Fujian at Work: White tea from start to finish

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In a country where warm and hot drinks are the lifeblood of the people, white tea is a rich and tasty favorite, especially in China's Fujian Province. One type of homegrown white tea is also a hot export, enjoyed all over the world. CGTN's Mark Fontes takes us to Southeast China.

At PinPin tea farm, high in the hills above the city of Fuding, white tea production provides an enjoyable and economic livelihood for locals. In fact more than half of Fuding's 600,000 people work in the tea industry.

YE KEMEI TEA FARMER "Everybody works together up here, it's an important job since so many people like white tea."

Your white tea starts here, and ends up in your cup. These workers are clearing away fertile space with which to plant. They later put soil down, and sprinkle in the seeds.

ZHANG ZHAOJI MARKETING DIRECTOR, PIN PIN TEA "This tea field's high altitude lifts it high above pollution. The earth here is very rich and moist, the temperature is good, and it's a great place for tea growth."

Once grown, the leaves make their way across town to the Pin Pin White Tea Museum. Unlike some western teas which are bagged, boxed, and eventually steeped, white tea leaves go straight into hot water, releasing even more healthy antioxidants and nutrients.

WANG LIYU TEA EXPERT "If you drink white tea frequently, it can help get rid of bad free radicals in your body, and it's also good for your skin."

The tea is also a hot export item, as many drinkers in Europe and the Americas have added PinPin white tea to their rituals. And speaking of rituals, if you stop by the museum at the right time of day, you might even witness the art of tea ceremony.

WANG LIYU TEA EXPERT "The white tea culture is totally immersed into our daily lives. Fuding is where white tea has its origins. Everyday, every family brews white tea."

MARK FONTES FUDING, FUJIAN PROVINCE White tea is a treat any time of year, at home or when out with friends, and it makes a great gift idea for any occasion. Mark Fontes, CGTN, Fuding, Fujian Province.