Qimen red tea from Qimen county in East China's Anhui province stands out as the sole red tea among China's prestigious top 10 teas. Alongside India's Darjeeling and Sri Lanka's Uva, Qimen red tea is hailed as one of the world's three high-aroma red teas, garnering international acclaim.

Over a century ago, Qimen red tea embarked on a journey spanning thousands of miles and venturing to various corners of the world.

In 2022, the craft of making Qimen red tea was honored with a spot on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2024, Qimen county yielded 7,800 tons of red tea, with a comprehensive output value reaching 7 billion yuan ($970 million) and the public brand value of Qimen red tea soaring to 4.66 billion yuan.

In recent years, Qimen County has embraced a "companies + cooperatives + bases + farmers" development model, generating ample job opportunities for local villagers and uplifting their livelihoods significantly.

With a total tea plantation area exceeding 190,000 mu (12,700 hectares) across Qimen county, over 600 manufacturers and operators are fortifying the industry chain and elevating the traditional red tea brand's value.

In June 2024, Qimen Red Tea Group launched its first overseas experiential store in Bristol, United Kingdom, bringing the "tea-coffee collaboration" model to the UK market.

Jiang Hong, chairman of Qimen Red Tea Group, said that the company has conducted Qimen red tea promotions in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and Nepal, marking a huge stride towards international markets. Furthermore, the group's participation in Malaysia's International Beverage and Food Exhibition underscores its commitment to forging collaborations with industry peers, setting the stage for diversified business expansion in the future, Jiang said.

Qimen black tea. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]