A tea farmer picks tea leaves at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
KUNMING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- May 21 marks International Tea Day. Follow our lens to Bulang Mountain in China's Yunnan Province and the tea gardens in Kenya's Nairobi to explore the charm of tea.
A tea farmer picks fresh tea leaves at a tea garden near Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on May 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Originating from China, tea has become popular around the world. As one of the origins of tea plants around the world, Yunnan enjoys a comprehensive output value of over 100 billion yuan every year from the tea industry. Menghai County, located in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, is internationally recognized as one of the birthplaces of Pu'er tea. Located over 1,600 meters above sea level, Laoman'e Village on the Bulang Mountain in Menghai County is an ancient village of the Bulang ethnic group with a history of more than 1,380 years.
Tea farmers pick tea leaves at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
People of the Bulang ethnic group have been accompanied by tea for generations. It has become a part of their life to harvest tea leaves, process tea leaves and drink tea. For these people, tea is inextricably interwoven with their lives. In the middle of May, it's easy to find tea farmers singing while picking tea leaves.
A tea farmer fries tea leaves at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
A tea farmer fries tea leaves at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
Tea farmers dry tea leaves at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
A tea farmer picks tea at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
The ancient tea trees grow in the primeval forest of Yunnan, usually 2-3 meters high, some as high as more than 10 meters. Tea farmers need to climb on the trees to pick tea leaves, thus creating a unique scene of tea picking.
A tea farmer picks tea at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
Among the ancient tea plants of Laoman'e Village, people can always hear the sounds of tea picking before spotting the tea farmers.
A tea farmer poses for a photo at Laoman'e Village in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
Through the ancient Tea Horse Road and the Silk Road, tea gained fame around the world. At present, tea is one of the three major drinks in the world, produced in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide and enjoyed by over two billion people.
Workers of a tea factory sort and package Pu'er tea cakes with the assistance of automatic robotic arms in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
A tea artisan serves tea in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
Tea enthusiasts taste Pu'er tea at a teahouse in Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, China. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
Tea farmers pick fresh tea leaves at a tea garden near Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on May 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
The warm weather of central Kenya, located on the East African plateau, is very suitable for the growth of tea plants. After reaching the land of Kenya, tea was quickly accepted and welcomed by the local people. Tea is now one of the country's leading foreign exchange earners.
Tea farmers pick fresh tea leaves at a tea garden near Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on May 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Kenya is a leading exporter of black tea worldwide. Small-scale tea farmers produce about 60 percent of the country's tea production. Growing and making tea is an important source of their livelihood. Tea export and tea industry play a vital role in rural development and poverty reduction in developing countries.
A worker works at a tea factory near Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, May 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
A worker carries tea leaves in a tea factory near the capital city of Nairobi, Kenya, May 4, 2023.(Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
A citizen enjoys tea with milk by the street of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, May 17, 2023.(Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Planners: Wang Jianhua, Wang Changshan
Coordinators: Wu Wei, Ji Zhepeng
Photographers: Jiang Wenyao, Li Muzi, Wang Guansen
Visual designer: Cui Wen
Editors: Sun Ruibo, Li Muzi, Zhang Lei, Zhang Chencen, Du Juanjuan, Wu Huiwo, Zhou Jiayi, Liu Yun, Wang Yiou, Zhu Weixi, Sui Shangjun■
