At 37 degrees north latitude, the tea gardens of the Yantai Supply and Marketing Cooperative are among the northernmost tea-growing areas in northern China. [Photo/Qilu Yidian]

Yantai tea has been developed for over two decades in the northern high-latitude region at 37 degrees north and has grown into a thriving brand supporting rural vitalization.

Cultivated over 600 mu (40 hectares) in Muping and Haiyang, Yantai tea's success is attributed to the Yantai Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Following the "South Tea North Introduction" in 1966, the cooperative led the way in 2006 by conducting over 50 soil analyses to find acidic soils. With over 50 million yuan ($6.9 million) invested, it set up two demonstration bases for planting, research, and processing. The industry saw rapid growth starting in 2011.

Today, Yantai produces high-quality green, black, and mulberry leaf teas. With a longer growing cycle, Yantai green tea provides a rich infusion, high aroma, and fresh taste. Annual sales of its flagship teas surpass 8.1 million yuan. By 2025, the brand value of Yantai green tea is projected to reach 679 million yuan and its mulberry leaf tea 511 million yuan.

The cooperative has made a cohesive system of plantations, research institutes, and farmers. It has also partnered with the China Tea Research Institute to develop new products and opened four tea houses to promote tea culture. The industry has created 50 jobs for villagers, making Yantai tea a catalyst for rural prosperity.