Terroir (山場, shānchǎng)

Terroir describes the conditions in which tea grows: soil, climate, terrain, altitude and surroundings. In Chinese tea, the related term shanchang (山场) refers to a specific growing site.

A site can affect plant growth and leaf composition, but the cup also depends on cultivar, season, picking, processing, storage and brewing. A “rocky” note does not mean you have identified minerals from a particular cliff, and altitude alone does not guarantee creaminess.

Yiwu, Bingdao and Lao Banzhang name places, not one fixed flavour shared by all their teas. The same applies to well-known mountain regions in Wuyi and Taiwan. Neighbouring gardens and separate batches from one producer can still differ.

To explore the role of place, compare teas of the same cultivar and season, with similar processing but different sites, brewed alike. Even this will not isolate every factor. Ask the seller about origin, cultivar and production method: each adds useful information.

Related teas

Chinese tea glossary