The
tea growing districts in China have show new development in
recent decades. The Chinese people have been enthusiastic at
tea farming particularly since the birth of the People's
Republic of China. Tracts of suitable land have gradually been
reclaimed for tea plantations such as those found in Anhui,
Shandong and the Hainan Island. Even some regions in Tibet
with more equable climatic conditions have unprecedented
attempted tea farming. The latitudes of the tea growing
districts in China 10°-122°E.
The regions embrace over one thousand counties in eighteen
provinces which include Zhejing, Human, Anhui, Sichuan,
Taiwan, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu,
Shanxi, Shandong, Gansu an Tibet. The gross tea growing area
in china is the biggest in the world.
Tea
plant were originally grown in the sub-tropical
forests in South China, They flourish in acidic soil under
warm, humid conditions. An average daily Tempe rapture over 10℃
is a prerequisite for the germination of tea trees combined
with a relative humidity above 70%. The soil should be acidic
or slightly acidic, with a PH value in the region of 4.5-6.5.
Neutral, alkaline or strongly acidic soil conditions will
inhibit the normal growth of tea plants.
The
yield and the quality of tea trees hinge on three factors: the
natural habitat, the species and the processing method. The
most decisive factor is Whether the physical conditions are
suitable for tea plants or not. Soil will be alkaline in
severe cold or in drought and it will block the growth of the
plants. Good climate and soil are essential to the healthy
growth of the plants. Under favorable circumstances, tea
plants are stout and rich in nutrients. A bumper quality crop
is hence guaranteed.
The
mean annual temperature in the regions south of Qinling Shan
is between 15℃
and 22℃.
The annual rainfall amounts to more than 1,000mm. Stretches of
acidic and slightly acidic soil are widely distributed in the
territories. The physical environment suits tea plants. The
tea growing districts to the south of the lower and the middle
courses of River Yangtze, in particular, witness the early
germination of the tea plants because of high temperature and
plentiful rainfall. The growing season there is long, about
seven months per year, yet still shorter than that in South
Fujian and Guangdong, which lasts for eight to nice months.
The production of tea can be raised considerably if the plants
are handled with care and expertise. The yield in many
extensive farms is about two hundred to three hundred jin per
mu while it soars up to six hundred to seven hundred jin per
nu in intensive tea farming. The maximum output can reach over
one thousand jin per mu. These figures illustrate amply that
the tea plantations in China have great potential in boosting
productivity.
The
landscape comprises deep river canyons to high mountains on
the expansive tea growing areas in China, with streams and
rivers crisscrossing this territory of considerable physical
diversity. For instance, the Sichuan Basin is bordered by
mountain ranges while fascinating precipices emerge in the
hilly regions in the south-eastern
parts of the country. The Yunnan Guizhou Plateau rises to over
1,000 m above the sea level. Taiwan province is located in
between the East China Sea and South China sea. Because of the
variation in structure, relief, climate and soil, the trees
grown in different districts have their own characteristics,
differing from one another in terms of height, quality, leaf
size, leaf shape and leaf color. Besides, the leaves of some
species are thoroughly clothed with fine hairs whereas the
others are not. The plants also vary in the length of their
growing cycles and in productivity. Some germinate earlier
than others. Certain species contain more nutrients. There are
more than five hundred species in China, forming a rich tea
reserve full of variety. The availability of a spectrum of
species in conducive to the popularization of seed selection
and breeding. As a result, more new species can be nurtured to
raise production and improve quality. Different types of
processed tea with their unique flavour can also be reined by
extracting the essences of the tea plants. For example, the
large -leaf
variety of Yunnan is high yielding strain rich in polyphenols.
It is most suitable for making crushed black tea which has
strong refreshing fragrance and flavor. This processed tea
earns double the foreign earnings than that of the small-leaf
variety. Other notable tea species with specifies qualities are
the precious' Ti Kuan Yin' species grown in Anxi; the Zhengan
Narcissus tea made from the Narcissus variety in the Wuyi
Mountain and the West Lake Longjing green tea etc.
Plants
of the same species may differ in quality if they are fostered
under different conditions. A saying known among farmers goes
like this, 'Quality tea is produced on highlands'. It states
the influence of physical setting on the quality of tea, The
tea growing districts in China produce a wide range of
precious tea species; for example, Lu Shan Mist tea, Maofeng
tea in Huangshan, Yellow Bud tea of Mountain Meng and Wuyi
Oolong tea. These varieties are all grown on the wooded
highlands at over 1,000m above the sea level. Tea plantation
in the mountainous areas are favored by the luxuriant
vegetation, thick fertile soil, drizzles, persistent mish,
short duration of sunshine and radiating rays. The physical
conditions facilitate the formation and accumulation of
caffeine, amino acid aromatics. Therefore the bud leaves of
the tea plants are fresh and tender as well as rich in
nutrients. The tea leaves are processed to become quality
green tea characterized by strong fragrance and delicate
flavor. Famous spots producing quality tea are widely
distributed throughout the Chinese tea growing districts,
which are exclusively endowed with favorable physical
conditions.
Since
the tea growing areas in China are to extensive, a proper
delimitation of the regions is necessary coin for the
efficient management of tea production in the individual
districts. Scholars hold diverse views on the issue. In the
past, the tea growing districts ceded with the administrative
regions. It is proposed that the six administrative zones
should be regrouped into three big tea growing zones: Huadong
region, Zhongnan region and Xinan region. The Huadong region
covers Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and Taiwan.
