On Tea Production In Tai Lake Area During The Ming And Qing Dynasties

China, being honored as the home of tea, has a long history of tea production. Tai Lake area is one of famous ancient tea production,and according to tea monographs and the books written by the Taihu locals, it specially experienced unprecedented development and progress in the period of Ming and Qing dynasties. Through further studying these books, its science and academic value contributes to the improvement of modern tea by providing basic theories and realistic basis.Tai Lake area is one of the district where pioneered the "San" tea①earlier. In the Ming and Qing period, The techonology of "Chaoqing"②changed to be the mainstream instead of "Tuan" tea in the process of tea production. After Ming dynasty, the books of tea written by Taihu locals mainly focus on the "Chaoqing" production process. On the basis of development in Tang and Song dynasties, Taihu expanded its tea production area into6major bases. Taihu tea is gradually increasing with kinds of famous tea and known as a significant characteristic in Taihu district. In the meanwhile, it also fairly promoted the development of local agricultural and economic development.The Taihu tea has the advantage in the whole processing and its high quality enable the Taihu tea win the enduring reputation throughout the country and recognized as one of the important features in Tai Lake area. The monograph of tea and books written by Taihu locals in Ming and Qing dynasties provide basis for studying the tea production technologies. Its comprehensive technologies, including tea plantation cultivation techniques and management, technology of picking tea, and especially the technique reform of tea making, led "Chaoqing" technology to be the mainstream since the Ming dynasty, which was a real milestone. Moreover, Tea making technics and principles were still followed by kinds of high-class green tea. The Taihu tea production technics came into a stage of maturity in full aspect, achievied its lead position throughout the countries, and acknowledged as a model deserving studying by other districts.Besides the superior natural conditions of Tai Lake area, the advantageous social culture, profound and lasting tea production history are all the most important factors promoting the tea production. Social commodity economy had been further developed in Tai Lake area during Ming and Qing dynasties, increasing tea consumption had played a significant role in promoting the tea production.Meanwhile,the expansion of tea trade in Tai Lake area also contributed to the further development of tea production after the opening of shanghai port in Opium War of1840.Tea, as one kind of traditional economic crops, has a big impetus to agriculture development. It accelerated economic structural innovation, and hastened the tea culture flourishing as well. In the meanwhile, Taihu tea in Ming and Qing period has great reference value for current tea production development of the district. Tai Lake area should inherit and carry forward its advantage of tea production, give energetic support to high-quality tea, attach importance to mechanical tea-making and raise productivity. At the same time, appropriately exploiting the tourism of tea culture will be conducive to promoting tea culture, local tourism, tea trade, and speeding up local economic development.