Chen Xinghua: Time Deepens the Affection for Aged White Tea

　　In the development of the "Fuding White Tea" brand, one individual has made an undeniable contribution to its growth. He is Chen Xinghua, currently the Director of the Standing Committee of the Fuding Municipal People's Congress and the Head of the Fuding City Tea Industry Development Leading Group.

　　Through his long-term involvement with white tea, Chen Xinghua has developed an incredibly detailed and comprehensive understanding of the beverage—so much so that he’s played a pivotal role in several key milestones of Fuding’s white tea industry. From the very beginning, when Fuding first outlined its tea industry strategy, to the establishment of the Tea Industry Development Leadership Group, and even the subsequent promotion of the Fuding White Tea brand, these experiences have firmly established him as one of the most knowledgeable experts on the evolution and transformation of Fuding’s white tea sector.

　　To gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the development history and current state of Fuding white tea, reporters from the weekly magazine *Bao Hao Cha* conducted an exclusive interview with Chen Xinghua.

　　● What do you think the current market situation is for Fuding white tea?

　　Previously, when introducing Fuding white tea to others, they’d either say they’d never heard of it—or politely claim they knew about it, yet secretly remained reluctant to try it. But now, many people are actively asking me, “How is Fuding white tea? And how much does a jin cost?” This clearly shows that the market is already paying close attention to Fuding white tea.

　　● When Fuding white tea first entered the domestic market, most of China's tea industry was focused on developing black tea—so why did Fuding choose to stick with white tea?

　　Fuding’s commitment to producing white tea stems from a mindset of "leveraging strengths while addressing weaknesses." After conducting thorough market research and analysis, we’ve concluded that Fuding black tea lacks the long-term competitiveness of Fuding white tea. In fact, on a national scale, Fuding white tea demonstrates strong market appeal and competitive edge.

　　From a production standpoint, Fuding white tea boasts unique regional characteristics. Its superior quality is attributed to Fuding's distinctive climate and meticulously crafted processing techniques. Moreover, Fuding has a long-standing history of cultivating white tea—it is the birthplace of Bai Hao Yin Zhen, often hailed as the "King of White Teas." In fact, Fuding is the only region in China where white tea is produced.

　　From a craftsmanship perspective, Fuding white tea boasts unique processing techniques. By employing natural withering—without rolling or pan-firing—the tea preserves its original natural state and nutritional qualities to the fullest extent, aligning even more closely with modern consumers' growing demand for pure, wholesome food products.

　　From the perspective of efficacy, Fuding white tea boasts unique health benefits, and in Fuding's folk traditions, white tea is still commonly used today to treat symptoms such as sore throats and digestive discomfort. Luo Shaojun also noted: "The Medical Research Center in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as in the United States..."

　　Research also shows that white tea has strong antibacterial and free-radical-scavenging effects.

　　So many unique advantages are concentrated in Fuding white tea—how could we possibly give up its long-term development for short-term, immediate gains?

　　● What is the primary role of the government in the brand development of Fuding White Tea, and how has it shaped Fuding White Tea as a public brand?

　　The government primarily plays a guiding, organizing, and coordinating role. The "Fuding White Tea" public brand cannot be successfully developed by any single tea company alone—it requires the government to bring businesses together to jointly promote, build momentum, and manage the brand effectively.

　　In shaping the Fuding White Tea brand, the approach has primarily involved leveraging various tea-related events for promotion, organizing specialized activities, and adopting a multi-channel, multi-level strategy to expand external engagement—effectively showcasing Fuding White Tea in every possible way. Crucially, this strategy hinges on firmly emphasizing the unique characteristics of Fuding White Tea: its "regional uniqueness, natural production methods, and distinctive health benefits."

　　● Compared to other types of tea, does Fuding white tea seem to gain popularity more slowly in the domestic market? What’s your take on this?

　　Slower development is actually a good thing, too. After learning from the successes and pitfalls of other tea varieties, Fuding white tea can better mitigate market risks. From the very beginning, it has prioritized safe production in the white tea industry, emphasizing rigorous oversight of agricultural input usage and carefully planning for organic tea cultivation. Additionally, when it comes to tea garden construction, Fuding consistently adheres to ecological and sustainable development principles.

　　Additionally, white tea didn’t experience an overnight surge in popularity; instead, over a longer period of time, its exceptional quality and the rich cultural heritage behind it have steadily gained recognition among consumers. In a sense, this process is strengthening the market foundation of white tea, ultimately enhancing its ability to better navigate and mitigate potential market risks.

　　● You’ve been involved with white tea for at least a decade—could you share your insights and reflections on it?

　　"The world looks to China for white tea, and within China, it’s Fuding that leads the way," highlighting Fuding as the global leader in white tea production. "Fuding’s breathtaking landscapes and pristine waters nurture some of China’s finest white teas," emphasizing how the region’s unique natural environment gives rise to exceptional-quality brews. And finally, "With time, affection grows—old white tea," capturing the essence of Fuding’s renowned "big tea, yet subtly flavorful" character: its understated elegance deepens into a profound connection the longer you savor it.

　　"Funing White Tea" Timeline

　　●2008

　　On January 5, the Fuding White Tea Research Center of the China International Tea Culture Research Association was established.

　　From June 19 to 22, the first China White Tea Culture Festival was held in Fuding City.

　　On December 23, the State Administration for Market Regulation officially announced that Fuding White Tea has been designated as a National Geographical Indication Protected Product.

　　●2009

　　In May, "Fuding White Tea" was officially approved as a National Geographical Indication Product and granted formal protection.

　　On August 10, tea samples submitted by Fuding won four Grand Prizes and 17 First Prizes in the "Zhongcha Cup" Competition for Premium Teas.

　　In November, the third Cross-Strait Tea Expo set up its sub-venue in Fuding.

　　●2010

　　On January 15, "Fuding White Tea" was awarded the title of China's Famous Trademark.

　　On February 2, Fuding City was recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture as an "Outstanding Demonstration County (City) for National Pollution-Free Tea Production."

　　On May 15, Fuding White Tea (Taibao Silver Needle), one of China's Top Ten Famous Teas, officially made its debut at the United Nations Pavilion during the Shanghai World Expo.

　　●2011

　　On September 29, the Fuding White Tea Culture Fuzhou Promotion Center was officially unveiled.

　　On October 12, Fujian Province finalized the list of candidates for the seventh round of provincial-level key agricultural industrialization leading enterprises, with two tea companies from Fuding making the cut.

　　●2012

　　In January, Fuding White Tea was named "China's Most Loved Regional Public Brand of Agricultural Products by Consumers in 2011" by the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　On March 24, the Fuding White Tea Promotion Center was established in Nanjing.

　　In June, Fuding City's tea quality traceability system was upgraded from a pilot program in standard gardens to a demonstration zone.