明前 / 雨前春茶
Mar 25 – May 5
Pre-Qingming and Guyu flushes for Huangshan Maofeng, Qimen Gongfu, Taiping Houkui, and Lu'an Guapian.
国家质量监督检验检疫总局 / 国家标准化管理委员会 (AQSIQ / SAC)
安徽
Anhui
Eastern Chinese tea province spanning the Huangshan (Huizhou), Dabie Mountain and Yangtze hill districts; home to Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping Houkui, Lu'an Guapian and Huoshan Huangya.
- Level
- Province
At a glance#
Garden elevation
100–1,200 m
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Rainfall
1,600 mm a year
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Mean temperature
16 °C
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Mean relative humidity
78 %
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Fog days
150 a year
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Location
- Garden elevation
- Tea gardens span low Yangtze hills (100–300 m) to the Dabie and Huangshan mountain belts (400–1,200 m).
Where it lies#
Tea places nearby, plotted by their coordinates. Only physical positions are shown, no boundaries.
2212 places shown Across the view · 1,760 km
65 places shown Across the view · 474 km
Altitude#
Garden elevations here and in neighbouring places, as sourced.
- Tongmuguan850–1,500 m
- Jiangxi200–1,300 m
- Shangrao250–1,200 m
- Hubei150–1,200 m
- Anhui100–1,200 m
- Huangshan200–1,100 m
- Zhejiang50–1,100 m
- Lu'an200–950 m
- Xiushui150–900 m
- Xinyang150–850 m
- Henan150–850 m
- Qimen150–800 m
- Anji80–800 m
- Hangzhou30–800 m
- Sanyang Peak450–718 m
- Chibi50–550 m
- Wuyishan200–500 m
- Shuiliandong234–360 m
- Huiyuankeng234–360 m
- Liuxiangjian234–360 m
- Niulankeng234–360 m
- Jiulongke234–360 m
- Tianxin Yan234–360 m
- Jiangsu20–350 m
- Suzhou15–300 m
Picking calendar#
夏茶
May 20 – Jul 10
Later shoots harvested for Huoshan Huangdacha, Qimen Ancha, and summer export grades.
Terroir#
- Rock
- Granite, gneiss, and metamorphic slate in the Huangshan and Dabie mountain ranges; limestone and red sandstone along the Yangtze hill belt.
- Soil
- Acidic mountain yellow-red soils (黄红壤) and sandy loams rich in weathered granite grit (乌砂土), pH 4.5–5.5.
- Slope and light
- Transitional humid subtropical monsoon climate straddling the Yangtze and Huai watersheds; dense spring valley fog in Huizhou (Southern Anhui) and the northern Dabie slopes shields tender shoots from direct radiation.
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
Cultivation#
- Cultivars grown
- Qimen Zhuye populationShuchazao黄山种 (Huangshan population)
- Landraces
- Historic seed-propagated populations include Qimen Zhuye (祁门槠叶种), Huangshan Dayezhong (黄山大叶种), and Jinzhai/Luan Dabie mountain landraces.
- Practice
- Sloped terraced gardens interplanted with Chinese fir, bamboo, and tung trees; spring picking dominates famous green, yellow, and Keemun red teas.
上海科学技术出版社 · 2001
Local words#
| Local words | Dialect | |
|---|---|---|
| 烘青 hōngqīng | Huizhou (Hui) / Jianghuai Mandarin | charcoal-basket-baked green tea Core processing and trade term across southern and western Anhui distinguishing basket-baked green teas (such as Huangshan Maofeng and Taiping Houkui) from pan-dried styles. |
People#
- Huizhou and Dabie Mountain tea-making lineages 徽州与大别山制茶世家
- Smallholders, Huizhou tea merchants, and UNESCO-inscribed craft inheritors across Huangshan, Qimen, and Lu'an who developed China's classic baked green, single-blade Guapian, yellow, and Gongfu black teas.
Market#
- Primary trade channel
- Spring leaf moves from mountain household workshops through historic refining and wholesale centres in Tunxi, Shexian, Qimen, and Lu'an to national specialty markets and overseas export.
- Trading towns
- Tunxi (Huangshan) · Qimen · Lu'an
- Output
- Anhui is a premier multi-category tea province whose output spans southern Huizhou green, black, and dark teas (Huangshan, Qimen) and western Dabie Mountain green and yellow teas (Lu'an, Huoshan).
- Prices of teas claiming this origin
- Prices are driven by core-village provenance (such as Fuxi for Maofeng, Houkeng for Houkui, and Qishan for Guapian) and early-spring picking grades.
