Saturday, February 16, 2013

Can Yunnan drought justify the Pu-erh price increase?

original article: http://www.puercn.com/puerchanews/news/43477.html


云南干旱还会是2013年普洱茶涨价的一个因素吗?
Can Yunnan drought justify increased Pu-erh prices in 2013?


 2009年入秋以来,中国西南等部分地区降水较少,气温偏高,出现持续干旱。近期,旱情仍呈发展态势。
Since Autumn 2009, South Western China has seen a lack of precipitation and high temperatures, which created a drought. Nowadays, the situation is still worrying.

  虽然旱情对云南省茶叶生产有较大影响,但茶叶消费弹性大,价格上涨对普通消费者影响不大。
Even though the drought has had a severe impact on tea production, despite irregular consumption, the price increase has not impacted the demand. 

  据统计,云南省茶叶产量约占国内总产量的13%,其中春茶占省内茶叶产量的25%至30%。云南省农业厅预计,2010年省内春茶将因旱灾减产50%左右,其中普洱春茶减产约60%。受此影响,去年普洱茶收购价格涨幅已超过20%,最高的超过70%。
According to statistics, Yunnan tea represents 13% of the Chinese tea production, 25 to 30% if we only consider Spring tea. The Yunnan Agricultural Department estimates that, in 2010, the drought reduced production by 50% overall and by about 60% for Spring tea. As a consequence of the drought, the price of tea last year increased by 20% on average, and up to 70% in some villages.


  由于国内普洱茶产量占茶叶总产量的比重不足4%,且目前库存充裕(东莞普洱茶藏量占普洱茶总量的2/3),干旱减产不会影响市场供应。
As a result, Pu-erh tea does not even account for 4% of the total Chinese production nowadays, yet, the Pu-erh stock remains large (two thirds of the Pu-erh tea is stored in Dongguan, near Guangzhou), therefore, the drought should not have an influence on the supply.

  在全国消费能力提高、物价都涨的情况下:2013年普洱茶春茶价格涨是一定的,不然茶农怎么脱贫,茶商怎么赚钱?但小编我认为云南干旱了这么几年,今年应该不会还用干旱做为普洱茶涨价的因素吧?*
In China, the consumption should continue to increase and the prices do the same: Pu-erh tea will surely be more expensive in 2013. Still, will the farmers get out of poverty? Will the tea shops make money?  I think the Yunnan drought has been around for years, can it still be used as an argument to justify higher prices?

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Principles of organic tea farming


Originally written by Pu Jin Jing 普金晶
Check her blog: http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/2411643562

仿原生态化的茶园管理模式(金晶)
Principles of organic tea farming (By Pu Jin Jing)



1.满天星式分布:按地形破度大小合理利用土地.
In all cases, distribute the trees all across your available land, don't leave any empty spot.

2.株距2-3米,这样不但保障了茶树的生长空间,地面小草也能正常生长(生物多样性),小草的生长能吸引不少的小虫子,以此减少因各种虫类过多集中对茶树造成的伤害!(保护好茶园的生物链)
Keep 2-3 meters between each tree, this will ensure the tea trees have room to develop their roots; low grass will also grow naturally, it will attract many insects, ensuring good biodiversity and avoiding that too many insects gather on the tea trees and damage them! Preserve a natural food chain in the tea garden.

3.坡地浙变成梯形,防止水土流失,也更容易保住土壤肥力!
Try to flatten the steep fields, it will avoid water flowing down and will help keep the nutrients in the soil!

4.保护好茶园周围的生态环境!
Preserve a natural environment all around the tea garden.

5.一年挖翻1-2次,施点农家肥,或者把茶树周边的杂草挖埋在茶树根周围。(当地茶农称这为施绿肥)充分利用茶园周边森林的落叶土,增加茶园土壤肥力!
Till the soil once or twice a year, add a bit of homemade fertilizer or cut weeds and bury them around the tea trees. Use local green manure: dead leaves taken from the nearby forest is perfect, it will be enough to give your tea garden a nutrient boost.

6.茶树的修剪: 剪掉过秘的枝条集中茶树营养,或者过长过高的枝条,以此控制茶树过快的长高,增加树冠,让茶树成伞形,以此方便采摘!
Pruning the tea bushes: cutting off the top will concentrate the nutrients into the lateral branches. If it's already tall trees, pruning them will give them an umbrella shape, making the harvest easier.

7.控制茶花、茶果的生长,采摘规范化!
Control the flowering and fruit growth, pick them systematically!

8.采摘请参考:《古乔木茶树的采摘要求》.
Picking techniques: refer to this article (in Chinese)




Other translated articles written by Pu Jin Jing here and there.