Spring tea output rises 5.5%
2026-04-15 19:04:50
By Hu Yikai.
Yichang's tea output in the first quarter has surpassed 3,000 tons, a 5.5 percent increase from last year, with the plucking area exceeding 800,000 mu (53,333 hectares), according to the city's agriculture department.
In Yidu, farmer Liu Yanping collects about 30 kg of fresh leaves daily. The local Yulu Tea Company plans to double its size within five years. Sales manager Xiang Changfen said the firm is shifting to premium teas and will employ professional teams to standardize planting and processing.
Technology is driving upgrades in the tea industry. Jia'an Tea Company has established a digital smart workshop where machines operate through an online system, managing everything from heating to drying without human intervention. The owner Cheng Wenzhen said the upgrade has reduced labor costs, minimized errors, and increased efficiency by 40 percent.
The Chamagudao Company cultivates tea according to European standards and has launched a matcha product line. The General Manager Zhou Fanghong said matcha can be used in drinks, ice cream, and baked goods, significantly boosting per-mu returns.
In Zigui County, the Chengmeiyue Tea Cooperative has sold over 7,000 kg of spring tea this season through improved packaging and livestream sales, generating more than 1.3 million yuan (US$180,000) in revenue, according to its chairperson Zhang Meijuan.
Zhou Chongyu and Guan Chunyu also contributed to this story.
Yichang's tea output in the first quarter has surpassed 3,000 tons, a 5.5 percent increase from last year, with the plucking area exceeding 800,000 mu (53,333 hectares), according to the city's agriculture department.
Thriving spring tea. Photo by Wang Wenqiang.
In Yidu, farmer Liu Yanping collects about 30 kg of fresh leaves daily. The local Yulu Tea Company plans to double its size within five years. Sales manager Xiang Changfen said the firm is shifting to premium teas and will employ professional teams to standardize planting and processing.
Farmers pick tea leaves at a tea garden. Photo by Wang Wenqiang.
Technology is driving upgrades in the tea industry. Jia'an Tea Company has established a digital smart workshop where machines operate through an online system, managing everything from heating to drying without human intervention. The owner Cheng Wenzhen said the upgrade has reduced labor costs, minimized errors, and increased efficiency by 40 percent.
The Chamagudao Company cultivates tea according to European standards and has launched a matcha product line. The General Manager Zhou Fanghong said matcha can be used in drinks, ice cream, and baked goods, significantly boosting per-mu returns.
In Zigui County, the Chengmeiyue Tea Cooperative has sold over 7,000 kg of spring tea this season through improved packaging and livestream sales, generating more than 1.3 million yuan (US$180,000) in revenue, according to its chairperson Zhang Meijuan.
Zhou Chongyu and Guan Chunyu also contributed to this story.
