Top Tea Plantations in China

China boasts 17 main tea-growing regions, each contributing unique characteristics to the country’s rich tea culture. Here’s a brief overview of these regions:

  1. Anhui (安徽): Famous for Keemun black tea and Huangshan Maofeng green tea.
  2. Fujian (福建): Known for various types including oolong (e.g., Tieguanyin), white tea (e.g., Bai Mudan), and black tea (e.g., Zhengshan Xiaozhong).
  3. Gansu (甘肃): Produces primarily green tea.
  4. Guangdong (广东): Famous for Dancong oolong tea and Chaozhou gongfu tea.
  5. Guangxi Zhuang (广西壮族): Notable for Liubao dark tea and Guilin green tea.
  6. Guizhou (贵州): Known for its unique black tea and green tea varieties.
  7. Hainan (海南): The southernmost tea-growing region in China, producing tropical teas.
  8. Henan (河南): Known for its green tea production.
  9. Hubei (湖北): Famous for producing high-quality green tea, such as Xuan En Mao Jian.
  10. Hunan (湖南): Known for various types including black tea (e.g., Hu Hong), green tea, and Anhua dark tea.
  11. Jiangsu (江苏): Produces Biluochun green tea and other green teas.
  12. Jiangxi (江西): Famous for producing green tea (e.g., Lushan Yunwu) and black tea (e.g., Yinghong).
  13. Shaanxi (陕西): Known for its green tea production.
  14. Shandong (山东): Produces primarily green tea.
  15. Sichuan (四川): Known for its Mengding Ganlu green tea and Ya’an Tibetan tea.
  16. Yunnan (云南): Famous for Pu’er tea (both sheng and shou) and Yunnan black tea (e.g., Dian Hong).
  17. Zhejiang (浙江): Known for Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea and other green teas.

These regions not only differ in the types of tea they produce but also in their cultivation techniques, processing methods, and the unique cultural practices surrounding tea. Each region contributes to China’s diverse tea heritage and plays a significant role in the global tea industry.

Here’s a curated list of some of the best tea plantations in China, renowned for their quality teas and cultural significance:

  1. Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea Plantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province: Longjing Tea is celebrated for its flat, slender leaves and sweet, nutty flavor. The plantation’s location near West Lake provides a scenic backdrop.
  2. Mengding Mountain Tea Plantation, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province: Known for its early history in tea cultivation since the Tang Dynasty, Mengding Mountain produces Mengding Ganlu, a famous green tea.
  3. Wuyi Mountain Tea Plantations, Fujian Province: Famous for its rock oolong teas, such as Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) and Rou Gui. Wuyi Mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage site noted for its cliffs and biodiversity.
  4. Junshan Island Tea Plantation, Dongting Lake, Hunan Province: This island produces Junshan Yinzhen, a rare yellow tea made from delicate buds, considered one of China’s most prestigious teas.
  5. Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Plantation, Fujian Province: Anxi County is renowned for Tieguanyin, a floral oolong tea with a refreshing taste. The region’s rolling hills and mild climate contribute to its distinctive flavor.
  6. Xi Hu (West Lake) Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province: Another site for Longjing Tea, offering a picturesque setting around West Lake, rich in cultural history and tea craftsmanship.
  7. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Tea Plantations, Anhui Province: Known for producing Huangshan Maofeng, a green tea with a refreshing aroma and a sweet taste. The mountainous terrain and misty climate are ideal for tea cultivation.
  8. Yunnan Puer Tea Plantations: Yunnan Province produces Puer tea, both raw (sheng) and ripe (shou). Regions like Xishuangbanna and Lincang are famous for their Puer teas, known for their earthy flavor and health benefits.
  9. Mt. Emei Tea Plantations, Sichuan Province: Besides its Buddhist heritage, Mt. Emei is known for Emei Maofeng, a green tea known for its tender buds and sweet taste, cultivated at high altitudes.
  10. Taiwan High Mountain Tea Plantations: Though not in mainland China, Taiwan’s high mountain regions like Alishan and Lishan produce exceptional oolong teas. The high altitude and cool climate contribute to their unique flavors and aromas.

These plantations represent the diversity and richness of China’s tea culture, each offering unique teas shaped by local terroir, traditional craftsmanship, and centuries of cultivation expertise.