Chinese Tea

Legend has it that that tea was discovered by the mythical Chinese ruler Shennong several thousand years ago. He was drinking boiled water when stray tea leaves fell into the cup, creating a brew that would later spread through Asian trading routes and become popular worldwide. It’s likely not true, but tea drinking did originate in China, in the Yunnan province in particular.

Annually, China produces more than 3.3 metric tons of tea. It’s an industry that generates around $100 billion in revenue. These teas span all varieties, from the freshest white teas (picked when young) to the strongest dark teas (fermented for months or even years).

What Regions of China Produce Tea?

Tea is produced across the length and breadth of China. The country is typically separated into four tea-growing regions:

Jiangbei: North of the Yangtze. Jiangbei spans tea-growing provinces such as Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and the northern parts of Anhui.

Jiangnan: South of the Yangtze. The Jiangnan quadrant includes Hunan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Zhejiang, and south Anhui. Jiangnan is large and prolific, accounting for the bulk of the country’s output with its renowned green, oolong, and black varieties; Jiangbei is cooler, so tea leaves grow slower and develop a distinctive sweetness.

Huanan: This southern region that covers provinces such as Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Fujian. Huanan is very hot and humid, creating a long growing season that produces premium tea in regions like Fujian and Hainan. The red soil in this area is perfect for oxidized tea, which is why Huanan is notorious for its oolong and black varieties.

Xinan: This is where you’ll find Yunnan, said to be the original tea-producing region, as well as one of the most famous. It also includes Sichuan and Guizhou.

What Makes Chinese Tea Unique?

Tradition. Heritage. Climate. These are a few things that make Chinese tea different. The methods used to produce Chinese teas have been fine-tuned over many centuries and the ground on which they are grown has cultivated countless acres.

Explore a wide variety of tea from all over China. Premium selections from the finest tea growers.