上海文化出版社 (Shanghai Culture Publishing House)
History#
- 760Lu Yu's Classic of Tea records Shouzhou (Lu'an/Huoshan) and Shezhou (Huizhou) among Tang-dynasty tea prefectures.中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture Press
- 1522Monk Dafang on Songluo Mountain in Xiuning innovates pan-fired green tea (炒青), reshaping Ming tea manufacture.
- 1875Yu Ganchen and Hu Yuanlong introduce strip-style red tea craft in Qimen, founding Qimen Gongfu (Keemun).
- 2022Four Anhui tea crafts (Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping Houkui, Lu'an Guapian, Qimen Gongfu) inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Notes#
Identity and history#
Divided topographically by the Yangtze and Huai rivers into the southern Huizhou mountains, the western Dabie range, and central hill corridors, Anhui encompasses one of the richest concentrations of classic Chinese tea styles. Southern prefectures around Huangshan and Qimen yield baked Maofeng, pressed Houkui, early-modern Songluo, basket-aged Ancha, and floral Qimen Gongfu black tea, whereas the northern Dabie slopes in Lu'an and Huoshan specialize in single-blade Guapian and yellow-bud teas. Provincial heritage registries and national geographical-indication standards strictly demarcate core mountain sub-zones, bush varieties, and charcoal-baking regimes.
Prices of teas claiming this origin#
International retail
Show as table
| Product | Vendor | Channel | per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keemun Gong Fu Black Tea | In the Mood for Tea | International retail | $13.11 |
| Jinzhai Huang Da Cha Large-Leaf Yellow Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $13.19 |
| Keemun Maofeng Black Tea | In the Mood for Tea | International retail | $17.14 |
| Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $20.27 |
| Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $22.92 |
| Spring Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $27.96 |
| Keemun Imperial Black Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $30.00 |
| Keemun Spring Fragrance Black Tea | In the Mood for Tea | International retail | $30.05 |
| Award Winning Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $30.88 |
| Houkeng Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea | TeaVivre | International retail | $31.40 |
| Yue Xi Cui Lan Green Tea | Bestitea | International retail | $35.80 |
| Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $35.96 |
| Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea | Bestitea | International retail | $42.14 |
| Nonpareil Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea | Dragon Tea House | International retail | $43.96 |
| Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea | The Tea Torino | International retail | $43.96 |
| Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea | Sazen Tea | International retail | $222.06 |
| Houkeng Tai Ping Hou Kui Pre-Guyu Green Tea | Sazen Tea | International retail | $302.80 |
Listings claiming this origin 17#
Price ranks compare recorded retail offers for the same tea, including offers outside the current delivery filter. Shipping and import charges are excluded.
Prices compared in the selected currency; unknown values appear last.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
Keemun Gong Fu Black Tea
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
50 g pack at SEK 65; 100 g (SEK 119) and 200 g (SEK 235) also available |
In the Mood for TeaSelected destinations |
SEK 65.00 / 50 g | $13.11 SEK 130.00 / 100 g |
Jinzhai Huang Da Cha Large-Leaf Yellow Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
TeaVivreWorldwide |
$14.90 / 113 g | $13.19 |
Keemun Maofeng Black Tea
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
50 g pack at SEK 85; 100 g (SEK 169) and 200 g (SEK 329) also available |
In the Mood for TeaSelected destinations |
SEK 85.00 / 50 g | $17.14 SEK 170.00 / 100 g |
Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
TeaVivreWorldwide |
$22.90 / 113 g | $20.27 |
Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
TeaVivreWorldwide |
$25.90 / 113 g | $22.92 |
Spring Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
Default 25g (0.88 oz) Sample option at USD 6.99; larger pouches up to 500g available |
Dragon Tea HouseWorldwide |
$6.99 / 25 g | $27.96 |
| Keemun Imperial Black Tea | TeaVivreWorldwide |
$33.90 / 113 g | $30.00 |
Keemun Spring Fragrance Black Tea
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
50 g pack at SEK 149; 100 g (SEK 289) and 200 g (SEK 569) also available |
In the Mood for TeaSelected destinations |
SEK 149.00 / 50 g | $30.05 SEK 298.00 / 100 g |
Award Winning Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
TeaVivreWorldwide |
$34.90 / 113 g | $30.88 |
Houkeng Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
TeaVivreWorldwide |
$17.90 / 57 g | $31.40 |
Prices recorded on the dates checked. Conversions use ECB rates dated 2026-10-20; original prices appear alongside. Origin, age and cultivar are stated by the vendor.
