Basic Introduction to Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea
Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea is a specialty of Yingshan County, Hubei Province, and a Chinese national geographical indication product. “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea” is produced at the southern foothills of Mount Dabie's main peak, Mount Tiantang. The area is characterized by verdant peaks and misty clouds, and its unique ecological environment and climatic conditions produce high-quality Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea. It has been recognized as “China's Tea Capital,” “China's Green (Famous) Tea Capital,” and “National Model Base for Pesticide-Free Tea Production.” “High mountains and misty clouds produce fine tea.” “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea” has been rated as one of “Hubei's Top Ten Teas.” “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea” has various Health benefits, including stimulating and soothing the mind, quenching thirst, aiding digestion, eliminating greasy tastes, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation, preventing tooth decay and strengthening teeth, aiding weight loss and beauty, harmonizing the stomach and promoting urination, brightening the eyes and calming the heart, relieving hangovers, lowering blood pressure and removing fats, reducing the risk of cancer, enhancing the elasticity of blood vessel walls, and protecting against atomic radiation damage.
Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea is named after the word “Tiantang” from Mount Dabie's main peak, and because it is grown in high-altitude and semi-high-altitude tea plantations, it has the distinct characteristics of high fragrance, rich flavor, and good brewing endurance typical of mountain-grown teas. Therefore, it is called Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea. Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea is produced in Yingshan County, Hubei Province, where the terrain is mostly low and medium mountains, commonly described as “eight parts mountain, one part water, and one part farmland.” To the north, the main peak of Mount Dabie, Mount Tiantang, extends northeastward, forming a series of mountains including Yunfeng Peak, Shiguzhai, Wufeng Mountain, and Huangmei Peak. These mountains then branch into three major ridges, with the Dong River and Xi River running between them, creating a terrain that slopes gradually from northeast to southwest. The highest point is Mount Tiantang at an elevation of 1,729 meters, while the lowest point is Chuangxingwan at 90 meters, resulting in an altitude difference of 1,639 meters, with an average slope of 17°. The crust of Yingshan County is composed mainly of ancient metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks of Mount Dabie, with granite gneiss as the dominant soil parent material. There are five major soil types, eleven subtypes, twenty-three soil genera, and eighty-nine soil species across the county. Among these, yellow-brown soil accounts for 86.97% of the total area, paddy soil accounts for 12.29%, and other soil types make up 0.74%.
Yingshan County has a humid subtropical monsoon climate in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The climate is generally warm and humid, with abundant rainfall, distinct seasons, and frequent natural disasters. In Yingshan County, temperatures decrease with increasing altitude, showing a clear vertical gradient. For every 100-meter increase in altitude, the annual average temperature drops by 0.53°C, and the frost-free period shortens by 3.5 days. The annual average temperature is 16.4°C, with an average January temperature of 3.6°C and an average July temperature of 28.5°C. The extreme minimum temperature recorded is -13.5°C, and the extreme maximum temperature is 42.0°C. The average frost-free period throughout the year is 241 days, with the first frost typically occurring on November 14th. The annual average precipitation in Yingshan County reaches 1,403 millimeters, which is suitable for tea cultivation.
History and Folk Customs
Cloud Mist Tea gets its name from being grown in the high mountains and misty clouds of Mount Nanyue and was known historically as Mount Yue Tea. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been offered as a tribute to emperors. It primarily grows at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,100 meters in areas such as Guangji Temple, Tiefo Temple, and Huagai Peak. During the Tang Dynasty, Yingshan County began producing varieties like “Tuanguang” and “Qimen.” Leijiadian is the birthplace of “Yingshan Cloud Mist” tea. Here, “every village has a tea plantation, every household has a tea garden, every mountain produces fine tea, and each season yields renowned teas,” making it the largest-scale tea-producing town in eastern Hubei, famous for its quality and yield.
In June 1947, the Liu Deng army advanced toward Yingshan County in the Dabie Mountains, and locals gifted their tea to the soldiers to quench their thirst and cool down;
In 1980, Yingshan County implemented the “112 Project,” which included 100,000 mu of tea, 100,000 mu of mulberry tea, and 200,000 mu of fruit trees;
In 1990, the Yingshan County government proposed a policy of “focusing on agriculture and the tea industry.”
By the end of 2017, the total output of tea in the county reached 28.31 million kilograms, with a total value of 2.076 billion yuan. Ten out of the 11 towns in the county became specialized tea towns. Five large eco-tea zones covering 10,000 mu, over 50 smaller tea zones of 1,000 mu, and more than 60 specialized tea villages have been established. Processing facilities cover 230,000 square meters, equipped with over 8,200 pieces of various tea processing equipment.
Awards and Honors
In numerous competitions for high-quality teas, it has won the “Zhongcha Cup” gold award twice and the “Luyu Cup” gold award six times.
In China's Yingshan Tea Festival, it has consistently ranked first for twelve consecutive years, with the top-grade tea from Leidian fetching the highest price in auctions six times.
In April 1998, the “Changchong” brand spring tea and stir-fried Green Tea produced by the state-owned Changchong Tea Farm in Yingshan County received the special prize and first prize, respectively, from the Hubei Provincial Tea Association. In May of the same year, Changchong Spring Tea won the recommended product award at the China International Famous Tea Exhibition;
In August 1998, Yingshan County was awarded the title of “China's Green (Famous) Tea Capital”;
In April 2003, at the twelfth Yingshan Tea Festival held in Wuhan, the premium tea from Leidian set a record high auction price of 44,000 yuan per kilogram for tea in the province.
In December 2009, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China approved the implementation of geographical indication protection for “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea.”
On July 27, 2020, Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea was included in the second batch of protected geographical indications in the Sino-European agreement.
Tasting and Preparation
The method of preparing Cloud Mist Tea is unique. When brewing, it is best to pour half a cup of hot water, maintaining a temperature between 80°C and 90°C, without covering the cup. The tea leaves quickly unfurl like scissors, turning a fresh green color. After a moment, add the second round of water. In the clear, light green tea liquid, clusters of tea flowers seem to be gently moving. Sipping it reveals a full-bodied taste, with a refreshing and invigorating aroma that permeates the senses. Each time you refill the water, do not wait until the cup is empty; instead, refill it when there is about one-fourth of the water left. This ensures that even after multiple infusions, the tea remains fragrant and smooth.
Serving tea to guests is the most basic form of hospitality in Yingshan, and there are many customs associated with serving and receiving tea.
Firstly, small Teacups are