest suitable altitude for growing tea is much lower.
Anhui is located near other tea producing regions and is bordered by Jiangsu to the northeast, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, and Hubei to the southwest.
Anhui gave birth to a number of varieties of tea, including Green Teas: Huang Shan Mao Feng, Tai Ping Hou Kui, Lu An Gua Pian (Lu An Melon Seed Green Tea); Black Teas: Qimen Hong Cha (Keemun black tea).
Guangdong Province
Guangdong province is located on the southern coast of China and is also the place of origin of a number of important varieties of tea.
The climate in Guangdong is very humid year-round and ranges from subtropical at higher elevations to almost tropical near the ocean; the climate is moderated by the proximity to the ocean and the high humidity.
Guangdong is the home of Feng Huang Dancong Oolongs from the Feng Huang Shan (Phoenix Mountains). The following varieties are the most widely known: Mi Lan Xiang Dan Cong (Honey Orchid Oolong Tea), Gui Hua Xiang Dan Cong (Osmanthus), Bai Ye Dan Cong (White Leaf), Huang Zhi Xiang Dan Cong (Yellow Branch, or Gardenia Scent), Zhi Lan Xiang Dan Cong (Fragrant Greens), Yu Lan Xiang Dan Cong (Magnolia), Rou Gui Xiang Dan Cong (Cinnamon), Wudang Dan Cong (Mount Wudang Tea).
Guangxi Province
Guangxi is the southern province, bordering Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, and Vietnam. The main plantations are located in the east of the province, near the city of Guilin.
The climate in Guangxi is humid and subtropical. There are many mountains in this province.
Guangxi produces tea, including white, green, and black teas. Jasmine Tea and Osmanthus Tea are also produced here because the jasmine and sweet osmanthus flowers are native to this region.
Guangxi Liu Bao, the most famous aged tea in the province.
Guizhou Province
Guizhou province is located in southwest China's region. It is bordered by Guangxi to the southeast, Hunan to the east, and Yunnan to the southwest. The province also has a small border with Sichuan to the northwest.
Tea is cultivated throughout the province on small but numerous plantations. This province is being rich in natural wonders and ethnic minority culture, it is an important production area for Green teas.
The famous teas of the province are Du Yun Mao Jian, Gui Ding Yun Wu, Dong Po Mao Jian, Feng Gang Fu Xi, Gui Zhou Yin Ya.
Sichuan Province
This southwestern province was among the first in China to see the popularization of tea culture, which was consumed as a daily drink rather than a form of medicine.
Sichuan shares a border with Guizhou in the southeast, and a larger border with Yunnan to the southwest.
The region’s humid, sub-tropical climate and rich soil make it a highly productive agricultural region and allows a lot of tea to be produced in this region. Sichuan remains today one of China's major tea producing provinces, making many well-known brands of Green and Black teas.
Most famous Green Teas are Meng Ding Cha (Mengding Sweet Dew), E Mei Shan Zhu Wu Qing (Bamboo Green Tea), Ba Shan Que She (Ba Mountain Bird’s Tongue).
Chuan Hong (Sichuan Gongfu or Sichuan Black Tea) is the only famous black tea produced in Sichuan.
Yunnan Province
Yunnan province is located in southwest China. Yunnan borders Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet in China, and also borders Vietnam, Laos, and Burma.
This tea province, perhaps, is the most famous in China. Tea culture in Yunnan dates back to ancient times and is considered by Chinese scientists as the homeland of tea. Only in this province of China, the oldest wild tea trees can be found.
The climate and relief of Yunnan are diverse, with a lot of strong seasonal precipitation with very humid summers and very dry winters. In the warmest parts of the province, the climate is closer to a tropical wet-dry climate, with only slightly cooler winters; the cooler areas have more of a subtropical climate with cool, dry winters.
Some of the tea produced in Yunnan province comes from the ancient tea trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, grown in a tree-like habit. And people pick the tea leaves by climbing the trees.
The most famous tea of this province is Pu-erh - Dark (Aged) tea. The town of Pu-erh is named after the tea that is produced close by. Yunnan also produces Black teas (or Red teas in Chinese classification), for example, Dian Hong Gong Fu (Yunnan Golden Tips Black Tea) and unique and distinctive Yunnan Mao Feng (Yunnan Green Tea).
Jiangsu Province
Jiangsu, a province on the east coast of China, bordered by Shandong, Anhui, and Zhejiang, has been growing tea since the seventh century.
The province has good natural conditions for tea which is grown together with fruit, producing the deliciously fruity and the world-famous green tea Bi Luo Chun (Spring Snail tea), Gao Shan Yun Wu (Cloud & Mist Green Tea), Nan Jing Yu Hua (Rainflower Green Tea).