Yidu Yihong Black Tea exports rise in first quarter

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

The black tea production line at Hubei Yihong Tea is running at full capacity. In just one month, this batch of Yihong Black Tea will cross the ocean to the European consumer market.

The black tea production line at Hubei Yihong Tea. Photo by Hu Weijia.

"Two containers of tea with a combined weight of nearly 60 tons will be exported to France," said Wang Wu, general manager of the company. More than 20 batches totaling more than 240 tons of Yihong Black Tea were exported overseas in the first quarter of this year, demonstrating the rapid recovery of foreign trade.

Yihong Black Tea is also known as Yihong Gongfu Tea. As early as the late Qing Dynasty (1636–1912), Yihong Black Tea was among the most famous black teas for export from China.

Yidu is located within the 30° north latitude line and has a subtropical monsoon climate. With an environment most suitable for growing tea, Yidu is one of the most important production bases of Yihong Black Tea.

As an export-oriented tea enterprise, to continuously improve the scale of exports, the company always follows international trends when adjusting standards.

Storehouse for the Hubei Yihong Tea. Photo by Hu Weijia.

At the beginning of 2022, the company joined hands with agricultural authorities and informed farmers and cooperatives to adjust their use of pesticides and fertilizers. They created "European Union-standard gardens" so that the products can enter the EU market.

"This year, the 'EU-standard’ area will be increased to 333.3 hectares," said Liao Yong, a senior agronomist of the Yidu Fruit and Tea Service Promotion Center. The construction of EU-standard tea gardens will accelerate from last year’s 66.7 hectares.

The under-construction "European Union-standard garden" tea base in Dafengkou, Yidu. Photo by Wang Zuoxin.

At the same time, the company introduced organic tea production lines to expand capacity further. "It is expected that nearly 500 tons of organic tea can be produced annually," Wang said.

The Hubei Yihong Tea laboratory. Photo by Hu Weijia.

The bilateral agreement between China and the European Union (EU) on products with geographical indications (GIs) went into effect on March 1, 2021. According to the agreement, 100 GI products from each side, including liquor, tea, food and farm produce, have been protected.

Yidu Yihong Black Tea is one of the 100 Chinese GI products, which is popular among consumers in Europe.

At present, Yidu has 295 primary and finishing tea processing enterprises, nine of which have the right to export. In the first quarter, Yidu exported more than 300 tons of black tea, up more than 20 percent year-on-year.