Traditional tea transforms into trendy beverage
2025-04-18 19:04:50
By Ma Yuhan.
In Yichang, traditional tea leaves are being transformed into modern drinks that appeal to enthusiasts.
At the “Yichang Tea” teahouse, freshly brewed tea is blended with milk to create sweet bubble tea, attracting consumers.
Local resident Mr. Li praised the jasmine milk tea, saying, "The freshly brewed tea base is aromatic and blends well with the milk." This base was developed by the Yicha Group using locally grown green tea infused with jasmine.
Song Ying, a tea R&D engineer at Yichang Tea Group, noted that the company has created over 40 specialized tea bases for modern tea drink brands.
The booming modern drinks market presents transformation opportunities for traditional tea companies. “The new-style drink industry consumes over 300,000 tons of tea annually, with brands launching hundreds of new products each year," Song said. "The tea industry evolves rapidly, prompting companies to innovate."
Last year, Yichang Tea Group reported nearly 1 billion yuan (US$130 million) in revenue, with its new-style tea beverage business growing by 116 percent year-on-year.
The Changshengchuan teahouse attracts young people with its tea drinks, reading materials, and cultural products. Visitors often brew tea, read, or take photos. “The atmosphere is wonderful, and our visually appealing products are very popular,” said manager Chen Shenchao.
The teahouse offers fusion drinks that include milk, flowers, fruit, coffee, and alcoholic tea, all made with locally grown Yichang tea.
Yichang has around 67,000 hectares of tea plantations, yielding 120,000 tons annually, with an agricultural output value of 6 billion yuan and a processing value of 10 billion yuan.
Yang Chunyan, Zhou Chongyu contributed to this story.
In Yichang, traditional tea leaves are being transformed into modern drinks that appeal to enthusiasts.
At the “Yichang Tea” teahouse, freshly brewed tea is blended with milk to create sweet bubble tea, attracting consumers.
Local resident Mr. Li praised the jasmine milk tea, saying, "The freshly brewed tea base is aromatic and blends well with the milk." This base was developed by the Yicha Group using locally grown green tea infused with jasmine.
Song Ying, a tea R&D engineer at Yichang Tea Group, noted that the company has created over 40 specialized tea bases for modern tea drink brands.
The booming modern drinks market presents transformation opportunities for traditional tea companies. “The new-style drink industry consumes over 300,000 tons of tea annually, with brands launching hundreds of new products each year," Song said. "The tea industry evolves rapidly, prompting companies to innovate."
Last year, Yichang Tea Group reported nearly 1 billion yuan (US$130 million) in revenue, with its new-style tea beverage business growing by 116 percent year-on-year.
The Changshengchuan teahouse attracts young people with its tea drinks, reading materials, and cultural products. Visitors often brew tea, read, or take photos. “The atmosphere is wonderful, and our visually appealing products are very popular,” said manager Chen Shenchao.
The teahouse offers fusion drinks that include milk, flowers, fruit, coffee, and alcoholic tea, all made with locally grown Yichang tea.
Yichang has around 67,000 hectares of tea plantations, yielding 120,000 tons annually, with an agricultural output value of 6 billion yuan and a processing value of 10 billion yuan.
Yang Chunyan, Zhou Chongyu contributed to this story.
