A research team from Sanming University conducts a field study on Datian Beauty Tea in Datian county, Fujian province, from Aug 4 to 6. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 A team from Sanming University has launched a field study to bring one of Fujian's distinctive teas closer to international consumers. They explored the ecology, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage behind Datian Beauty Tea during a three-day visit to Datian county from Aug 4 to 6.

The local service practice team from the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages) of Sanming University visited the Datian Tea Industry Development Service Center, the Beauty Tea Cultural and Creative Park, leading tea producer Jiangshan Meiren Tea, and high-altitude tea gardens in Pingshan township.

Rather than focusing solely on tea production, the team asked a broader question: How can the story of Datian Beauty Tea be told in a way that resonates with global consumers?

"Datian Beauty Tea has a unique story, from the high-mountain environment and ecological cultivation to traditional craftsmanship and its distinctive honey-like aroma," the team said. "Our task is to better understand these characteristics and explore how they can be communicated across cultures."

A tea shaped by mountains, clouds, and leafhoppers

Pingshan township, a core production area for Jiangshan Meiren Tea, is surrounded by high-altitude mountains often shrouded in clouds and mist. The significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, along with soil abundant in organic matter, create favorable conditions for tea cultivation.

The most notable aspect of the tea lies in its interaction with the small green leafhopper. Local tea gardens practice ecological cultivation, avoiding chemical pesticides. When these leafhoppers feed on young tea shoots, the plants react by releasing aromatic compounds, which help create the tea's distinctive honey-like aroma.

For the visiting team, the ecological system is more than a production technique. It forms a compelling part of the story that could set Datian Beauty Tea apart in overseas markets. 

"The ecological relationship between the tea plants and leafhoppers is one of the most distinctive features of Jiangshan Meiren Tea," the team noted. "It connects the flavor of the tea directly with the environment in which it is grown."

The team documented the tea-growing environment and collected visual and textual materials from the mountain tea gardens as part of its effort to develop international-facing content.

Researchers learn about Datian Beauty Tea processing during a field study. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Craftsmanship behind the cup

At Jiangshan Meiren Tea, the team followed the production process and observed experienced tea makers as they worked through a series of traditional processing techniques.

The process includes sun-withering, repeated shaking, controlled fermentation, and multi-stage low-temperature roasting, involving more than 10 steps from fresh leaves to finished tea.

Unlike heavily fermented oolong teas, Jiangshan Meiren Tea uses a distinctive fermentation and processing approach, resulting in a recognizable flavor profile.

The finished leaves are slender and tightly curled, with a dark, lustrous appearance and golden tips. Once brewed, the tea produces a clear honey-golden liquor.

Its flavor is smooth and naturally sweet, with floral, fruity, and honey-like notes and a lingering aftertaste.

"The name 'Beauty Tea' is reflected not only in the appearance of the dry leaves and tea liquor, but also in its elegant and gentle character," the team observed.

The tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, making it ideal for daily drinking, afternoon tea, social events, and giving as a business gift. Its mild, refreshing flavor is especially popular among female tea enthusiasts. 

Turning local heritage into a global story

The field study is part of Sanming University's broader effort to use its foreign-language and cross-cultural communication expertise to serve local economic and cultural development.

During the visit, team members interviewed experienced tea makers, tea farmers, and company representatives and gathered firsthand information about the tea's production environment, processing techniques, flavor characteristics, cultural heritage, and brand development.

The team also explored ways to present these elements in forms that international consumers can easily understand.

"International communication is not simply about translating words," the team said. "It is about finding expressions that allow people from different cultural backgrounds to understand why a product is special and what values are behind it."

For Datian Beauty Tea, that story begins in the mountains of Pingshan.

Its ties to Fujian and Taiwan's tea traditions, along with its ecological cultivation practices and traditional craftsmanship, offer a strong cultural basis for storytelling on an international scale.

After years of development, Jiangshan Meiren Tea has become a representative public tea brand of Datian county, supported by an increasingly complete tea industry chain and steadily expanding production.

From Fujian to the world

The team believes Datian Beauty Tea has several characteristics that could strengthen its competitiveness in overseas markets: a distinctive high-altitude growing environment, an ecological cultivation system, traditional hand-processing techniques, and a unique floral, fruity, and honey-like flavor profile.

The current challenge is to transform these advantages into a globally recognizable brand story. By integrating field research with cross-cultural communication, the Sanming University team aims to help Datian's tea industry expand beyond its traditional markets and attract more international consumers.

"For a good local product to enter the global market, quality matters, but so does the ability to tell its story," the team said. "We hope to help more international consumers understand the people, culture, ecology, and craftsmanship behind Datian Beauty Tea."

From the mist-covered tea gardens of Pingshan to tables far beyond Fujian, the team hopes the journey of Datian Beauty Tea will become a story not only of tea, but also of how local products can find a global voice.

Written by Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, PhD, a senior lecturer and researcher at the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages), Sanming University, in Fujian province. He is also a senior research fellow at the Daffodil International University Belt and Road Research Center in Bangladesh.