Wuyi Tea History
As export was forbidden before Ming Dynasty, it was mostly for the domestic market. People used to trade tea for horses in Shanxi and Nermeng, which extended to Russia later on. At the end of Ming Dynasty, merchants from Holland, England and France came to purchase Wuyi Tea and sold it to European markets.
Nowadays, besides export, Wuyi rock-essence tea is mainly sold to south Fujian and Guangdong and is beginning to enter markets of North China. Black tea is still sold to European countries.
Wuyi Tea history is engaged in textual research that there were tea plantation since 200 AD in Wuyi Mountain moved from southwest of China. Wuyi Tea was praised in 479-502 AD. The earliest recorded history was in 806-820 AD. Mr Sunqiao of Tang Dynasty praised Wuyi Tea as lately sweeten marquis with personification.
In 976 AD, the tea cake stamped with the designs of dragon and phoenix was made and paid tribute to the emperor . The famous poet Luyou praised that Wuyi Tea was the best all over the country. In 1302 AD, the Royal Tea Farm was built beside the Jiuqu River of Wuyi Mountain. It had existed for 255 years of Yuan and Ming Dynasties.