The Latest Situation of Yunnan Tea in 2016

Since last week, I have been staying in Yunnan to source the 2016 tea harvest. After visiting a number of tea gardens and manufacturers, we now have a general overview of the situation for Yunnan tea this year.

Weather in Yunnan

Overall, the weather in China this year has been relatively dry and cold compared to 2015—the exact opposite of last year’s warmer and wetter conditions. Due to this dry and cold climate, the tea season in Yunnan is delayed by about 10–14 days compared to a normal year. Last year, we arrived in Yunnan on March 20. This year, we postponed our visit by one week and arrived on March 26. Despite arriving later, the tea growth is still behind last year’s progress. Production of pu-erh tea has just started this week. Due to slow growth, harvesting is progressing gradually. Tea from lower altitudes is mostly ready, while higher-altitude tea will be ready a few days later. Not only tea, but other agricultural products are also delayed. During a visit to the local market, I noticed that many wild vegetables typically available during tea season have not yet appeared.

Excellent quality thanks to the harsh weather

When there is less rain and lower temperature, tea trees grow more slowly. This slower growth allows polyphenols and minerals to accumulate, resulting in richer flavor and a longer-lasting aftertaste. In particular, the temperature difference between day and night is very large. Night temperatures can drop below 10°C. So far, I have tasted a wide range of teas—including raw pu-erh, white tea, green tea, and black tea—and without exception, the material quality is excellent. The coming week will be the peak period for tea plucking and processing. If the current weather continues, the quality of the 2016 harvest will be outstanding, especially for the earliest-plucked teas.

Higher risk in black tea fermentation under cold weather

Cold weather makes it more difficult to control the fermentation of black tea. Lower temperatures require longer fermentation times, increasing the risk of over-fermentation. Under these conditions, careful selection becomes essential. We request manufacturers to separate tea by production date so that any defective batches can be excluded rather than blended.

Price of high-end tea remains stable

As China’s economy slows, the overall tea market has cooled. However, demand for high-end tea remains stable or is gradually increasing. As a result, prices for premium teas are generally unchanged compared to last year. One exception is wild tea, whose price has increased significantly. This is due to rising demand for wild black tea in the Chinese market. Many manufacturers in Feng Qing have started purchasing wild tea leaves, and since supply is limited, prices have risen by approximately 10–30%.