The Purple Cloud

Basic Introduction to Huangmei Chan TeaHuangmei Chan Tea is produced in the Purple Cloud Mountains, north of the Fourth Patriarch Temple and the Fifth Patriarch Temple, amidst fog and waterfalls. Huangmei has been a place of pilgrimage for Chinese and East Asian Buddhists since the early Tang Dynasty, as it is home to the Old Ancestor Temple built by the ancient Indian monk Baizhang. Surrounded by towering peaks, lush pines and bamboo, clear waters, and fresh air, all the tea gardens are located at an altitude of 800 to over 1,200 meters in the misty mountains, making them significant sources of tribute tea and Chan tea throughout history. In 747 AD, Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea during the mid-Tang Dynasty, visited the birthplace of Huangmei Chan Tea, examined local tea customs, and included his findings in his famous work, "The Classic of Tea: Chapter Eight - Origins," stating, "Tea from Huangmei grows in the mountain valleys of Qi Prefecture." The tea from Huangmei is of superior quality, with a rich and fragrant flavor, and has been a staple drink for Chan masters while meditating and entertaining guests. Therefore, it is named "Huangmei Chan Tea" as it originated from the…