Yunnan has become China's second largest tea producing area, according to the Yunnan Provincial Agriculture Department.
Statistics from the Yunnan Provincial Agriculture Department show that the tea planting area in the province in southwest China covers approximately 396,667 hectares and produces in excess of 335,300 tons valued at 3.71 billion yuan ($5,977 million).
Wang Pinghua, vice head of the Provincial Agriculture Department, said that Yunnan has six million tea growers and more than 11 million people engaging in the tea industry. There are also 170 tea-related enterprises with an annual output value exceeding 10 million yuan and 20 enterprises turning over in excess of 100 million yuan. The majority of Yunnan's tea products are sold throughout China and several dozen foreign countries.
The latest value-added tea products in Yunnan province [Photo/www.cnchemicals.com]
Thanks to its favorable climate and fertile land, Yunnan is home to nearly 40 species of tea. It is also famous for its ancient tea trees, such as the Banzhang, Xigui and Bingdao species, popular for their special-tasting tea leaves.
The major types of tea in Yunnan are species of Pu'er, red and green tea. By far the province's most famous tea, Pu'er, has an annual yield of 110,000 tons and accounts for one third of the total output of tea in the province. Pu'er is becoming more and more popular for its health protection functions. Yunnan red tea is also a major species with an annual yield of 50,000 tons. The city of Pu'er, which changed from the name Simao in 2007 for tourist purposes, has been honored as "World Tea Home" and "China Tea City". Lincang city has also been named as a "China Red Tea City".
Xiangzhu Ancient Tea is produced in Yunnan province. [Photo/www.cnchemicals.com]
Tea is also one of Yunnan's major export products. The province exported nearly 30,000 tons of tea in 2014, generating foreign exchange revenues of up to $100 million. Some enterprises, such as Taetea Group and Lancang Ancient Tea, have set up branch offices in other countries as a result.
Wang Pinghua, vice head of the Provincial Agriculture Department, said that Yunnan plans to expand its tea planting area to 40 million hectares, which will be able to yield 350,000 tons.
Tea growers pick tea leaves in Yunnan province. [Photo/www.cnchemicals.com]