Tea ranks among China's most significant contributions to the West, thanks to the ancient Silk Road. In southeast China's Fujian province, some tea companies are trying to bolster demand in Belt and Road countries for this Chinese specialty. CGTN's Feng Yilei shows us how.

Lapsang Souchong, this famous Chinese black tea dates back to the ancient Silk Road from Asia to Europe. Its unmistakably smoky aroma once prevailed in Great Britain.

Today though, Zheng Shan Tang, one of China's main producers of the tea, says they have been transforming from an exporter of raw material to an importer.

LIN YIN, VICE GENERAL MANAGER ZHENG SHAN TANG "With cheaper imported raw materials, plus our leading technologies of processing black tea, we make fine products that meet consumer needs. Many foreign countries nowadays also come for advanced techniques and cooperation rather than raw tea."

The company processes and exports about 230 tons of tea per year for foreign brands. That is only one-fifth of its all-time highest export total.

Zheng Shan Tang's changing business pattern reflects a common situation for its counterparts in this tea-savvy province and across China.

FENG TINGQUAN, CHAIRMAN FUJIAN TEA SCIENCE SOCIETY "Tea exports from China have remained stable at roughly 350 thousand tons out of a total world tea consumption of 2.5 million. That's not a big percentage. Although there's no breakthrough in quantity, the price per kilo has risen to a certain degree."

Experts also say some Fujian tea makers are attempting to deal with more Belt and Road nation importers. Some have found potential growth areas along the routes, despite the overall flat market share of Chinese tea globally. Chunlun, a local Jasmine green tea maker, has seen this floral scented beverage meet with tea-drinking customs in Russia and Belarus, where people boil tea leaves and tinge the air with fragrance. Their innovative products have targeted the niche.

FU TIANFU, GENERAL MANAGER FUJIAN CHUNLUN TEA GROUP "When I was in Russia, I saw a rising purchase power as more and more people there are fond of crafted tea that costs over a hundred yuan per pot. I also noticed foreign customers' habits of drinking cold water. Therefore, we have developed high-end tea brands and instant tea powder to cater to these needs."

For Chinese tea companies, attempts to boost trade and push up overseas demand also include promoting tea culture under the Initiative.

FENG YILEI FUJIAN, CHINA "This tea room at Chunlun's headquarters has offered the tea ceremony and tea tasting experience to many foreign delegations like this one. Officials from African and Southeast Asian countries are here to learn about agricultural modernization, the process of making jasmine green tea, and most importantly, Chinese tea culture."

JALINI SURIARACHCHI, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT SRI LANKAN MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS "This is a great experience to see this tea factory. It's a good production and I wonder (how) this tea leaves mixed with jasmine flower and it became great production. I want to bring back to my country this technology."

As tea trade continues on the silk road, China has found a new position in the supply chain. And its tea makers continue to seize new opportunities in increasing international contacts. Feng Yilei, CGTN, Fujian Province.