It happened the year I was born, 1972. The gift was Da Hong Pao tea, which comes from China's forestiest, greenest and healthiest province, Fujian. Specifically from the Wuyi Mountains, where Wuyishan National Park is currently located. I have chosen a truthful but slightly tabloid headline for this article. This is to entice you to read it, because I believe that the information contained here will interest you and perhaps inspire you to visit this beautiful region in the south of China. Just as everything excited me when I visited the forests, mountains, rivers and tea plantations of the beautiful Wuyishan National Park.
Fujian, China's most forested and greenest province
Entering the southern Chinese province of Fujian, we find ourselves in a forested, cool and green world. Ridges of lush green mountains and hills stretch from horizon to horizon. Fujian Province is the greenest and most forested region in all of China. Hard forestry data for 40 years confirms this. Fujian has a forest cover of up to 65 %, the highest of any province in all of China. It has 9 million hectares of forest (for comparison with the Czech Republic: the country has a total of 2.7 million hectares of forest, and the forest cover is 37 %). The environment of this province is exceptional in the whole of China. The clear water of rivers, the quality of soils, the healthy environment and the quality of air have earned Fujian province the nickname 'natural oxygen bar'. It is no coincidence that one of China's first national parks was officially declared here in the Wuyishan Mountains in October 2021. The focus is clear: maintaining a model of cultural and natural heritage passed down from generation to generation and harmonious coexistence between people and nature. This is also why the area has been a well-known biosphere reserve under the auspices of UNESCO for years. One of the local tree species is tea. A shrub that is one of the natural and cultural historical references here and a source of income for many families.
History and legend of the name of Da Hong Pao tea
One of the unique aspects of the Wuyi Mountains is the tea culture, particularly the cultivation of Da Hong Pao (translated as the Great Red Robe) tea. Da Hong Pao tea has been highly prized for centuries and is traditionally associated with the royal court. For example, during the Qing Dynasty (which ruled China from 1644 to 1912), Da Hong Pao tea was used as a gift for the British King. Specifically, it was in 1793 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong that the tea was presented to the British King George III.
But the legend of Da Hong Pao tea goes back much further, to the Ming Dynasty, specifically to 1385. Back then, a scholar named Ju Zi Ding fell ill on his way to the imperial trials in the Wuyi Mountains. A monk from the local monastery offered him tea, which miraculously cured him. Before leaving, the monk gave the poor student a small packet of tea leaves and advised him to keep them well for emergencies. The grateful student thanked him and said: "Thank you for saving my life. If I pass the civil service exam, I will come back here and help repair the monastery." It didn't take long for the student to pass the civil service exam and reach the highest position in the imperial court. The emperor took a liking to the young man and appointed him consul. One day the Empress suffered severe stomach pains. All the doctors in the capital were summoned and all kinds of Chinese medicine were used, but the Empress could not recover. The new consul went to the emperor and told him the story of how he was saved by a monk in the Wuyi Mountains. Then he gave him a packet of tea leaves. After drinking the tea concoction, the Empress miraculously felt better and gradually recovered. The Emperor was very happy and ordered an expedition to the Wuyi Mountains to get the magic tea. In thanks for saving the Empress' life, the Emperor sent a rare large red robe to the rock tea trees. Hence the name Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe). This story gives Da Hong Pao tea a mystical and historical aura that adds to its prestige and value.
Da Hong Pao tea, a gift worthy of presidents
In 1972, US President Nixon visited China and was presented with 400 grams of Da Hong Pao tea by then Chinese President Mao Zedong. This was on February 21, 1972. Historical records say that the meeting was unplanned, surprising and provoked by Chairman Mao Zedong. President Nixon wrote in his memoirs: "I was getting ready for a shower when Henry Kissinger burst in with the news that Chairman Mao wanted to meet with me." When White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler learned of the sudden meeting, he was surprised to bite off half a tangerine with the peel. The interview, which was supposed to last only ten minutes, lasted sixty-five minutes. The written version of the transcript is only ten pages long, but it is one of the most important documents in the history of Sino-American relations. In John Adams' opera 'Nixon in China', many words were taken directly from the transcript, making this colossal moment in history forever recorded.
