”These recent years are the best time for the development of Sichuan tea.” On the Eighth Plenary Session of the 12th CPC Sichuan Provincial Congress which was just concluded, Sichuan tea has become one of the most powerful and frequent evidence to prove Sichuan’s development in the eyes of deputies.

　　In 2013, Sichuan has decisively focused on Sichuan tea which is a green industry with outstanding advantages and huge potentials, and sought to develop it. In the beginning of 2014, Sichuan Provincial People's Government has focused on the transformation and upgrading of Sichuan tea with the first document and proposed to build Sichuan with influential tea industry of over 100 billion yuan by 2020.

　　In the past 3 years, strictly based on the development thoughts of “relying on leading companies, driving the construction of bases, creating major brands and expanding markets” proposed by Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC and Sichuan Provincial People's Government, Sichuan has accelerated development speed, innovated and broken limitations, and solved the problems of Sichuan tea, including “huge products with fewer brands, enormous industry without leading companies”, and achieved transformation of tea industry. “If we determine to work on, we are sure that Sichuan tea could be well-known as Sichuan wine.” Sichuan has confidence on this.

　　Bigger scale: Sichuan tea ranks top 3 in China in producing area and output

　　On February 23rd at 10:50 a.m., an airplane headed for north directly from Yibin Caiba Airport. 10 kg of early spring tea from Gaoxian Fengding Temple Tea Company which was on the tea trees last evening was transported to Beijing at 14:40. Then they were sold out at the price of over 2,000 yuan per kg.

　　On the same day, the first basket of spring fresh tea from Mengding Mountain Tea Producing Zone was bidding. Eventually, 18 kg of spring tea was sold at 960,000 yuan. The next day, 9th Yibin Spring Fresh Tea Festival was initiated. 3 days later, 4th Sichuan Tea Leaves Picking Week Activity was opened at Naxi, Luzhou, the hometown of early spring tea. Since the picking of “Emei Greeting Spring” on January 20th, a new type of tea trees, Sichuan has grasped the opportunities to usher the prelude of Chinese spring tea. What is behind the speed and opportunities is the rising and strengthening of Sichuan tea zones. When Sichuan triggered the construction of tea industry of 100 billion yuan, 6 supporting promotion work schemes have been released immediately. Besides, Sichuan also established Sichuan tea industry development joint conference system. Tea major production zones including Yibin, Leshan, Ya'an, Bazhong, Dazhou and so on, have all take good of their own advantages. The joint efforts of constructing Sichuan into a powerful province in tea industry are basically formed.

　　After three years’ efforts, Sichuan tea industry has fundamentally had scale, including over 120 tea-producing counties, 30 advantageous or major counties which distribute along the inner side of Qinling, Minshan, Siguniang Mountain and the surrounding mountainside and basin regions of Sichuan Basin. Sichuan tea industry has prominent advantages in industrial belt. In the end of 2015, the total output of tea industry in Sichuan has amounted to 260,000 tons with the gross production value of 15.7 billion yuan, increasing 52.9% and 82.6% compared of that in 2012 respectively. While the comprehensive output of tea industry in Sichuan has soared to 50 billion yuan from 10 billion yuan. “Sichuan tea industry has achieved 3 leapfrogs in 3 years and ranked top 3 in China.” Relevant responsible officials from Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture indicated that the rankings of 3 core indicators concerning tea industry, namely tea producing area, production, and gross tea value, have risen to 2nd, 3rd and 4th from 4th, 5th, and 6th.

　　While exciting news concerning Sichuan spring tea came again. The total production of Sichuan spring tea has increased by 19,900 tons, a year-on-year growth of 14.84%. Its price has risen 10%, which will assist 3.8 billion tea farmers to increase their income of 381 yuan on average. “This is the achievements of supply-side structural reform. Green tea production has shifted from a single bud to a single bud with a leaf and a single bud with two leaves. Its form has also changed from flat to curve or needle. The ratio of red tea and jasmine tea has also risen to be sold out.” Relevant responsible officials from Sichuan Gardening Station introduced.

　　More influential: Regional brands cluster together to expand.

