Zhang Zhengku, a Chinese white tea enthusiast, presents a special report celebrating the Two Sessions of China.

　　Honest and straightforward, with a warm, guileless smile, standing before you is Zhang Zhengku—the Chairman of Fujian Fuding Southeast White Tea Import & Export Co., Ltd. He’s been deeply involved in the tea industry for over 30 years, with a special passion for Fuding white tea, earning him the title of "the pioneer of Fuding white tea in the new century."

　　Unchanging true colors

　　"Quick, quick! Immediately! Right away!" These were the frequent urgings from Zhang Zhengku. Decisiveness and efficiency defined his style, while faster and better results were his constant pursuit. He devoted himself to his work with immense passion. Whether it was workshop production, marketing and trade, product design, or packaging, he handled every detail personally and meticulously. As a veteran, honesty and diligence remained Zhang Zhengku’s consistent character traits. His motto was: "Make good tea, make tea with conscience." Once, when the company’s performance was poor and some long-term customers were lost, some employees suggested following others’ practices by lowering quality and prices to promote sales. Zhang Zhengku firmly opposed this, believing that quality is the life of a product and that short-term gains should not be prioritized. To ensure product quality, he invested heavily in renovating the tea gardens and upgrading the production lines; he personally visited the tea gardens and workshops to oversee every step of production; he hired skilled technicians with high salaries and established a tea technology workstation. The company strictly implements a food safety traceability system and practices full-process quality control from "land to table," ensuring that tea raw materials are natural, green, healthy, and safe from the source. There are no pollution sources in the planting area, and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. During production, processing, packaging, and storage, no synthetic chemicals are used, and there is no heavy metal contamination. Zhang Zhengku’s integrity and emphasis on brand reputation have earned public recognition. The company’s products have repeatedly won titles such as Tea King, Gold Award, and Silver Award in national tea quality competitions. The State Administration for Market Regulation awarded the “Duqi” brand Fuding White Tea a Geographical Indication Certificate for its origin. It is also a recommended brand by the China Tea Association under the Three Green Projects for reassuring tea and is included in the China Tea Museum’s collection of standard famous teas. The company has passed various international and domestic certifications, including organic, QS, HACCP, and ISO9001, and has obtained the Ministry of Agriculture’s Good Agricultural Practices certification. In 2014, it was again honored as a "Fujian Province Famous Trademark" and recognized as a "Fuding White Tea Public Trust Brand Enterprise," reflecting its sustained commitment to quality and consumer trust.

　　The Price of Loyalty

　　The Oath of the Peach Garden, and the Solo Ride Across a Thousand Li. Born into a farming family, Zhang Zhengku was immersed in tradition from an early age, receiving a classical education steeped in integrity and moral values. Known for his sincere demeanor and unwavering willingness to help others, he has always been deeply committed to doing what’s right—both for his community and those in need. Over the years, he generously contributed to village projects like building bridges and paving roads, donated funds to assist struggling families, supported underprivileged students through scholarships, and even sponsored local public welfare initiatives. A man of loyalty and nostalgia, he often welcomed his fellow veterans—who had served alongside him—to his shop for tea and heartfelt conversations. Their bond, much like fine white tea, only grew stronger with time. Yet fate took an unexpected turn when he and several friends stepped forward as joint guarantors for a struggling tea enterprise. Tragically, the company’s CEO vanished overnight, leaving them saddled with massive debts. To make matters worse, banks tightened credit conditions, plunging the business into a dire financial crisis. Determined to honor his promise and uphold his reputation for trustworthiness, Zhang Zhengku refused to back down. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and tirelessly worked to secure alternative funding sources, determined to break through the company’s crippling cash flow challenges. By the summer of 2014, after months of relentless effort, the business finally began to recover—and with it, the trust and resilience that had defined Zhang’s journey all along.