Places within#
黄山市
Huangshan Huángshān Shì
Prefecture-level city in southern Anhui (historic Huizhou) encompassing Huangshan District, She County and Xiuning; home to Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping Houkui, Songluo, Dafang and Shexian Zhulan flower tea.
reviewed
六安市
Lu'an Lù'ān Shì
Prefecture-level city on the northern slope of the Dabie Mountains in western Anhui, encompassing Jinzhai, Yu'an, Huoshan and Shucheng; home to Lu'an Guapian, Huoshan Huangya, Huoshan Huangdacha and Shucheng Xiaolanhua.
reviewed
祁门
Qimen Qímén
Mountainous county in southern Anhui (Huangshan prefecture), historic production centre of Qimen Gongfu black tea and basket-pressed Qimen Ancha dark tea.
reviewed
Teas associated with this place#
黄山毛峰
Huangshan Maofeng Huángshān Máofēng
Bud-and-leaf green tea from the Huangshan area of Anhui, with fine hairs and slightly curved leaf shapes.
reviewed
祁门工夫红茶
Qimen Gongfu black tea Qímén Gōngfu Hóngchá
Traditional refined black tea centred on Qimen, Anhui, commonly known internationally as Keemun.
reviewed
太平猴魁
Taiping Houkui Tàipíng Hóukuí
Large, flattened green tea from Huangshan District in Anhui, shaped and baked with the bud and leaves kept together.
reviewed
六安瓜片
Lu’an Guapian Lù’ān Guāpiàn
Leaf-only green tea from the Lu’an area of Anhui, with buds and stalks removed before pan work and repeated baking.
reviewed
霍山黄芽
Huoshan Huangya Huòshān Huángyá
Yellow tea associated with Huoshan, Anhui, whose traditional manufacture includes a yellowing stage.
reviewed
霍山黄大茶
Huoshan Huangdacha Huòshān Huángdàchá
Large-leaf yellow tea from Huoshan, Anhui, with substantial leaves and stems and a pronounced roasted character.
reviewed
祁门安茶
Qimen Ancha Qímén Ānchá
Basket-packed, post-fermented tea associated with Luxi in Qimen, Anhui.
reviewed
松萝茶
Songluo tea Sōngluó chá
Green tea associated with Songluo Mountain in Xiuning, Anhui.
reviewed
桐城小花
Tongcheng Xiaohua Tóngchéng Xiǎohuā
A baked green tea made from leaves grown in the mountain areas of Tongcheng, Anhui.
reviewed
歙县珠兰花茶
Shexian Zhulan tea Shèxiàn zhūlán huāchá
A scented green tea from She County in Anhui, made with the fragrant flowers of Chloranthus spicatus. Its protected production method retains the flowers during baking, a distinctive feature of this regional tea.
reviewed
涌溪火青
Yongxi Huoqing Yǒngxī Huǒqīng
A tightly rolled green tea from Yongxi in Jing County, Anhui. Its dense, dark-green pellets are often oval or kidney-shaped rather than perfectly round.
reviewed
大方茶
Dafang tea Dàfāng Chá
A flat green-tea tradition from Shexian, Anhui, best known through the name Laozhu Dafang. Pressing the leaves against a heated pan helps produce its broad, flat shape.
reviewed
敬亭绿雪
Jingting Lüxue Jìngtíng Lǜxuě
A green tea associated with Jingting Mountain in Xuancheng, Anhui. Its straight, bud-and-leaf form is often compared to a sparrow’s tongue, with fine pale down.
reviewed
舒城小兰花
Shucheng Xiaolanhua Shūchéng Xiǎolánhuā
A baked-dry green tea from Shucheng, Anhui, named for its orchid-like appearance and fragrance. The modern Xiaolanhua specification is narrower than the historical Shucheng Lanhua tradition.
reviewed
岳西翠兰
Yuexi Cuilan Yuèxī Cuìlán
A green tea from Yuexi County in Anhui’s Dabie Mountains. Buds remain joined to their leaves, forming an open, orchid-like shape rather than a tightly rolled pellet.
reviewed
Sources#
- 王镇恒、王广智主编. 中国名茶志. 中国农业出版社, 2000年12月第1版. ISBN 7-109-06510-3 / 9787109065109.
Show all sources 11Show fewer sources
- GB/T 19460-2008 地理标志产品 黄山毛峰茶 (Product of geographical indication — Huangshan Maofeng tea)
- 中国茶树品种志 (2001)
- 陈宗懋、杨亚军主编. 中国茶经 (2011修订版) (The Classic of Chinese Tea, 2011 rev. ed.). 上海文化出版社, 2011. ISBN 978-7-80740-664-8.