Tea village uses innovation to brew fresh future in Fujian

A rich, malty aroma of black tea wafts from a milk tea shop at the entrance of Tanyang village in Fuan, a county-level city in East China's Fujian province. Inside, young customers raise their cups, snap photos and toast with friends, enjoying a modern take on tea.

"That scent is the hallmark of Tanyang Gongfu tea," said Chen Xiangxue, owner of the milk tea shop, Meet Tanyang.

Chen and her husband, Wu Hanxi, jointly launched the shop in April 2023. With years of experience in the beverage industry, the couple decided to promote Tanyang Gongfu tea, making it better known and appreciated by more people. The shop has developed over 20 types of modern tea-based products, including milk tea, tea-flavored pastries, tea-infused beer and black tea ice cream. "As demand for novel tea-drinking experiences continues to grow, our products have been well received by visitors, which motivates us to keep innovating," Chen said.

One of Chen's most distinctive creations is the tea-infused beer, made using three types of Tanyang Gongfu tea, each crafted with different techniques. This unique brewing process combines the aroma of tea with the flavor of beer, resulting in a novel non-alcoholic beverage. In 2024, the sales volume of the tea-infused beer reached 150,000 cans.

In addition to the milk tea shop in the village, there are two other stores in Fuan, each generating an annual turnover of more than 2 million yuan ($278,500).

Meet Tanyang is just one of many emerging tea-related businesses in the village, ranging from tea-themed cafes and tea workshops to tea culture experience centers.