Fujian's Ningde takes multiple measures to enhance the brand competitiveness of Fuding White Tea.

　　Talking about the income from growing white tea in recent years, Lin, a tea farmer from Bailin Town, Fuding City, Fujian Province, excitedly shared his calculations with the reporter: "Previously, Fuding white tea sold for 70 to 240 yuan per kilogram, but this year prices have soared to between 240 and 2,400 yuan per kilogram. Back then, our tea region produced just over 3,000 tons of white tea—now it’s risen to more than 4,500 tons. And while the average profit per unit area used to be only around 1,000-plus yuan, it’s now climbed to over 10,000 yuan." When asked about the reasons behind these remarkable changes, Lin explained: "In recent years, thanks to the government’s guidance, Fuding white tea cultivation has become far more standardized. As a result, the tea tastes even better, its reputation has grown stronger, and more people are eager to buy it specifically because of its renowned quality."

　　The reevaluation of Fuding white tea—spanning its appearance, quality, price, and intrinsic value—is closely tied to the thoughtful services provided recently by Ningde's quality supervision system. Fuding City in Fujian Province, nestled in the eastern Fujian mountain region, boasts an exceptional ecological environment and ideal climatic conditions, making it a historic hub for tea production. As the birthplace of China’s renowned white tea, one of the country’s six major tea categories, Fuding white tea currently ranks first nationwide in both cultivation area and output, earning it the prestigious title of "China’s White Tea Capital." Yet, amid the rapid growth of China’s tea industry and the rise of other prominent tea-producing regions across the country, Fuding white tea has unfortunately remained relatively unknown—hidden away in the mountains, largely unnoticed by the wider world.

　　To ensure that Fuding white tea spreads its fragrance across the globe and gains worldwide recognition, in recent years, the Ningde Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, together with its subordinate Fuding City Bureau, has continuously conducted thorough research into the development of Fuding’s white tea industry. They have also led key leading enterprises to visit and observe major tea-producing regions across China, while simultaneously deciding to take standardization as a strategic breakthrough. By actively leveraging the demonstration effect of pilot zones, promoting advanced cultivation techniques and standards, and strengthening efforts to protect and promote the use of this renowned local product, the region has successfully expanded both the quality and production scale of white tea—resulting in significant improvements across all fronts. As a result, not only has the intrinsic value of white tea been enhanced, but farmers have also seen increased incomes, businesses have become more efficient, and the overall growth of the industry has been powerfully boosted.

　　Thanks to the concerted efforts of multiple parties, Fuding white tea has earned national protection as a Geographical Indication product and successfully secured the establishment of the White Tea Standardization Working Group in Fuding. Leveraging this working group, the bureau also played a key role in drafting the national standard for "White Tea," completed the development of the Fujian provincial local standard "Geographical Indication Product: Fuding White Tea," and initiated the application process for a national standard on "Compressed White Tea." Additionally, Fuding took the lead across the province in collecting and establishing physical sample standards for white tea, significantly boosting the growth of the city's white tea industry.

　　The bureau has meticulously organized and promoted national and industry standards related to white tea cultivation and processing, including GB/T 22291 "White Tea," NFD/T001 "White Tea Tea Tree Varieties," NFD/T002 "White Tea Tea Gardens and Cultivation Practices," and NFD/T003 "White Tea Garden Management." In collaboration with experts from agriculture, the tea industry, and other relevant sectors, the bureau provided hands-on guidance and support at the grassroots level. This effort helped demonstration-zone implementing organizations successfully carry out their projects, strengthening both the standardization system and the monitoring framework, while ensuring project implementation adhered to standardized practices. By developing and enforcing white tea-specific standards, the initiative addressed the sector's limited capacity for R&D and technical standard-setting. It also shifted the traditional market dynamics, where individual farmers and enterprises operated independently, toward a more collaborative model involving "government + industry associations + businesses + farmers," fostering integrated growth through collective action. Over the past several years, this initiative has yielded remarkable economic benefits. The demonstration zone now boasts an annual total output of 176.5 tons—representing a 41.5% increase compared to pre-demonstration levels—and generates an annual output value of 8.9392 million yuan, up by 70% from the earlier period. Additionally, the program has empowered 50 demonstration households, boosting their economic returns by 20% to 30%. Notably, in 2010, this project was elevated to the national-level standardized demonstration zone status, and in October 2011, it successfully passed the provincial-level acceptance review.

