Recently, a group of “special tea pickers” arrived in the tea mountains of Qingyuan. They were graduate students from the research team of Dr. Li Xin at the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Over several days, they visited Qingyuan’s nine major mountainous tea-growing regions to collect representative samples of wild tea trees. The leaves will be used to extract DNA for whole-genome sequencing, which will then be precisely compared with the existing genetic database of tea trees.

“Genetic matching is like conducting a ‘paternity test’ for tea trees,” explained Dr. Zhang Shaobo, who led the team. The existing database includes genetic information for most tea varieties from both China and abroad. By analyzing the SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) of the samples, researchers can quickly determine the exact variety and genetic relationships of the tea trees, providing guidance to farmers in optimizing production processes based on the characteristics of each variety.

Genetic matching is not only a tool for varietal identification—it is also the “key” to unlocking the value of wild tea. The research team will further advance studies on the functional genes of tea trees, promoting a shift in Qingyuan’s tea industry from “experience-driven” to “data-driven” development.

“We’ll adjust our tea-processing techniques based on the test results. For example, tea leaves with high polyphenol content will be specifically used for making black tea; if the leaves have a high amino acid content, we’ll try to produce white tea,” said Wu Yuanfu, head of Qingyuan Zangyun Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., who was excited to learn that genetic sequencing could clarify the “identity” of wild tea. His plantation has more than 1,000 mu (about 165 acres) of wild tea resources, and the genetic sequencing results will support further development and utilization.

Located along the 27th parallel north, a prime latitude for tea cultivation, Qingyuan County is rich in precious wild tea resources. Since 2023, Qingyuan has completed regional distribution maps for wild tea across nine major areas including Baishanzu and Jinzifeng, released its first conservation list of ancient wild tea trees, and implemented traceable, registered management for tea trees in the county’s nine core mountain ranges.

At the same time, Qingyuan places great importance on talent development and skills enhancement in the tea industry. The county has signed a technical service contract with the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, established high-level talent platforms such as master studios and expert workstations, and adopted mentorship programs like “master-apprentice” training to help local technical personnel improve their tea-processing expertise.

With strong support from talent and science, the value of Qingyuan’s wild tea continues to rise. A 2024 survey showed that Qingyuan County has a total of 10,500 mu of wild tea, of which 8,000 mu have already been developed and utilized. The annual output of wild tea has reached 12.65 tons, with a total production value of 83.2 million yuan.