Mr. Zhou
For Mr. Zhou, from 3 generations of farmers at Fuding, growing tea is part of his heritage. His father confided that most of his tea fields laid fallow during the years of the Cultural Revolution because tea consumption was largely frowned upon. Having no where to sell their tea, the families drank everything they grew.
Since that period of hiatus, White Teas have enjoyed a renewed recognition and elevated status. Part of that is due to local government support from the city of Fuding, a northern city in Fujian relatively close to the ocean. The mountains there enjoy year round mist and fog as well as an open vista to the ocean. The city government of Fuding has decided to recognize tea as its treasure: today, fully 75% of all of its citizens are involved in tea in one form or another today. In addition, international certification and standardization are expensive and which most farms can not afford. The local government has provided subsidies towards the professionalism and standardization of white tea production, as well as a place of origin certificate for what is true, authentic white tea.
Behind this movement of combining the best traditional methods with technology that ensures modern standards, are professionals like Mr. Zhou. His farms are situated on the hills that his family's white teas have always grown. However, they are mostly certified organic by the China standard that conforms with the EU. His production facilities are also ISO 9002 and organic and green certified. "White teas are recognized to be one of the healthiest teas," said Mr. Zhou. "Its environment of creation should reflect that."
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