TeaVivre's Organic BaiLin Gongfu black tea is a gold medal winning, premium tea from Mt. Taimu, in Fujian province. This particular tea is independently certified to be produced in a 100% organic fashion.
Bai Lin Gongfu is a completely oxidised black tea. It is a “gongfu” (or “congou”) type of black tea, which indicates that it is hand crafted, with the leaf buds being twisted into thin, tight strips without them being broken. When dry, the tea has a sweet, caramel like scent and has a mix of black and golden-orange “pekoe” coloured leaf buds.
Brief health info
Black teas contain antioxidants, which help in the prevention of some cancers and help reduce the affects of aging that is caused by free radicals. They can also reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks due to natural chemicals that reduce cholesterol.
For more information on the remarkable health benefits of TeaVivre's Black Teas, see our article on Tea Health benefit.
How to make tea
When brewing BaiLin Gongfu, use water around 185ºF (85ºC) and infuse the tea for 2-3 minutes, depending on the required taste. This particular BaiLin Gongfu can be infused up 6-7 times before it begins to loose its flavour.
For more information on some of the skills and arts of brewing tea, check out our article on How To Make Tea.
Introduction of the tea farmer
Lin Jian, who is born in Fuding, Fujian, has been living under the environment of teas. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather are all tea farmers. When he was in elementary school, he helped to pick the tea after school at the tea picking time when there’s not enough people to pick the tea. The dream of engaging in tea business was came up at that time. He said: “My original idea is to make a good life for my family by tea business. But from 1993 when my tea business was gradually developed, I changed my mind. Fuding is the best place of planning white tea. So I want to create a long-term Organic Tea business.” Through our contact with Mr Lin, we felt that he is a man of frankness, speaking quickly, walking quickly and working quickly.
Not exaggeratedly speaking, now Lin Jian is the first founder of Chinese white tea. He owns near 2800 acre high quality tea gardens in Fuding including 500 acre organic tea garden which is the only organic tea garden in Fujian that has passed the USA, Europe and Japan organic certification. He also owns 200 acre Jasmine tea garden in Guangxi. Meanwhile his heshan organic tea base was regards as the national agricultural standard base.
In 2010, his Bailin Gongfu black tea won the gold medal for black teas at the Tea King Competition in the city of Ning De.
Organic Certification
The particular BaiLin Gongfu Black tea that TeaVivre is selling, is guaranteed to be organically grown and produced, independently verified to meet the following certifications:
USA
Certified Organic in accordance with the USDA (National Organic Program) accreditation for organic farms, production and produce. USDA certificate number is A-2007-00252_1 / 2012-03715.
Europe
Certified organic in accordance with both EU regulations Article 29(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007. Certificate number is A-2007-00252_1 / 2010-03563.
Japan
Certified organic in compliance with the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) regulations for organic agricultural products. Certificate number is A-2007-00252_1 / 2012-03738.
Their certifications have been independently verified by BCS Öko-Garantie GmbH - the organic certifier.
The Company also obtained ISO9001 quality and process management certification in 2003.
Where is this BaiLin Gongfu Black tea produced
Like our Silver Needle tea, this BaiLin Gongfu Tea is produced in the Mt. Taimu area, in Fujian province, on the south eastern Chinese coast.
This tropical mountainous coastal area is perfect for growing teas. The area has an abundant rainfall, with many misty days in spring, and temperatures that are neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The mountains around the farms are more than 80% forested, ensuring the soil has a high natural fertility and organic content, removing the need to use fertilizers.
History of Bailin Gongfu Black Tea
The history of BaiLin Gongfu black tea's is somewhat shrouded in mystery. The earliest documentation of BaiLin Gongfu black tea is in the “WuYi” historical document, written in 1851 in Fujian by a Chinese scholar call Dong Tiangong. In his document, he recorded “Gongfu” (sometimes written as “Congou”) as the name of a type of black tea produced in Fujian, indicating that this tea was being produced in the area at that time.
In recent years, the production in Fujian and neighbouring provinces has rapidly moved from state-owned enterprises to private, local companies. This has resulted in a rapid increase in quality, innovation and production.
You may learn more about black tea knowledge from our article:
