Fuding City Tea Association: Fuding White Tea Turns a Single Leaf into Wealth (Photos)

　　Tea has traveled from China to the world, long since becoming a key player in the global beverage market—accounting for one-third of it. As competition in the international tea industry intensifies, major tea-producing and consuming countries have increasingly adopted innovative business models since the 1990s. China, the birthplace of tea, boasts six major tea categories, including green and black teas, along with 20 tea-producing provinces and 80 million tea farmers, firmly cementing its status as a true tea powerhouse. Tea is not only a significant industry but also a vital part of people's daily lives. On July 14, Phoenix News' Tea Channel was honored to interview Lin Lizhi, Director of the White Tea Research Center at the China International Tea Culture Research Association and President of the Fuding City Tea Industry Association, and engage in an insightful discussion about tracing the origins and future prospects of Fuding white tea.

　　Fuding is located along the northeastern coast of Fujian Province and is renowned as a major tea-producing region, ranking among the top ten tea-producing counties and cities in China. Within its borders lies Mount Taibao, a nationally recognized key scenic area. As the saying goes, "Great mountains yield exceptional teas." Fuding's white tea is celebrated for its unique production process: the fresh leaves undergo two meticulous steps—withering and drying—without any frying or rolling. This method preserves the tea’s natural nutrients to the fullest, allowing it to be stored without refrigeration for 10 to 20 years without losing quality. In fact, the longer it ages, the better its flavor becomes, while its health-promoting benefits are enhanced even further. Fuding is also the birthplace of two nationally acclaimed superior tea varieties—Huacha No. 1 and Huacha No. 2—known for their abundant white hairs. Though seemingly simple at first glance, these teas hold endless layers of complexity and artistry. No wonder Fuding proudly claims, "World-class white tea comes from China, and China’s finest white tea is found in Fuding."

　　Since ancient times, Lu Yu’s "The Classic of Tea" from the Tang Dynasty recorded, "Three hundred li east (or southeast) of Yongjia County lies Mount Baicha," while Zhou Lianggong’s "Min Xiaoji" from the Qing Dynasty noted, "Mount Taibao is home to Lüxueya tea"… White tea boasts a profound cultural heritage and has long been celebrated as "tea for one year, medicine for three years, and treasure for seven years." Fuding white tea stands as the quintessential representative of white tea among the six major tea categories, with a rich history of use in health and wellness—traditionally employed by locals to cool down the body and clear heat, while internationally, white tea is prized for its skin-beautifying and anti-wrinkle benefits. Thanks to its unique health-promoting properties, white tea has increasingly captured the attention of consumers both at home and abroad. In recent years, the Fuding municipal government has implemented a variety of initiatives to encourage the growth of white tea enterprises. Chairman Lin provided a detailed explanation of the health benefits and meticulous production techniques behind aged white tea, as well as the city’s proactive measures to foster the development of the white tea industry. As he shared his insights, he highlighted the natural withering process of aged white tea—crafted without frying or rolling—and emphasized its remarkable health advantages, including heat-clearing, detoxification, and its ability to lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, combat aging, and enhance immune function. Moreover, the city places immense importance on building a robust tea quality and safety system, ensuring that every step of the process—from cultivation to processing—is meticulously controlled. To safeguard tea quality from the very beginning, Fuding has established a sprawling network of 40,000 mu of organic tea gardens and green-food-certified tea bases. Notably, Fuding was among the first counties and cities in Fujian Province to pioneer and promote the construction of organic tea gardens and green-food bases, earning it the distinction of leading the province in terms of both scale and implementation efforts.

　　Under the leadership of Lin Lici, President of the Fuding City Tea Association, relevant government departments have fully leveraged Fuding's superior natural environment, exceptional tea variety resources, and robust government policies and financial support to enhance the organizational efficiency of the tea industry. They’ve also intensified efforts to develop innovative white tea products, established comprehensive financing mechanisms for tea enterprises, and refined quality standards specifically tailored for white tea—ultimately fostering steady growth within the sector. Meanwhile, Fuding has built a well-rounded, eco-friendly, and standardized tea production base, empowering leading tea companies to confidently expand into new markets. The city is set to invest over 20 million yuan in a cutting-edge modern tea industry development project, focusing on large-scale, standardized tea garden construction. Guided by the Fuding Municipal Party Committee and Government, the city is proactively implementing the "Fuding Safe Tea" initiative, placing strong emphasis on both ecological conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. President Lin has positioned tea production as a flagship poverty alleviation and rural income-generating strategy, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to serving tea farmers and businesses. Under his leadership, the association has worked tirelessly to advance Fuding’s tea industry—particularly the booming white tea sector—achieving remarkable success in establishing pesticide-free tea production zones, strengthening the Fuding White Tea brand, boosting agricultural productivity, and significantly increasing farmers’ incomes.

　　In recent years, the Fuding Municipal Party Committee and Government have seized the new wave of opportunities in China’s tea industry, leveraging various promotional platforms and media channels to actively showcase and promote the Fuding White Tea brand. Targeting both domestic markets and international regions such as Europe and North America, they’ve been deeply advancing the global recognition and influence of Fuding White Tea, positioning the region as China’s premier "Home of White Tea." At the same time, efforts have been made to uncover and enhance the cultural depth of Fuding’s white tea industry, tapping into its rich heritage to unlock higher value-added potential. By focusing on building robust public and specialty brands for Fuding White Tea, the city has successfully established a strong brand identity, significantly boosting the tea’s visibility and reputation—both domestically and internationally—and earning widespread acclaim along the way.

　　Chairman Lin shared his thoughts: To grow and strengthen Fuding's tea industry while promoting its healthy, sustainable development, we must focus on enhancing quality, nurturing industry leaders, intensifying promotional efforts, and fostering strong inter-departmental collaboration. Additionally, it’s crucial to deepen our exploration of the cultural richness embedded in tea, paving the way for faster progress toward industrialization and modernization—actions that carry immense significance.