Basic Introduction to Jietan Tea
Jietan Tea is produced in Yuanling County, Hunan Province, mainly in the Jietan tea garden, which stands at an elevation of over 100 meters. To its south flows the mighty Yuan River, and to its north rise the Wuling Mountains. It lies within a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with abundant rainfall, an annual average temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius, an annual precipitation of 1,440.9 millimeters, and a frost-free period of 272 days. The area is often shrouded in mist and clouds, with moderate sunlight, creating a unique environment described as “feeling like autumn during the hottest days of summer, with waves of mist all year round.” The mild climate, ample light and heat, and high-quality water and soil resources are very suitable for growing tea. The tea produced here has deep roots and lush leaves, many buds, large leaves, and a soft texture, and it was already well-known as far back as the Han Dynasty.
Product Features
The quality of premium Jietan Tea is characterized by slender, tightly twisted, rounded, green and lustrous leaves that are evenly bright. Its aroma is fresh and long-lasting. The tea liquor is clear, green, and bright, with a pure, refreshing taste and a sweet aftertaste. The leaves at the bottom of the cup are tender, green, neat, and bright. After brewing, the tips of the Jietan Tea initially rise to the surface of the water, gradually absorb water, expand, and open up. They then stand upright in the air before slowly sinking to the bottom of the cup, repeating this three times, resembling playful shrimp. Across from the Jietan Tea Garden is a mountain named Silver Kettle, and nearby is a small stream called Clear Water.
History and Folklore
According to legend, after Emperor Ruizong Li Dan was forced to cede his throne to his mother Empress Wu Zetian, he was demoted to the status of imperial heir, and his wife Empress Liu was likewise demoted to concubine. Soon after, Li Dan's beloved Empress Liu and Consort De were falsely accused and secretly executed by Empress Wu Zetian. With his two beloved women mysteriously vanished, Li Dan knew they had been killed by his mother but dared not ask about it. Under the pretext of searching for them, he sought permission to leave the perilous imperial palace and eventually arrived in the south. When he traveled upstream along the Yuan River from Dongting Lake and reached Hujiaping near Jietan (now Chenjiatan Township, Yuanling County, Huaihua City), he was captivated by the beautiful scenery and the simple and honest local customs, so he moored his boat and stayed temporarily at the home of a local official, Mr. Hu. Mr. Hu's daughter, Hu Fengjiao, was beautiful and understanding. She personally prepared fragrant Jietan Tea every day to entertain her guest. Over time, they fell in love due to their shared appreciation of tea and got married. In the first year of the Shenglong era, Zhang Jianzhi and others launched a coup, forcing Empress Wu Zetian to abdicate. Li Dan returned to the capital and ascended the throne. Soon after, he sent people to fetch Hu Fengjiao to the capital. Not knowing what to bring, she took some Jietan Tea that Li Dan loved. Li Dan distributed these tea leaves among his ministers, who found the tea sweet, mellow, and refreshing. They unanimously recommended that Jietan Tea from Chen Prefecture be designated as an annual tribute. From then on, the court would send officials every year to oversee the production of Jietan Tea. Jietan Tea not only became a special supply for court officials but was also used as gifts for foreign envoys, spreading to Japan and India. Later, Li Dan abdicated twice more, first to his elder brother and then to his son. Reflecting on Emperor Ruizong's three abdications, some say that his first abdication to his mother was out of necessity. His subsequent abdications to his elder brother and son, while also compelled by circumstances, were closely related to his acquaintance with Fengjiao and his frequent consumption of Jietan Tea. Drinking Jietan Tea nurtured his character of being broad-minded, courteous, peaceful, and willing to yield. This disposition allowed him to survive the tumultuous political struggles of the imperial court through the reigns of Empress Wu Zetian and Empress Wei, becoming a rare historical anecdote.
Manufacturing Method
The standards for Jietan Tea fresh leaves are extremely strict. Besides sharing common characteristics with other renowned teas, the picking standard is exclusively one bud and one leaf. The processing technique consists of ten steps: wilting, cooling, initial kneading, preliminary drying, secondary kneading, secondary drying, trimming and cooling, baking, cooling, and packaging. After the fresh leaves are wilted, they are cooled immediately. Then, the tea is initially kneaded into round balls and placed in a pot heated to 80°C until half-dried. To tighten the tea strips, the partially dried tea is kneaded again, and then placed back in the pot heated to 70-75°C for rolling, tossing, and shaping, known as “secondary drying.” When the tea is seven-tenths dry and slightly prickly to the touch, the downy hairs are lifted. At eight-tenths dry, the tea is removed from the pot and sifted through a 24-hole sieve to remove the dust. The tea is then left to cool for about half an hour before being baked on a drying rack at around 65°C. Once fully dried, the tea is removed from the rack, allowed to cool slightly, and packaged using two layers of kraft paper and a plastic bag for storage. The quality of premium Jietan Tea is characterized by slender, tightly twisted, rounded, green and lustrous leaves that are evenly bright. Its aroma is fresh and long-lasting. The tea liquor is clear, green, and bright, with a pure, refreshing taste and a sweet aftertaste. The leaves at the bottom of the cup are tender, green, neat, and bright.
Awards and Honors for Jietan Tea
In September 1972, during his visit to China, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka mentioned Jietan Tea to Premier Zhou Enlai, referring to it as the “tea of Sino-Japanese friendship”;
In 1985, a Japanese government delegation visited Hunan Province. After appraisals and discussions, they officially designated Jietan Tea as the “tea of Sino-Japanese friendship,” bringing new opportunities for the development of Jietan Tea;
The ancient Jietan Tea has once again attracted attention and affection. It has successively passed the organic tea certifications of “JONA” in Japan and “IMO” in the European Union, frequently ranking among various lists of top-quality teas, winning more than ten international and domestic gold awards;
In 1991, at the International Tea Culture Festival attended by 400 regions from 17 countries, Jietan Tea stood out among the competitors and won the gold medal, being rated as an “international cultural name tea” and included in the “Record of Famous Chinese Teas”;
In 2006, it won the gold medal at the Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival;
In May 2010, at the China (Shanghai) International Tea Expo, Jietan Tea emerged from over 1,600 samples to win the highest award for green teas, the “Special Gold Medal,” at the expo;
In September 2011, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China designated Jietan Tea from Yuanling as a product under geographical indication protection.