Chinese Chairman Mao presents visiting US President Richard Nixon with tea in a gift box. It was a thoughtfully selected famous Chinese oolong Da Hong Pao tea weighing only 400 grams. At the time, President Nixon seemed a little surprised to receive such a small amount of tea. Records say that when the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai realised the confusion, he explained to President Nixon that the 400 grams of tea was in fact the most valuable Chinese tea, coming from the mother bush of the famous Wuyi Da Hong Pao variety, which yielded only 800 grams of tea in a whole year. So Premier Zhou said, in a joking tone, that Chairman Mao had actually given you 'half the country'. President Nixon understood and smiled broadly.
Da Hong Pao is one of the most expensive teas in the world. So rare was tea from the mother tree on the market that a small batch of 20 grams was sold for a record price of 180,000 yuan at the Guangdong Fair in 2002. If you do the math, those 400 grams for President Nixon would have cost 3.6 million yuan, which is about twelve million crowns, or half a million dollars.
Mother trees of incalculable value are no longer harvested
However, the mother trees of Da Hong Pao tea are no longer used for tea production. That doesn't mean you can't drink this exquisite tea today. In fact, the old mother trees have been vegetatively propagated and whole new plantations have been created from cuttings of genetically identical plants. This has ensured that the new plants have the same genetic characteristics as the original trees, thus preserving the specific characteristics of the original tea. So you can still drink the same quality tea today that the American President was given in China. You just do not pay millions for it anymore, but a reasonable hundred to a thousand crowns.
In 2006, the six original Da Hong Pao tea trees were insured for the sum of one hundred million yuan, a record for plant insurance. In the same year, the local government decided to stop harvesting from the "mother" tea plants in order to protect the six Da Hong Pao mother tea plants. The last 20 grams of Da Hong Pao tea, as the very last batch plucked from the original tea trees, was given to the National Museum of China. It is reported that this was the first time in the 50-year history of the National Museum of China that it had selected a food item for its valuable collections.
The medicinal properties of Da Hong Pao tea have been scientifically proven
The Wuyishan region, where the tea originates, is known for its unique microclimate and mineral composition of the soil, which give the tea its unique flavour and aroma. Da Hong Pao is an oolong tea that is partially fermented, giving it its characteristic dark brown colour and strong, roasted flavour. Da Hong Pao is valued not only for its historical and cultural significance, but also for its medicinal properties. Research shows that this tea contains a number of bioactive compounds that can have positive health effects. Among the most important components are polyphenols, which have powerful antioxidant effects and can help fight free radicals in the body. This can lead to a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Another important component of Da Hong Pao tea is flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory effects and may support heart health by improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. In addition, it contains amino acids that may have calming effects and help with stress reduction and improving sleep quality.
Da Hong Pao in art and culture
In addition to its rich history and high price, Da Hong Pao is also an inspiration for works of art. For example, the "Da Hong Pao" theater performance in Wuyishan City is popular for its sound and light show, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year. Performed on a 2,000-seat revolving auditorium, the show dramatises the legend of this precious tea, adding to its mystique and prestige. The incredible backdrop of the entire amphitheatre includes not only the real buildings around the auditorium, but also the river itself and the forests at a distance of several hundred metres from the auditorium, and even the mountains at a distance of several kilometres, where everything is illuminated with coloured lights during the performance, creating a unique cultural experience.
Conclusion
Da Hong Pao tea is not only one of the most expensive and rare teas in the world, but also one of the most interesting due to its rich history, legends and scientifically proven health benefits. The Wuyishan Mountains are not only the home of Da Hong Pao tea, but also a place rich in tea culture and natural beauty. The Wuyi Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their biodiversity and cultural significance. Visitors can see the native Da Hong Pao mother trees and enjoy the beauty of this unique area. So take a look at the map to see where it is and maybe we'll meet you there sometime...
CMG CRI/gnews.cz-jac
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