Terroir
Shaoguan lies at 25°N, a golden latitude for tea. The UNESCO-listed Danxia red sandstone peaks, misty valleys, and mineral‑rich soils create a unique microclimate. Over 100,000 mu of tea gardens thrive here, producing teas with mineral notes, smooth umami, and floral sweetness. Every batch is GPS‑tracked — our terroir is verifiable down to the exact garden coordinates.
Heritage
Tea cultivation in Shaoguan dates back to the Tang Dynasty. The “Tea Sage” Lu Yu recorded in The Classic of Tea that Shaozhou tea “tastes extremely good”. The Yao ethnic minority has preserved wild tea picking rituals and traditional processing for centuries. Today, four local tea-making techniques are listed as intangible cultural heritage of Shaoguan.
Lu Yu (733–804 CE) traveled south via the Meiguan Ancient Road and wrote: “Tea from Fuzhou, Jianzhou, Shaozhou, Xiangzhou… is often obtained, and its taste is extremely good.” This is the earliest authoritative record placing Shaoguan among China’s finest tea origins.
During the Qing Dynasty, Shaoguan (then Shaozhou Prefecture) became a key hub for tea exports. The 1841 Tea Export List (preserved in the Guangdong Museum) shows that tea from Shaozhou ranked fourth in national export volume, after Zhejiang, Fujian, and Hunan. By the early 20th century, Shaoguan teas such as Lechang Baimaojian, Renhua Baimao, Qujiang Luokeng black tea, and Ruyuan Yaoshan tea were already well-known in domestic and international markets.
Industry
Shaoguan’s tea industry has grown rapidly, with over 8.39万亩 (≈5,600 hectares) planted and an annual output value exceeding 1 billion RMB. The region is home to 150+ certified suppliers, many holding organic and GAP certifications. In the Qing Dynasty, four out of six counties in Shaozhou Prefecture produced tribute tea. Today, Shaoguan is emerging as a key origin for premium Chinese tea — the “tea jar” of the Greater Bay Area.
Research
Shaoguan tea producers collaborate with agricultural universities and research institutes to advance organic farming, disease‑resistant cultivars, and sustainable processing. In Ruyuan, ancient tea trees have been found with a diameter of 30 cm, and their leaves contain up to 46.9% tea polyphenols — among the highest in China. Research focuses on preserving ancient tea varieties and improving soil health, all while maintaining full transparency through public lab reports.
Varieties
Shaoguan produces all six tea categories, with green and black teas as the mainstays. According to the Shaoguan tea map, each district offers its own signature varieties:
- Lechang — Baimaojian (white downy tip)
- Renhua — Yunwu Mountain Baimaojian (once a royal tribute)
- Nanxiong — High-mountain green tea & black tea
- Ruyuan — Dancong oolong & Yaoshan tea
- Qujiang — Luokeng tea (famous for almond aroma)
- Shixing — Ecological organic tea
- Wengyuan — Longjing & organic tea
- Xinfeng — High-mountain organic tea & oolong
Each micro‑terroir gives a unique flavor — from mineral to floral, from honey to almond. Whether you prefer delicate greens, rich blacks, or aromatic oolongs, Shaoguan offers a diverse spectrum of tastes.
Suppliers
Our suppliers are carefully vetted based on licenses, certifications (organic, GAP, Geographical Indication), awards, and traceability. Many have won national and provincial tea competitions, such as “Red Mountain Silver Needle” (Renhua white tea) awarded the “China Good Tea” prize. Each partner provides GPS coordinates, public lab reports, and batch archives. Meet the family farms and cooperatives behind Shaoguan’s finest teas — all committed to transparency and quality.
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