Ancient Tree Tea: A Rare Treasure and Cultural Legacy from Nature

YuanJia131

In the cultural DNA of the Chinese people, there has always lingered a hint of tea fragrance. This extraordinary leaf has nourished the millennia-old Chinese civilization and shaped the gentle, reserved character traits of the Chinese nation. Amid shared taste memories and emotional bonds, tea remains a symbol of warmth and beauty—a cup of brew conceals the idyllic world we yearn for, while also embodying a simple desire to connect with nature.

Every ancient tea tree rooted in the towering mountains, and every leaf unfurling in a cup of tea, deserves our heartfelt reverence. These are not only the crown jewels of China's tea industry but also unique, irreplaceable, and scarce resources on a global scale.

The mountains, rivers, and vast lands of Yunnan have nurtured tea, a fragrance that has drifted across the world. As the core region of tea plant origins, this land still hosts millions of acres of ancient tea plantations—ranging from primitive wild-type ancient tea trees, to transitional ancient tea trees that bridge the past and future, and cultivated ancient tea trees that have undergone domestication. These are "living fossils" of tea plant evolution, as well as natural treasures hidden deep within the misty mountains of Yunnan.

The Lancang River flows down from the Snowy Peak, merging with the land of Yunnan where humans and nature coexist in harmony, giving birth to tea—a remarkable leaf. Millions of years ago, nature's ingenious handiwork allowed tea trees to take root and grow along the banks of the Lancang River in its middle and lower reaches. Thousands of years ago, the Bulang people who inhabited this region discovered and domesticated wild tea trees. From then on, the fragrance of tea has been wafting through the valleys, enduring for millennia.

Now, on this vast and boundless land, millions of acres of ancient tea trees—some hundreds, some even thousands of years old—along with wild tea tree clusters thrive freely. They absorb the clear winds and bright moons, rain, dew, mist, and the fragrance of flowers and trees from the mountains, ultimately condensing the gifts of nature into a simple cup of tea. Their ever-changing, unique flavors are enough to captivate every tea enthusiast, inspiring a lifetime of exploration and savoring.