The "Lishui wild tea" brand launching and tasting activity took place at Baiyun National Forest Park in Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Nov 13.

Lishui wild tea refers to tea harvested from wild or naturally grown tea trees over 50 years old that are situated at altitudes above 500 meters in Lishui.

Research indicates that from the 1960s to the early 1980s, Lishui developed over 66 square kilometers of village-owned tea fields. Due to various factors, these fields were left to grow wild, with an estimated 33 sq km of wild tea now thriving in the lush landscapes.

Tea Farmers pick wild tea in Qingyuan county, Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

In recent years, Qingyuan county has focused on developing high-end, eco-friendly tea by using local resources to make inroads into the wild tea industry.

Qingyuan has identified 7 sq km of wild tea, including a concentrated 4-sq-km wild tea hub, and established several popular wild tea brands.

In 2023, Qingyuan released its first list of protected ancient wild tea trees and established a tea tree resource database. This initiative includes tagging, protecting, tracing tea resources, and utilizing, which transforms wild tea into a source of ecological value.

The purity of six wild tea products in Qingyuan has been confirmed after passing 289 tests for heavy metals and pesticide residues by international authorities like Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A.