Anhua boasts a rich variety of tea tree cultivars and is a national-designated tea tree germplasm resource bank. The native, sexually reproducing tea trees of Anhua are collectively known as the Anhua Group Cultivar. The Yuntaishan Large-Leaf Tea, selected from the Anhua Group Cultivar, is one of the first 21 excellent tea tree varieties recognized by the state. Its derivatives, Zhuye Qi, Baihao Zao, and Xiangbo Lu, are also national-level superior varieties.
The most unforgettable aspect of a trip to Anhua is its unique tea garden landscape. Anhua is mountainous and well-watered, with 63 peaks over a thousand meters above sea level. Besides the Zhexi Reservoir, the Zi River flows through the county, with numerous streams and valleys, providing abundant water resources. Many tea gardens are located in dense forests on the mountain slopes, with tea trees interspersed among other trees. This environment is ideal for tea tree growth. Tea trees prefer sunlight but are sensitive to excessive sun exposure; they thrive in shade but dislike excessive moisture. While sunlight is necessary for growth, intense sunlight can cause the tea trees to wither and die. High-altitude areas have frequent fog and clouds, and the surrounding large trees provide shade and diffuse light through reflection, creating the most suitable light environment for tea tree growth. Furthermore, because the tea trees grow scattered on the mountain slopes, Anhua receives abundant rainfall, resulting in moist soil on the slopes. The soil contains rich gravel, providing good drainage, and the sloping terrain prevents water accumulation, allowing the tea trees to flourish.
In addition, Anhua is home to a large distribution of glacial tillite, also known as glacial diamictite. Formed 600-700 million years ago, during a global "ice age" or "snowball Earth" event, followed by a "hothouse climate" event, this extreme temperature fluctuation created the rare glacial tillite. It is grayish-brown in color, heavy, hard yet brittle, and contains sand, gravel, and other small fossils. Except for a small area in South Africa, most of the world's glacial tillite is found in Anhua, China. In areas like Yuntai Mountain, a large amount of glacial till is scattered throughout the tea plantations, making it seem as if the tea trees are growing directly on the rocks. This is remarkably similar to the growing environment of Wuyi Mountain rock tea, and the tea produced in these plantations is rich in trace elements.
The unique geographical environment of Anhua has created a tea-producing area centered around "two mountains, two streams, and six caves." The two mountains refer to Yuntai Mountain and Furong Mountain. Yuntai Mountain has a large amount of glacial till landforms, and many locals in Anhua say that wherever there is glacial till, there is good tea. This is also the birthplace of the Yuntai large-leaf tea variety. This tea tree variety can grow leaves the size of a palm, and a folk saying goes, "the stems are strong enough to support a boat, and the leaves are large enough to wrap salt." Because of its rich internal substances, Yuntai Mountain tea has a strong and full-bodied taste with a strong stimulating effect. Malu Town, where Yuntai Mountain is located, traditionally focused on black tea, but now the focus has shifted to dark tea.
Furong Mountain is located in Furong Village, Xianxi Town. Its highest peak is over 1400 meters above sea level and is composed of 72 large and small peaks. Furong Village is the most remote and highest-altitude administrative village in Anhua. It is said that the tea produced here is smooth and mellow, with a distinct floral and fruity aroma, abundant tea flavor, and a continuous, lingering sweetness that leaves a lasting impression.
The Stone Tablet In Gaomaerxi Village
Gaomaerxi Village in Tianzhuang Township is probably the most famous Anhua dark tea producing area. It is named after the Gaoxia Creek and Majia Creek. This area has an average altitude of about 800 meters and is home to many glacial till formations. The local vegetation is diverse, the ecology is excellent, and there is a unique microclimate. The tea produced here is rich in internal substances and was listed as a tribute tea during the 23rd year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, earning the reputation of having "naturally excellent raw materials." In 2011, a stone tablet was discovered in Gaomaerxi Village, Tianzhuang Township, the core production area of Anhua dark tea. The top of the tablet bears the four large characters "Strictly Prohibited by Imperial Decree." Most of the text on the tablet is clearly legible, explicitly prohibiting unfair practices between buyers and sellers, such as "privately altering scales" and "mixing in inferior tea." The inscription at the bottom of the tablet reads "Published by all townships on the first day of the eighth month of the fourth year of Daoguang (1824)." "By Imperial Decree" means by the emperor's order, which also indicates that Anhua was a tribute tea production area during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Many Anhua dark teas claim to use raw materials from Gaomaerxi, but Gaomaerxi is a remote mountainous area. The tea trees are mostly small- and medium-leaf Anhua varieties, with soft and juicy leaves. The tea yield is limited, and the price of fresh leaves is much higher than in other areas. Only a few truly source their tea leaves from here. Authentic Gaomaerxi tea has a rich inner quality, a delicate texture, excellent brewing resistance, a distinct sweet aftertaste, and a long-lasting aroma. Gaomaerxi tea is highly distinctive; if you frequently drink authentic Gaomaerxi tea, you can immediately notice the difference when tasting tea from other regions. While writing this article, I was drinking Gaomaerxi Tianjian tea, and the continuous sweet aftertaste filled my mouth like a flowing spring.
The Six Caves refer to Huoshao Cave in Sixian Stream, Tiaoyu Cave in Zhulin Stream, Piaoshui Cave and Tanxiang Cave in Daxixi Stream, Shenshui Cave in Huangsha Stream, and Xianguan Cave in Zhupingxi. These "caves" do not refer to actual caves, but rather small basin-like areas in the mountains, similar to the Three Pits, Two Streams, Two Hollows, and One Cave of Wuyi Mountain. In recent years, the two mountains and two streams production areas have become quite popular, while the Six Caves area is relatively less well-known. However, Anhua has many areas suitable for tea tree growth, and as long as it is authentic Anhua dark tea, with proper processing and storage, the taste will not disappoint.
In the words of Mr. Wu Xiangan, a leading figure in Anhua dark tea, for Anhua dark tea, the raw material is the foundation, the technology is the key, and aging is the sublimation. A good origin yields high-quality tea leaves, and good raw materials possess rich characteristics. Ultimately, drinking tea is often a way to directly connect with nature through the taste of the tea leaves.
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