From Tuocha to Bingdao, Yunnan tea popular in France for 47 years

Bingdao tea is expected to debut at the ongoing 76th Cannes Film Festival in France. Photo/Lincang Today

The special Bingdao tea produced in the Bingdao village of Shuangjiang county, southwest Yunnan’s Lincang city, will make its debut at the ongoing 76th Cannes Film Festival in France, renewing the 47-year romance of Yunnan tea in the European country.

According to the Shuangjiang historical records, the Bingdao ancient tea trees were planted in 1485, the 21st year of Chenghua rule in the Ming Dynasty. With a history of 538 years, the tea garden is the cradle of the famed big-leaf tea variety.

The big-leafed Bingdao tea. Photo/China.com.cn 

Recognized by experts as "authentic Yunnan tea", the big-leaf tea is a best raw material for tea making, and the big-leafed Bingdao was selected as a most representative Chinese tea in 2013. Now it has been praised as the "Queen of Tea" by tea insiders.

Yunnan tea’s popularity in France began in 1976, when French businessman Fred Kempler first introduced Yunnan Tuocha to the country. Making a hit in France, the Tuocha tea saw its sales increase from 2 tons in 1977 to 200 tons in 1991.

The Yunnan ancient tea trees. Photo/China.com.cn

Later, Kempler grew to be the general seller of Yunnan Tuocha tea in Europe, and together with his Belgian business partner, he set up DISTRIBORG, the largest food distribution company in Europe, making Tuocha tea sell well in France and other European countries.

Since 1986, Tuocha has won international gold medals, including those granted by France and the US, and the Yunnan tea has been recognized by consumers worldwide.

The Yunnan Tuocha tea. Photo/China.com.cn 

Source: China.com.cn; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue