Wu Lizhen: The First Person to Plant Tea Trees
According to Chinese tradition, the first person to plant tea trees was Wu Lizhen (吴理真, Wú Lǐzhēn), who lived during the Western Han Dynasty, sometime between 200 BC and 53 BC. He planted a tea garden on the highest peak of Mengding Mountain in today’s Sichuan Province, and from then on, people began to cultivate tea instead of only picking it wild.
Who was Wu Lizhen?
The story goes that one day, Wu Lizhen was exhausted from cutting wood. He plucked a few tea leaves at random and chewed them, and his tiredness disappeared completely. Later, his mother and neighbors began drinking water boiled with tea leaves, and legend says they grew healthier and stronger.
These are traditional views, not medical claims. Tea is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease.
Why did Wu Lizhen start planting tea trees?
Leaves from wild tea trees were not easy to get. So Wu Lizhen tried to plant tea trees himself. After many hardships, he cultivated a tea garden on the highest peak of Meng Mountain (Mengding Mountain, 蒙顶山), in today’s Sichuan. Since then, people have planted tea trees. Read the history of Chinese tea and the origin of tea.
What tea comes from Mengding Mountain today?
Mengding Mountain is still a famous tea region. Our Mengding Huangya (蒙顶黄芽, “yellow bud”) is a rare bud-shaped yellow tea from Mengding Mountain in Ya’an, Sichuan, a Tang dynasty tribute tea and one of the top ten famous teas of China. It brews a clear yellow-green cup with a flowery, fruity aroma and a fresh, mellow, sweet taste.
How do you brew Mengding Huangya?
Brew Mengding Huangya with water at 85°C (185°F). For the Chinese gongfu method, use 3.5 g of leaf per 100 ml of water: the first infusion is 15 seconds, add 5 seconds for each infusion after that, and enjoy up to 6 infusions. For the western cup method, use 0.6 g per 100 ml: the first infusion is 180 seconds, the second is 60 seconds longer, for 2 infusions in total. These are the same steps as the Brewing Method tab on the product page.
See also the top 10 famous teas of China.
FAQ
Who planted the first tea trees?
Wu Lizhen, according to Chinese tradition, on Mengding Mountain in Sichuan during the Western Han Dynasty.
Where is Mengding Mountain?
Near Ya’an in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
Is Mengding tea still made today?
Yes. Mengding Huangya yellow tea is one of the region’s most famous teas.