Tea History
Putuo Buddha tea has a long history. Since ancient times, Putuo people have opened up a mountainous area around the temple as a tea plantation. The monks planted and harvested for worshipping Buddhas and hospitality. The history books of the Ming Dynasty were recorded. The Qing Dynasty was classified as a tribute. In 1915, the second prize was won at the Panamanian Nations Exposition. After being carefully cultivated by the local mountains and residents, the Buddha Tea is famous for its unique flavor. In 1984, it was awarded the title of Zhejiang Famous Tea. In October 1998, it was awarded the “Chinese Culture Famous Tea†Silver Prize.
Putuo Buddha Tea [1]
Tuopu Tea is a masterpiece of the perfect combination of Chinese tea culture and Buddhist culture.
There is also an interesting little story about Putuo Buddha tea: According to legend, during the Tang Dynasty, Japanese monk Hui Yi came to study in China and received a Guanyin Buddha statue while worshipping Wutai Mountain. Later, he took a boat off Guanyin with a statue of Buddha. After passing through the Silla Reef on the eastern side of Putuo Mountain, suddenly there were hundreds of iron lotuses on the sea, blocking the way to the ship. Despite all the efforts, Tiehuan rose up against the vessel and was unable to drive. The monk Huiyi learned that Guanyin would not leave China, so he said: “Let all our people not see the Buddha, and we should set up our homes.†Hui Huishe went to the shore and stayed here to watch the sound and image of the temple. Since then, Putuo Mountain has become a dojo of Guanyin, commonly known as the "South China Sea." There are many temples on the mountain, including Puji Temple, Fayu Temple, Changsheng Temple, Pan Tuo, and Lingshi Temple. The land on the hill is owned by the temple, and the tea is collected by the monks. It is also used as a temple to worship Buddhas and guests, hence the name "Buddha tea."