The Terroir Atlas
Explore by place
Less than 0.001% of the world’s tea grows where everything converges — the right mountain, the oldest trees, the most perfected hands. Terroir is the origin from which cultivar and craft reach their peak.
The Atlas moves from province to mountain, then opens the current teas connected to that place. Use it to travel the geography in the cup; follow the Academy and articles when you want to study why those places matter.
Fu Jian福建
Fu Jian contains several distinct historic tea terroirs. Wu Yi Shan’s Zheng Yan core is defined by rocky Danxia landform; Tong Mu, about two hours from that core, is the historic home of Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong; farther east, Fu Ding is the traditional home of white tea.
- Wu Yi Shan武夷山Sheer cliffs and mineral-rich rock define Zheng Yan—the celebrated core of Yan Cha, or cliff tea.
- Tong Mu桐木Deep in protected high-altitude forest, the birthplace of Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong and, centuries later, Jin Jun Mei.
- Jiu Lian Shan九蓮山Home to the South Shao Lin Temple, where our monk friend Fa Yu Fa Shi handmakes Chan Cha.
- Fu Ding福鼎White tea’s historic homeland, where indigenous tea trees become luminous Bai Hao Yin Zhen and Bai Mu Dan.
- See all teas from this region
Yun Nan雲南
Yun Nan’s Pu Er landscape spans Xi Shuang Ban Na, Lin Cang, and Jing Dong–Wu Liang Shan. Tea-tree age and increasingly specific places—mountain, village, and lot—shape how each Pu Er is understood.
- You Le攸樂One of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains east of the Lan Cang River, where Ji Nuo tea history lives on in old-tree Sheng Pu from Long Pa.
- Nan Nuo Shan南糯山Old tea forests spread among Ha Ni villages such as Ban Po, Ya Kou, and Zhu Lin, each giving Sheng Pu a distinct expression.
- Ge Deng革登One of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains, prized for scarce old trees whose leaves often show the mountain’s unusual small-leaf character.
- Bu Lang Shan布朗山Ancient tea forests and bold, structured Sheng Pu make Bu Lang Shan one of southern Yun Nan’s most commanding origins.
- Man Nuo曼糯A remote old-tree Pu Er origin whose tea brings depth, strength, and the unmistakable presence of mountain-grown Sheng Pu.
- Wu Liang Shan無量山Protected forests shelter remarkable old trees; their teas are woodsy and light on their feet, aging toward a dry-apricot sweetness.
- Lin Cang臨滄West of Ban Na, Lin Cang is known for bright, sweet Pu Er with lively tannins, from places such as Dong Nong, Da Si, Xiao Mai Shan, Feng Qing, and Meng Ku.
- Ge Lang He格朗和At Lei Da Shan, exceptionally old trees yield a signature texture—smooth, tender, and almost acrylic in its seamlessness.
- Pa Sha帕沙Old tea gardens give Pa Sha Sheng Pu a poised meeting of fragrance, structure, and deep mountain character.
- Man Zhuan蠻磚One of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains, where old trees within Guo You Lin—the national forest—produce sought-after Sheng Pu.
- See all teas from this region
Guang Dong廣東
Feng Huang Shan is the historic origin of Feng Huang Dan Cong. Its old trees, varied cultivars, and precisely ranked mountain terroirs produce teas known for distinct floral and fruit fragrance profiles.
An Hui安徽
An Hui holds several distinct historic tea terroirs. Within Lu An and the Da Bie Mountains, Qi Shan is prized for Gua Pian and Jin Ji Shan for Huo Shan Huang Ya; Qi Men and Huang Shan carry separate red- and green-tea traditions.
- Da Bie Shan大別山Heavily forested mountains shared by An Hui and He Nan, holding the historic homes of Gua Pian, Huang Ya, and Mao Jian.
- Lu An六安A thousand-year tea region and home of Lu An Gua Pian, the famous green tea made only from leaves—never buds or stems.
- Huo Shan霍山Historic home of Huo Shan Huang Ya, where the mountain’s yellow-tea tradition turns spring leaves rounder, softer, and less tannic.
- Qi Men祁門The true origin of Qi Men Hong Cha, where semi-wild indigenous trees produce the naturally sweet red tea known in the West as Keemun.
- Huang Shan黃山Clouded peaks and deep forests nurture some of An Hui’s most celebrated green teas and rare wild tea traditions.
- Huang Tian黃田Home of Huo Qing, whose leaves are shaped into tight pearls and slowly fired into a rich, enduring green tea.
- See all teas from this region
Zhe Jiang浙江
Xi Hu is the true origin of Long Jing, with Shi Feng Shan its highest-ranked terroir. Its hierarchy narrows from province and region to villages including Lion, Dragon, Cloud, Tiger, and Plum.
Hu Nan湖南
Jun Shan is a one-square-kilometer island associated with tea for more than 1,300 years. Its state-owned gardens produce the rare bud-only yellow tea Jun Shan Yin Zhen.
Jiang Xi江西
Lu Shan’s Xiao Tian Chi micro-terroir sits above 3,000 feet, where fog can surround the gardens throughout the day. This is the historic home of Lu Shan Yun Wu.
He Nan河南
Xin Yang Mao Jian’s highest-ranked origin is Che Yun Shan in the Da Bie Mountains. Tea Drunk sources from the favored southeast-facing side, where indigenous heirloom trees give the tea its characteristic sugary depth.
- Xin Yang信陽From Che Yun Shan’s favored southeast-facing slopes, indigenous heirloom trees give Xin Yang Mao Jian its characteristic sugary depth.
- Da Bie Shan大別山Heavily forested mountains shared by An Hui and He Nan, holding the historic homes of Gua Pian, Huang Ya, and Mao Jian.
- See all teas from this region
To taste a place is to understand it. Choose a province or mountain to see the teas currently connected to it.
Study ten historic terroirs in Tea Drunk Academy
Read why location matters to Chinese tea
Understand terroir and its hierarchy
Browse every tea