　　The Story of Cha Ge and Mi Di

　　The phrase "Tea Brother, Rice Brother" is widely circulated among the people of Fuding. Though tea is primarily a beverage, it carries deep cultural significance—it serves as spiritual nourishment and is even regarded as the foremost of the five grains, earning it the title "Brother." Zhang Zhengku believes that choosing Fuding white tea means opting for a healthier lifestyle. In today’s world, where environmental pollution is increasingly severe, people not only need to regularly cleanse their bodies of external impurities but also frequently detoxify internally, eliminating toxins and harmful viruses. Fuding white tea boasts a rich array of nutrients and bioactive compounds, and when compared to other teas, it contains the lowest levels of free radicals yet the highest concentration of flavonoids—making it exceptionally effective at combating bacteria. Savoring Fuding white tea allows one to quietly appreciate nature, reflect on life itself, and ultimately transcend into the harmonious state of "unity between heaven and humanity," fostering both physical and mental well-being. He emphasizes that a company’s core value lies in benefiting the community. After all, tea is deeply intertwined with people’s daily lives; producing high-quality, conscientious tea that meets consumers’ growing demand for a healthy lifestyle is not just an obligation but also a sacred responsibility for every tea artisan.

　　To draw the attention of relevant national authorities, he has also submitted proposals to the annual "Two Sessions" of the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. His recommendations aim not only to significantly boost the growth and development of China's tea industry, accelerate the widespread adoption of advanced tea-related technologies in rural areas, and enhance the overall competitiveness of Chinese tea products in the domestic market—but also to further cultivate nationwide tea-drinking habits, ultimately leading to broader societal benefits such as reduced illness and improved public health. This initiative would drive substantial advancements across every stage of the tea value chain: from cultivation and processing to trade and consumption—making it a comprehensive, nation- and people-benefiting project. Only by leveraging tea’s unique dual role as both a food and medicine can we create safe, health-promoting beverages. Moreover, by tapping into tea’s medicinal properties, we could even develop innovative products with remarkable therapeutic effects, capable of preventing and treating common ailments—providing a powerful catalyst for the continued growth of China’s tea industry. As this year’s "Two Sessions" approach once again, Zhang Zhengku eagerly hopes that the government will formulate policies aimed at strengthening support for the tea sector.

　　Sky-blue earth, white—nurturing the soul of tea.

　　Looking back, Zhang Zhengku shared deeply moving thoughts during an interview with a reporter from Fujian Provincial Television's Public Channel. He noted that while he once worked alone to produce white tea, thanks to the government's strong support and extensive promotion in recent years, over 400 tea companies across the city are now involved in crafting white tea—helping Fuding white tea gain worldwide recognition. "I’m truly gratified by this remarkable transformation," he said with heartfelt pride.

　　Zhang Zhengku believes that Tianqing Dibai, with its time-honored techniques passed down through generations, represents authentic Fuding white tea. Distinctly unique in both appearance and character, Tianqing Dibai features tea leaves that are either a deep emerald green or rich, ink-like black, with visible silver-white downy tips on the undersides of the leaves—resulting in a striking contrast of green on top and white at the base. When brewed, the tea is generously coated with fine, silvery-white fluff, giving it a shimmering, silver-like hue. The production process of Tianqing Dibai dates back to ancient times, relying on natural withering without any frying or rolling, thus preserving the tea’s original nutrients to the fullest extent.

　　Zhang Zhengku pours his heartfelt passion into Fuding white tea. He once developed Ice White Tea, a scientifically formulated blend featuring natural herbal ingredients like mint, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, and licorice. Now, he has continued to introduce innovative new products, including "Moxiao Yuya," "Dongjian Mingyue," and "Osmanthus White Tea." Looking ahead, Zhang emphasizes the need to further enhance research and development of white tea, guided by the company’s core philosophy: "Southeast White Tea—Integrity for All; Exceptional Quality, Leading to Health." Rooted in a customer-first approach, the company is committed to delivering the highest-quality products and services, steadily strengthening its market presence. Ultimately, this ensures that more consumers can enjoy safe, reliable white tea—and experience the joy of tea while reaping the benefits of improved health.