Putuo Buddha tea has once again been honored as a national geographical indication agricultural product, following its selection last year.

This recognition can be largely attributed to the implementation of a series of measures rolled out by authorities to improve the tea's quality and the ecological environment surrounding the tea plantations.

Authorities released favorable policies and financial support to promote the application of cutting-edge technologies in the construction of ecological tea plantations and channel more resources into the protection of its geographical indication identification.

The district has established three exemplary standardized tea factories to ensure full-process quality control and product traceability.

The tea plantation area in Putuo now exceeds 4,400 mu (293.33 hectares), with 1,780 mu dedicated to organic tea cultivation. In 2023, tea output reached 6.2 metric tons, with a total output value of 8.2 million yuan ($1.13 million).

Authorities have also tapped into the rich cultural heritage of Buddha tea, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Efforts have been made to strengthen the construction and promotion of the Putuo Buddha tea brand, including organizing tea-making competitions, tea tasting events, and poetry gatherings.

The local government also participated in domestic and international tea expos and trade fairs to expand the influence of the Putuo Buddha Tea brand and enhance its market competitiveness.

The Buddha tea processing techniques have been recognized and included on the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage list.