Xinyang Maojian Tea: 2000 Years History Revealed
In the bright star of Chinese green tea, Xinyang Mao Jian has become a pearl that cannot be ignored with its unique appearance of “fine, round, light, straight, and many white hairs” and its fresh and sweet taste. Its history can be traced back to more than 2000 years ago in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, through the glory of the Tang Dynasty’s Tribute Tea, the Song Dynasty’s literati revered, the Ming and Qing Dynasty’s technological innovation, until the modern international recognition, and ultimately become one of China’s top ten famous teas today. Xinyang Mao Jian is not only a cup of tea, but also a concentrated history of Chinese tea culture.
1. Eastern Zhou origin (more than 2000 years ago)
The history of Xinyang Mao Jian can be traced back to the Eastern Zhou period more than 2000 years ago. China is the hometown of tea. Tea scientist Chen Rafan mentioned in the General History of Tea Industry that tea was introduced to Xinyang from the southwestern region of Ba Shu at that time, and took root and developed here, forming an early tea culture.
2. Prospered in Tang Dynasty and became a tribute product
Lu Yu, the saint of tea in the Tang Dynasty, recorded in the Tea Scripture: “Huainan tea to the light state on the Yiyang County second ……” Xinyang belonged to the Huainan tea area in the Tang Dynasty, which was one of the 13 important tea farms in the country. At that time, Xinyang tea was classified as tribute and offered to the imperial court.
Legend has it that Empress Wu Zetian cured her gastrointestinal diseases after drinking tea from Cheyun Mountain in Xinyang. She ordered the construction of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda on Cheyun Mountain, which still stands on the top of the mountain, becoming a witness to the history of Xinyang tea.
The Tang Dynasty was the first peak of Chinese tea culture, and the Seven Bowls of Tea Song by the tea immortal Lu Tong (a native of Jiyuan, Henan Province) has been passed down through the ages. Luoyang Museum still keeps a large number of tea utensils from the Tang Dynasty, showing the tea culture flourish at that time.
3. Prosperity in the Song Dynasty, with a great increase in production
The Song Dynasty was another peak of tea culture. Su Dongpo, a great writer, praised, “Huainan tea, Xinyang is the first.” During the Northern Song Dynasty, the name “Xinyang” was changed to “Xinyang” to avoid the emperor’s name. According to records, Xinyang tea production accounted for one-fifth of the country.
There are still 101 thousand-year-old tea trees in Jigong Mountain, Black Dragon Pool and White Dragon Pool, which are called “King of Tea Trees”. Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty wrote the “Daguan Tea Treatise” to promote the development of tea culture, which was later imported to Japan to form the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
4. The rise of loose tea in the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of Ming Dynasty, was born as a commoner and was well aware of the hardships of the people. He ordered in 1391 to abolish the complex group tea (dragon group phoenix cake), promote loose tea (bud tea). Xinyang loose tea therefore developed rapidly.
At the end of Ming Dynasty, due to war and excessive tea tax, Xinyang tea industry declined for a while, but gradually recovered under the efforts of tea farmers.
5. Qing Dynasty Style Formation
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the basic style of Xinyang Mao Jian was formed, and the frying process was gradually perfected. According to the different picking seasons and shapes, it is divided into needle tip, tribute needle, white hair and other varieties.
6. Improvement and revival in the late Qing Dynasty
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Xinyang tea industry declined for a while. 1903, Gan Yijing founded the “Yuanzhen Tea Society” to improve the traditional tea production process, so that Xinyang Mao Jian formed the “fine, round, light, straight, more white hair” characteristics, laying the foundation of the modern Xinyang Mao Jian.
7. Winning international awards during the Republican period
In 1915, Xinyang Mao Jian won the gold medal at the Panama World’s Fair, which was on a par with Guizhou Moutai. It is characterized by its thin and straight shape, emerald green color, obvious white hair, clear tea broth, orchid aroma, and fresh and sweet taste.
8. Toward glory after the founding of New China
In 1958, Xinyang Mao Jian was honored as one of the top ten famous teas in China, and in 1985, it won the silver medal of China Quality Award, and in 1990, it was honored as the first place of green tea quality. Nowadays, Xinyang Mao Jian has become one of the representatives of China’s green tea, which is famous all over the world.
