The Qinling Mountain Tea Series - Part 8: Qinling Green Tea

The Qinling Mountains are a renowned green tea region primarily located in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains.

The Qinling Mountains tea region is the most northwestern and mysterious in China.

Over 95% of the tea gardens in the Qinling tea region are located in Shangnan County商南县, Shanyang County山阳县, Zhean County镇安县, Ziyang County紫阳县, Pingli County平利县, Langao County岚皋县, Hanyin County汉阴县, Xi Xiang County西乡县, and Mian County勉县.

The tea gardens in the Qinling tea region are far from industrial areas, enveloped in clouds and fog, with high organic matter content in the soil, rich in selenium and amino acids, and the temperature is moderate in the tea production season, making it difficult to ferment. As a result, all tea in this region is processed using the green tea production process.

The Qinling Mountains are a famous green tea region in China. Two main Qinling Mountains green tea varieties are Ziyang Maojian and Hanzhong Xianhao.

Ziyang Maojian紫阳毛尖

The history of tea production in Ankang City安康市, where Ziyang County is located, dates back at least 3,000 years. Shennong, the ancestor of tea, formed the earliest tea-drinking customs in Shaanxi, starting the 5,000-year "tea-drinking trend" in Shaanxi. Shaanxi also pioneered the "tea horse trade," promoting "tea drinking" to the Yangtze River Delta and beyond, forming a national tea-drinking trend. Shaanxi tea culture is the source of Chinese tea culture, and its history basically represents the history of Chinese tea culture. As Shaanxi's best tea growing and production area, Ankang is where tea trees were planted, and tribute tea was first produced in China. It has always been located between the original place of tea trees and the ancient political, economic, and cultural centers.

Ziyang Maojian is produced in Ziyang. It is an ancient tea region with a history of over 3,000 years. It was a tribute tea in the Tang Dynasty. Traditional Ziyang Maojian is made with three rollings and three roastings. It has a strong flavor and can be brewed over two or three infusions. The rich chestnut aroma is very delicious and the most popular green tea variety in the local area.

Ziyang is a selenium-rich area. The trace element selenium is absorbed by tea trees and converted into organic selenium proteins. After years of research, Professor Liu Rongbiao of National Taiwan University found that oolong tea produced in Quanzhou, Fujian, can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The reason is that it contains a relatively affluent amount of selenium. And the selenium content of Ziyang tea is even richer than oolong tea's. Therefore, some call tea "the beverage of the atomic age," and calling Ziyang tea "a good medicine for longevity" is not groundless. As early as the Qing Dynasty, someone discovered the medicinal value of Ziyang tea: "Tea is the coldest, can cure diseases, wake up, digest food, and clear the heart and eyes." (Ziyang County Local Gazette) This discovery has been confirmed by contemporary scientific research.

Hanzhong Xianhao汉中仙毫

Hanzhong Xianhao is a specialty of Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, and a national geographical indication product.

Hanzhong tea gardens are mainly located on gentle slopes at an altitude of 800 to 1,600 meters on the northern foothills of the Daba Mountains, which are lush with bamboo and trees and receive abundant rainfall. The climate here is mild, with neither severe cold in winter nor scorching heat in summer. The forest coverage rate is about 60%. It is recognized as suitable for human habitation and tea tree growth in the same latitude belt on Earth. It is an important water source protection area for the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project and a "World Biosphere Reserve" designated by UNESCO. The ecological environment is excellent.

Hanzhong Xianhao has excellent quality. The natural geographical advantages and growing environment of high latitude, high altitude, increased cloud cover rate, rich zinc and selenium content, and remoteness from pollution give Hanzhong tea five characteristics: high fragrance, intense flavor, durable brewing, beautiful shape, and health benefits.

In December 2007, the former State Quality and Technical Supervision Administration approved the geographical indication product protection for "Hanzhong Xianhao."

• Frontal Taste： Refreshing, Bitter, Delicate
• Aftertaste: Sweet, Aromatic, Wheat
• Tea Shape: Bright Green, Uniform In Size And Shape
• Tea Soup: Crystal Clear and Bright, Needle-like in Water