Kaiyang green tea selected as nationally-renowned and superior new agricultural product

Kaiyang green tea. [Photo/WeChat account of Zhizhi Guiyang]

A total of 16 agricultural products from Guizhou province were included in the third group of nationally-renowned and superior new agricultural products in 2023, which was recently released by the Quality and Safety Center of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Department. Among them was Kaiyang county's green tea.

Nationally-renowned and superior new agricultural products are agricultural products produced in specific regions with a certain production scale and volume, distinct regional characteristics, unique nutritional qualities, stable supply and consumer markets, and strong reputations.

So far, Kaiyang has planted 11,333.33 hectares of green tea. The county's main production and operation units include Guizhou Kaiyang Lanzhi Tea Development Co, Guizhou Meishiqi Rich Selenium Tea Co and Guizhou Yirong Tea Industry Co.

Kaiyang green tea is grown in unique mountainous terrain in a perennial environment characterized by low latitude, high altitude, and diverse climates. The county is also situated in one of the few selenium-rich zones in the country, with 99.91 percent of the county's soil containing abundant selenium elements. These conditions contribute to the tea's distinctive flavor and quality.

Historically renowned as the "Nangong Tea" bestowed by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it has now gained recognition as a nationally-protected geographical indication product.

To date, the county has established one tea specialty township and seven characteristic tea villages, with a tea plantation area covering 92,000 mu (6133.33 hectares). It is home to three provincially-leading tea enterprises and four municipal-leading tea enterprises.