　　In June, Zhuyeqing Tea Company, which has won the authorization of domestic animation, Big Fish and Chinese Flowering Crabapple, launched special exclusive collection of tea products, becoming a successful brand marketing. While before the opening of Sichuan Products in China Beijing Station Activity a month ago, Sichuan Mingshan Tea Company not only sent their tea products to the VIP room of Beijing Capital International Airport, but also invested 5 million yuan in Beijing to construct tea tasting stores.

　　Although Sichuan tea products has ranked top 3 in China, it was original manufacturing material once. “Sichuan tea is tasty without reputation, marketing channels and brands.” This was once the bottleneck for the development of Sichuan tea industry.

　　To solve this problem, Sichuan has exclusively released Development Planning for Sichuan Tea Brands and listed brand creating as priority. Emei Mountain Tea, Mengding Mountain Tea, Micang Mountain Tea, and Yibin Early Tea, these 4 regional brands have become core. The battle for creating influential Sichuan tea companies and brands has launched.

　　In 2014, when the exhibition booths for Sichuan tea was initiated, it immediately became the popularity in HK International Tea Expo. 30 tea companies united together as an alliance brand to promote a regional brand. Later, Chuan Hong Group, Mengding Tea Group, Xikang Tibet Tea Group were established, meaning that Sichuan tea companies has end the history of single battle and initiated their alliance period for development.

　　Sichuan tea industry has not only constructed platforms and smoothing channels, but also seek for expansion in China. 1st Emei Spring Tea Trade Fair held in March has attracted companies from 15 countries and regions, including 200 domestic exhibitors and 130 foreign purchasing groups. On 5th International Tea Expo, 14 tea-producing cities and 41 tea-producing counties in Sichuan have attended with their tea trading volume of 1.248 billion yuan in 3 days. Sichuan tea not only seeks expansion in China but also actively goes globally by Benefiting Shoppers of Sichuan, Sichuan Products in China, and Sichuan Companies Going Globally.

　　3 years' of hard work has lift the popularity of Sichuan tea brands. Regional tea brands of Sichuan has risen in groups including 12 brands of Chinese Well-known Brands, 10 products in national landmark protection, and 10 brands selected in National Brand Value Ranking. Mengding Mountain Tea and Yibin Early Tea have won “Gold Award for World Expo Chinese Famous Tea”. Tianfu Longjing, Zhuyeqing, Mengding Huangya have won “Gold Camel Award for World Expo Chinese Famous Tea”. All of these indicate that Sichuan tea brands have ranked among top in China.

　　Promising future: Achieving breakthroughs with the regional influential brands of Tianfu Longjing

　　”It is so good! I am energetic again!” On the 2016 Third G20 Fiance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting several days ago, Vice Finance Minister of Russia, Sergei Storchak, who are fond of Chinese tea, humorously praised Sichuan tea after sipped Sichuan tea.

　　While this event in Chengdu has made these global guests remember a beautiful but mysterious name, Tianfu Longjing, the only official authorization tea for the meeting. “Tianfu Longjing” has undertaken the dream of Sichuan tea industry to achieve 100 billion yuan.

　　In May, 2016, as the provincial regional tea brand, “Tianfu Longjing” initiated its first show on Sichuan International Tea Expo. Since then, Sichuan has a local tea brand sharing the same reputation and local signature as Xihu Longjing, Anxi Tieguanyin. Creating a provincial regional tea brands with the strength of a whole province is the work of Sichuan.

　　In 2014, over 130 tea companies of Sichuan allied together to establish Sichuan Tea Brand Promotion Association. Almost all the municipal and provincial leading enterprises attend the association. The production volume of these enterprises account over 50% of that of Sichuan and the number of brands accounts for over 70% in Sichuan. There is only one common goal for these enterprises, namely creating a regional major brand of Sichuan tea. Later, after selection, Tianfu Longjing is finally chosen as the major name card of Sichuan tea. Sichuan tea which is satisfied the standards could be authorized this brand. Sichuan tea initiates the new era of brand output from material output. ”Currently, the implementation planning for constructing Tianfu Longjing brand has been completed. Later we will establish Sichuan tea major brand theatrical system and brand operation and management team.” Yan Zewen, Head of Sichuan Tea Brand Promotion Association and President of Sichuan Tea Group, reveled that they were working hard to formulate Sichuan tea standards, initiate continuous and three-dimensional marketing in China and even in the world, enlarge the popularity of Tianfu Longjing, and shape Sichuan tea brands with quality Sichuan tea.