Tea-oil camellia plantations in Songyang county of Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Wechat account: wxlishui]

It is now peak season for  tea-oil seed pressing in Lishui's Songyang county, Zhejiang province, with workshops bustling as machines process seeds into fragrant oil.

At Songyang Jinye Tea-Oil Cooperative, workers conduct systematic processing: steamed tea powder is pressed into cakes and then placed in extractors, from which golden oil flows out, filling the air with its rich aroma.

The cooperative reported higher yields this year, with 800 mu (53.33 hectares) of collective bases and additional supply from local growers, and its output of crude oil is expected to surpass 40 metric tons.

Rich in unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, tea-oil is favored in the market for its quality and flavor.

Songyang has utilized its mountain resources to develop the tea-oil industry, with 12,200 mu of tea-oil camellia plantations, nearly 11,000 mu of which are productive.

This year's tea seed output reached 6,095 tons, yielding more than 200 tons of tea-oil , with a total value projected to exceed 120 million yuan ($16.99 million).

Songyang plans to apply for a geographical indication trademark for "Songyang Mountain Tea-Oil" and to promote an integrated industry chain spanning cultivation, processing, refined oil production, by-product development, and cultural tourism.

This small oil tea fruit is not only greening the hills but also becoming a "golden fruit" that increases farmers' income, making the industry a pillar of rural vitalization.