茶路 · Tea Path
Fújiàn · 福建省
Growing region · Wuyishan rock tea · Fuding white · Tieguanyin

Fújiàn

福建省 · Fújiàn

Every leaf remembers the heat of charcoal and the coolness of the cliffs

岩骨花香

Fujian is the province with the greatest diversity of tea: the UNESCO-listed Wuyishan rock oolongs, the white teas of Fuding and Zhenghe, Anxi's Tieguanyin, the compressed oolong of Zhangping, and Fuzhou's jasmine tea. From the fire of charcoal roasting to the gentle sun withering.

Teas of this area

Уишань Янча 武夷岩茶

Rock oolongs: Dahongpao (大红袍), Rougui (肉桂, cinnamon), Shuixian (水仙, narcissus). 'Rock-bone flower-fragrance' (岩骨花香). Charcoal roasting — a multi-stage hongbei.

Белый чай 白茶

Fuding (福鼎): Baihao Yinzhen — 'Silver Needles', buds only. Zhenghe (政和): large-leaf, bolder. Weidiao (萎凋) technique — sun withering. Aged 3–20+ years.

Тегуаньинь 铁观音

Anxi — the world capital. Qingxiang (清香, light roast) vs Nongxiang (浓香, traditional). One of the ten great teas.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Уишань 武夷山市

    Rock oolongs · Dahongpao

    UNESCO. 36 peaks, 99 cliffs. Dahongpao — the mother bush on the rock face. Rougui, Shuixian. Charcoal roasting. Nine-Bend Stream gorge on a bamboo raft. Comparing 'cliff zones': zhengyan vs banyan.

    Guesthouse at the foot of Wuyishan

  2. День 3

    Чжэнхэ 政和县

    White tea of the backcountry

    The second white tea district. Large-leaf, bolder than Fuding's. Mountains at 600–1000 m. Weidiao — prolonged natural withering. Profile: full-bodied, sweet.

    Zhenghe mountain house

  3. День 4

    Фудин 福鼎市

    Baihao Yinzhen

    Home of 'Silver Needles' — only the top buds, white down. Bailin (白琳) area. Tasting: young vs 3 years vs 7+ years. The most expensive white tea in the world.

    Farmhouse in the Fuding mountains

  4. День 5

    Аньси 安溪县

    Tieguanyin

    Anxi — 1 of the 10 great teas. Qingxiang — floral, light. Nongxiang — deep, traditional. Plantations at 800+ m in the clouds.

    Anxi tea hotel

  5. День 6

    Чжанпин 漳平市

    Compressed oolong

    The only compressed oolong — 'tea tiles'. Yongchun (永春) — Fo Shou oolong, Buddha's citron aromatics.

    Mountain lodge

  6. День 7

    Фучжоу 福州

    Jasmine tea · Finale

    Jasmine tea (茉莉花茶) — scenting with fresh jasmine, 7 cycles. A capital tradition. Final tasting: from rock tea to jasmine.

Planning

Transport
Arrive via Fuzhou (FOC) or Xiamen (XMN). Trains. ~1200 km.
Climate
Subtropical, 20–30°C. Cooler in the mountains. Rain jacket.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, rain jacket, camera, room in your luggage for tea.
Buying tea
Rock tea at factories: from 500 ¥/jin. White: direct in Fuding. Tieguanyin: Anxi market. Aged white tea — an investment!