The Moganshan Institute of Zhejiang University of Technology develops tea drinks based on Mogan Huangya tea. [Photo/Tide News]

At the Moganshan Institute of Zhejiang University of Technology, located in Deqing county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, the dried Mogan Huangya tea was recently undergoing a transformation into creative products, Tide News reported on Feb 25.

The research team, led by Wang Sijia, director of the Marine Medicine Key Laboratory in the institute, has developed some pilot products, including two functional fermented tea drinks and a fragrance, which are currently waiting for purity testing and process optimization.

Inspired by successful practices in regions like Guizhou, Qinghai, and Guangzhou, where Wang's team developed medicinal and edible products based on local plant resources, the team noticed plants on the Mogan Mountain in Deqing.

The area boasts over 90 percent forest coverage and a distinctive microclimate that has nurtured the famous Mogan Huangya tea, a variety of yellow tea.

Wang's team has embarked on a journey to develop a range of products, from functional beverages to fragrances and outdoor supplements, all rooted in the mountain's botanical wealth.

Capitalizing on the trend of sugar-free tea beverages, the team's first offering features bottled tea drinks using Mogan Huangya tea as the base ingredient.

Wang said the focus was on ensuring nutritional value while avoiding preservatives, emphasizing the importance of innovative processing techniques to preserve the essence of the tea.

The team also plans to explore additional plants like Dendrobium and pine needles to establish an integrated industry chain encompassing cultivation, processing, and sales.