Basic Introduction to Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea is a well-known green tea from southern Shaanxi Province, produced in Zhen'an County at the southern foot of the Qinling Mountains. Xiangyuan Tea has a history of over 300 years and is renowned for its dark green color, intense chestnut aroma, long-lasting sweetness, and beautiful appearance.
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea is a high-altitude tea, grown in the heart of the Qinling Mountains at an elevation of 800-1000 meters. The area experiences significant temperature differences between day and night, long hours of sunlight, and alkaline soil, all contributing to the unique characteristics of the tea here, including its durability when brewed, high fragrance, and selenium content.
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea is known for its thick, smooth, fresh, and tender leaves, with a high water-soluble content. It has been found to have anti-cancer properties, as well as the ability to lower blood pressure, invigorate, relieve phlegm, protect teeth and improve vision, and reduce fever. Additionally, “Xiangyuan Tea” contains selenium and other beneficial components for human health, with a clear green broth, rich and fragrant aroma, sweet taste, and refreshing qualities that invigorate the senses. Its unique color, aroma, and flavor live up to its reputation, making it a true delicacy from the mountains!
Product Characteristics
1. External Sensory Features:
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea often uses the first two leaves and bud picked around the Qingming Festival as raw material. It has an attractive appearance, with bright green and lustrous leaves that are thick and fresh. The tea has a delicate fragrance; when brewed, the broth turns a fresh green color, clear and bright, with tender leaves at the bottom and a strong chestnut aroma. The aftertaste is long-lasting and it withstands multiple infusions.
2. Internal Quality Indicators:
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea is rich in internal components, with water-soluble extracts ≥40%, tea polyphenols ≥20%, total catechins ≥12%, amino acids ≥2.8%, iron ≥110 milligrams per kilogram, and zinc ≥45 milligrams per kilogram.
Historical and Folklore Background
Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea gets its name from being produced in Xiangyuan Valley, Zhen'an County.
The “Zhen'an County Annals” records that in the first year of the Shunzhi era (1644) during the Qing Dynasty, Liu Zhengmin from Pengcheng Town, Hezhou, Anhui Province, migrated to Xiangyuan Valley in Zhen'an County, bringing tea seeds with him. The seeds he planted grew well, and within a few years, a tea garden covering more than fifteen acres was established, gaining considerable fame. After Liu's death, the tea-making techniques were lost and the tea fields fell into disuse.
In 1927 (the sixteenth year of the Republic of China), tea merchant Peng Chuanqing from Ziyang passed through Xiangyuan and was attracted by the excellent environment for growing tea. He settled in Xiangyuan and provided guidance on tea cultivation and processing methods. This gradually led to the development of a special industry, and Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea began to flourish.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Zhen'an County introduced tea varieties such as Mingshan 131 and Wuniuzao, which became the main cultivars of Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea.
By 2015, the total production area of Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea had reached 81,000 mu (approximately 5,400 hectares), with an annual output of 356 tons.
Awards and Honors
On November 5, 2015, the former Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China approved the implementation of national agricultural product geographic indication registration protection for “Zhen'an Xiangyuan Tea.”