　　"We recognize that the construction of the demonstration zone is an important vehicle for advancing the standardization process in the tea industry," said Cheng Dezhong, Director of the Fuding City Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, when discussing the demonstration zone's role in promoting the Fuding white tea industry. In response, the bureau, together with the agricultural department, has jointly guided farmers in standardized cultivation. Experts have summarized technical guidelines on the optimal organic fertilizer ratios, ideal planting density, best harvesting period, and frost prevention, establishing a standardized cultivation system. This system guides tea farmers to strictly comply with national regulations on the prohibition and restriction of agricultural inputs, and the tea-growing area strictly implements market access conditions and registration management for new agricultural inputs used in tea production.

　　The bureau has implemented measures such as enforcement supervision to ensure that no prohibited pesticide varieties—those explicitly banned by the state—are used or sold in white tea-producing regions. In alignment with export requirements for tea, the bureau recommends adopting pesticide options that meet stringent safety and quality standards for final products, while also promoting the scientific adjustment and rational optimization of pesticide formulations. Additionally, the bureau is collaborating closely with agricultural departments to provide comprehensive training on the proper and efficient use of agricultural inputs, helping tea farmers enhance their understanding of safe pesticide application and sustainable fertilization practices. Furthermore, specialized training programs are being organized to refine tea production techniques, with a particular focus on harvesting and processing methods tailored specifically for white tea—laying a solid foundation for improving both the quality and craftsmanship of white tea production. Through the "Company + Base + Farmer" model, the initiative is driving 50 to 60 tea-growing households to renovate their low-yield tea gardens, while simultaneously expanding organic tea conversion efforts across an impressive 800 hectares of farmland.

　　While encouraging the enthusiasm of demonstration zone project implementers and ensuring the effective standardization efforts within the zones, the Fuding City Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau also emphasizes strengthening daily supervision and management of standardized demonstration initiatives. This is achieved by regularly organizing expert teams to conduct inspections, assessments, and technical support for demonstration bases, providing guidance to address challenges encountered during project implementation and verifying the proper execution of demonstration projects as well as the effective adoption of agricultural standards. Additionally, the bureau fully leverages its information and consultation platform to enhance the collection of standard-related data and technical guidelines for white tea production, offering businesses timely, accurate, and actionable standard information. The bureau also proactively engages with the entities responsible for demonstration zone development, gathering relevant information, cross-checking data, and meticulously completing the collection, organization, and reporting of standardized white tea cultivation data—ensuring that tasks are carried out on time and to the highest quality standards.

　　“By integrating the implementation of a geographical indication product protection strategy with brand-building initiatives, we’ve effectively boosted both the quality and reputation of Fuding white tea. Today, the entire Fuding white tea industry has undergone a remarkable transformation—so much so that nationally recognized accolades like ‘Top 10 Famous Teas at the World Expo,’ ‘China’s Most Influential Tea Brand,’ and ‘China’s Well-Known Trademark’ have become proudly familiar within the Fuding white tea sector.” Ningde Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision Deputy Director Miao Zhicheng expressed deep pride in the achievements made in building the Fuding white tea brand.

　　It is understood that after Fuding White Tea received geographical indication protection, the bureau promptly formulated the "Administrative Measures for the Use of the Special Mark for National Geographical Indication Products of Fuding White Tea," implementing rigorous qualification reviews for operators seeking to use the mark. Meanwhile, relevant staff members were dispatched to individual tea enterprises to provide hands-on quality support and guidance. The bureau also organized initiatives to help companies apply for and promote their flagship products and government quality awards, while simultaneously convening tea producers, business operators, and industry professionals across the city for training sessions on pertinent laws, regulations, standards, and quality management practices. Thanks to these brand-building efforts, eight companies have now earned recognition as Fujian Province's renowned brand-name products across nine categories of tea. In 2009, a premium Fuding White Tea variety called "Tai Mu Yin Zhen" was successfully selected as one of the "Top Ten Famous Teas at the World Expo." That same year, Fuding White Tea was also honored by the China International Tea Culture Research Association as "China's Most Influential Tea Brand" and was subsequently included in the national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage List.