Fuhai Tea Factory in Menghai County, XishuangBanna

Fuhai Tea Factory(福海茶厂), located in Menghai County of Xishuangbanna, is renowned for its dedication to producing high-quality Pu’er tea. Established in 1983, the factory has evolved from specializing in CTC shredded black tea to becoming a significant player in the Pu’er tea industry.

History and Development

Early Beginnings

Fuhai Tea Factory was founded in 1983 by the management team and technical staff of Menghai Tea Factory (勐海茶厂). Initially, it focused on producing CTC shredded black tea (CTC红碎茶) and Kungfu twisted black tea (功夫红条茶). During this period, the factory also began experimenting with the semi-fermentation process used for black tea, which eventually contributed to the development of the full fermentation process for Pu’er tea (普洱茶).

Transformation into Fuhai Tea Factory

The predecessor of Fuhai Tea Factory was Menghai Xinghuo Tea Factory (勐海县星火茶厂). By 1998, the factory, recognizing the growing demand for Pu’er tea, was renamed Fuhai Tea Factory and shifted its focus to the production of Pu’er tea.

Factory Expansion and Modernization

New Factory Construction

In 2004, due to continuous growth and an expanding production scale, the original factory’s equipment could no longer meet the demand. A new factory was established 3 kilometers east of Menghai County (勐海县), surrounded by scenic views of Xishuangbanna (西双版纳). The new plant, covering more than 60 acres and facing the famous tea mountain, Nannuo Mountain (南糯山), is located in a pollution-free area that is ideal for producing top-quality Pu’er tea.

Investment and Infrastructure

The new facility was built with an investment of 26 million yuan and boasts 36 million yuan in fixed assets and working capital. The factory is equipped with advanced machinery and utilizes traditional tea-making techniques. It also has its own raw material base, ensuring high-quality inputs for the production process. The factory produces 1,000–1,500 tons of Pu’er tea annually, including over 80 varieties of tea across more than ten categories.

Tea Production and Craftsmanship

Key Products

Fuhai Tea Factory’s main products include:

• Qizi cake (七子饼)

• Brick tea (砖茶)

• Tuo tea (沱茶)

• Bamboo tea (竹茶)

• Golden melon tribute (金瓜贡茶)

• Light leaf tea (轻叶茶)

In addition, the factory offers a wide selection of loose leaf teas, with more than 80 varieties. The tea is known for its rich craftsmanship, producing products with a ruddy and translucent appearance, pure aromas, mellow taste, and a well-twisted form.

Tea Tasting and Expert Oversight

Yang Xinyuan (扬新源), the factory director, is a recognized expert in Pu’er tea production, tasting, and quality control. He adheres to the principle of “credibility and quality first” and strictly oversees the raw material sourcing to ensure top-quality products.

Marketing and Expansion

Office and Sales Network

In August 2004, to make Fuhai Pu’er tea more accessible to consumers in northern China, the factory set up an office in Beijing (北京). This office is responsible for auditing and managing sales agencies in the areas north of the Yangtze River (长江), as well as overseeing the marketing, supply, and distribution of products to agents and distributors.

Currently, Fuhai Tea has established a tea shop at No. 6, No. 2, East Tieying (东铁营), Fengtai District (丰台区), and a promotion center at No. 11 Xiaohongmiao (小红庙), Xuanwu District (宣武区), Beijing.

International Certification and Joint Ventures

In April 2006, Fuhai Tea Factory became the first in the region to obtain the Sanitary Registration Certification for Export Foods, enabling them to export their products internationally.

Additionally, to address the challenges of raw material supply and ensure consistent quality, Fuhai Tea Factory formed a joint venture with South Korea Co., Ltd. (Brown), establishing Xishuangbanna Fuhai Brown Tea Co., Ltd. This joint venture focuses on developing and managing raw materials and plans to develop 20,000 acres over a 30-year period. The first phase of the project involved an investment of 15 million yuan.

Fuhai Tea Factory has grown into one of the leading producers of Pu’er tea in Xishuangbanna, thanks to its dedication to quality, innovation, and sustainability. From its early roots in CTC black tea production to its current status as a renowned Pu’er tea producer, the factory continues to uphold the traditions of tea craftsmanship while expanding its reach both domestically and internationally.