The Zhongnan region includes Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi,
Guangdong and Guangxi. The Xlnan region embraces Sichuzn,
Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet. Some suggest the total area under
tea cultivation should instead be divided into eight big zones
on the basis of the physical environment; viz Shanxi-Henan
region, the hilly country south of Hiver Yangtze, South-west
Sichuan, South-west
Yunnan and Taiwan. These two ways of marking the boundaries of
the growing area still leave much to be desired. The former is
advantageous to efficient administration, yet pays inadequate
attention to adapting the production techniques to the
specifics environment of the respective regions.
The
latter takes into account only the climate and the relief but
ignores the distribution patterns of the tea species and the
spacing of the tea plants. The weakness of the second approach
might impede regionalized production. The consensus subsequent
to a series of researches and discussing is that natural
environment, plant species and the types tea products to be
processed (e. g. green/black tea) should be considered in any
demarcation of the growing regions. A scheme considering the
above three factors can help the flexible application of
production techniques to meet local needs, the launching of
scientific researches, the popularization of quality species
and the proper spacing of the tea plants, realizing the goal
of regionalized and modernized production as well as
better both the quality and
productivity of aviators
species. The proposal is in flavor of a boor-fold
division of the gross Chinese tea growing area.
(1)Jiangnan
Tea Growing Zone
The
district covers the tea growing districts in some provinces
south of the lower and the middle courses of River Yangze;
namely Zhejing, Hunnan, Jiangxi, Anhui and South Jiangsu. The
physical condition in the zone are relatively favorable. The
mean annual temperature varies between 15℃ and 18℃. The
total yearly rainfall is 400-1600mm
and may reach 1890 in some places. Most parts of the region
are suitable for growing tea plants, rendering the Jiangnan
Tea Growing Zone the most productive among the four big zone.
In case of the intrusion of the cold air currents from the
north, temperature may plunge to below 0℃ in winter.
Therefore the climate is not conducive to the growth of the
large-leaf
variety. The tea plants in the region are mostly medium leaf
species from which green tea is made. The region produces
various types of green tea; for example, the famous Pingshui
gunpowder tea and Liuan Slice tea. In addition to these
are some other precious green teas such as West Lake Longjing
tea. Lushan Mist tea and Nanjing Scented tea. Gongfu Black tea
is produced in some areas within the zone. The Anhui Qimen
black tea has established a world-wide
reputation for a
long time. The black tea manufactured in Inching, Hubei and
that produced in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, are unique in Their own
ways. The brick tea made in Hunnan and Hubei is mainly
consumed by the ethnic minorities in northwest China.
The
zone sweeps across the tea growing districts in Shanxi, South
Gansu, Anhui, North Jiangsu and East Shandong, all of which
are situated to the north of the lower and the middle reaches
of River Yangtze. The region is 2℃-3℃
cooler than the Jiangnan Tea Growing Zone. The annual
temperature range is greater, too. The absolute temperature
can decline to minimum of below-10℃.
The tea plantations in the zone are usually found in the low-lying
Sheltered form winds and facing the east. The most Common
Species region shecies are the large-leaf
and the medium-leaf
varieties resistant to both cold and drought. Green tea is the
principal tea of the zone. Some brick tea is produced in
Shanxi and South Gansu.
(2) Xinan Tea Growing Zone
The
region stretches across Sichuan, Guizhou and several paces in
Tibet. Tea plants were frost grown in the Sichuan Basin and
the Yunnan-Guizhou
Plateau, the so -called'
native places of tea'. The climate in the two places in
equable: it is higher severely cold in winter nor unbearably
hot in summer. There is a rich reserve of wild tea species.
The mean annual temperature stands between 15℃ and 19℃.
The total annual rainfall is within the range of 1,000-1,700mm,
Climatic conditions vary a great deal because of the intricate
physical relief. The warmer climate in south-east
Sichuan and south-west
Yunnan are suitabld for the growth of the Yunnan large-leaf
plants. The choicest Yunnan black tea and Sichuan black tea
have long been well-received
in overseas markets. The plants in the cooler regions of the
zone are largely of the medium-leaf
variety suitable for making tea. Some remarkable green tea
produced there are the Mengding tea and Emei tea fronm West
Sichuan and some varieties from Guizhou. The districts in the
southwest and those neighbouing the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau are the chief breeding grounds of brick tea intended
for consumption in the border areas. Besides, the renowned
Yunnan Pu-erh
tea is selling well.
(3) Lingnan Tea Growing Zone.
The
zone embraces four provinces: Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and
Teiwan. A warm, wet climate, long summer and short winter are
characteristic of the region. The mean annual temperature
varies between 18℃
and 22℃.
The average temperature stands above 10℃
throughout the year. The region has most plentiful is about
1,500mm average and the maximum can reach 2,500mm. The growing
seasons are relatively long lasting for eight to nine months
has been put in the selection and breeding of tea species. The
zone is abundant in a wide range of quality tea plants. It is
the principal producing area of choice tea. Fujian Oolong tea
has been well-reputed
in international markets. The supply of the celebrated
"Ti Kuan Yin'; in particular, is unable to meet the
demand. Wuyi Oolong tea, Guangdong phoenix Narcissus tea and
Taiwan Oolong tea are the most remarkable of all Oolong tea.
The favourable physical environment in most tea growing areas
is Guangdong and Guangxi is suitable for cultivating the
Yunnan large-leaf
variety. Abundant in large-leaf
species, the Hainan Island has potential in processing crushed
black tea. In recent years, Yingde black tea and Hainan black
tea have been exported overseas. They are comparble to
the products from India and Sri Lanka and may well
surpass then in quality.
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