STiR coffee and tea magazine

20 STiR coffee and tea | 2026 Quarter 2 Summer (Jun/July/Aug) China Tightens Wuyi Rock Tea Standards China has revised its national standard for Wuyi rock tea for the first time since 2006 amid growing concern over counter- feit origin claims. China's national standards system, commonly known as Guobiao (GB) standards, plays a central role in how tea products are classified, labeled, tested, and traded both domestically and internationally. The revised benchmark for Wuyi rock tea [yancha], GB/T 18745-2026, is a recommended national standard widely regarded as a de facto industry requirement. This upgrades earlier frameworks from descriptive language to a more verifiable system that links terroir, sensory evaluation, and traceability to product identity. In an effort to protect one of its most prized tea origins, producers in Wuyishan must now comply with a stricter set of national standards. Photo Credit: Wuyi Star Tea A notable revision is the incorporation of "rock rhyme" [yan yum], a sensory quality associated with the mineral character of Wuyi's cliffside terroir, as a formal sensory evaluation. Yan yun is no longer solely a subjective tasting impression. It has been incorporated as a measurable attribute within aroma and taste scores, integrating terroir-linked sensory evaluation into measurable scoring criteria. A further significant revision is the official recognition of aged yancha as a distinct category within the standard. Aged yancha has long been a key part of secondary markets, private collections, and top-tier vendor offerings, though it has never been defined under a unified regulatory framework. The updated standard now acknowledges aged yancha as its own classification, introducing clearer parameters for origin verification, quality reference, and category definition. Environmental and quality standards were also addressed in the revision, with the new standard aligning with updated nation- al pesticide residue requirements under GB 2763-2026, which sets limits for over 560 pesticide residues in food products. As part of the strengthened geographic origin protections, the core production region for yancha has been refined, with clearer boundaries now defined. The revised standard formally codifies the three-zone classification system of Wuyi production areas: Zhengyan (core production area), Banyan (intermediate zone), and Zhoucha (peripheral production area). These zones are now explicitly recognized as boundaries. This strengthens origin verification and batch-level traceability, ensuring a tighter quality control framework in a saturated market. By Neldon Hamblin Türkiye's Tea Export Value Reaches a Record High According to data compiled from the Eastern Black Sea Exporters Associa- tion (DKİB), Türkiye exported tea to 122 countries, autonomous regions, and free zones last year. A total of 6,266 tons of tea were exported from the country, generating $34.8 million in revenue. Tea exports increased by 38% in value and 25% in quantity compared to the previous year. The country supplied $12.7 million worth of tea to Belgium, making Belgium the largest destination for Turkish tea exports. Exports to the United Kingdom reached $5.8 million, while shipments to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus totaled $2.6 million. Belgium's strong demand is partly supported by its large Turkish community, particularly in cities such as Brussels and Antwerp. In addition, Belgium serves as a key distribution hub, with imported Turkish tea often re-exported or supplied to neighboring markets, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands. DKİB vice chairman of the board and tea sector committee chairman Şaban Turgut said, "Our goal in the coming period is to increase our market share in existing markets while also expanding into new markets. In particular, we will accelerate our efforts to deepen our presence, especially in Europe, as well as to increase the awareness of Turkish tea in the Middle East, North America, and the Far East markets." By the end of the year, DKİB aims to signifi- cantly increase its export figures and boost export revenue per kilogram with high-value-added, packaged, and branded products. They will continue their promotional efforts to increase the awareness of Turkish tea, especially in countries with high purchasing power, primarily in Europe. In April, Doğuş Çay, the country's second- largest tea producer, announced a €109.6 million ($127.7 million) investment for a food manufactur- ing complex in Orosháza, Hungary. The complex includes iced tea processing facilities and marks the company's first expansion outside of Türkiye. By Mainbayar Badarch In an effort to expand into new markets and increase its European presence, Türkiye continues to focus on value-added products and promotion of its high-quality teas. Photo credit: T24 Tea Report

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