Estella Ji

Dec 29th 2025

YICHANG, Hubei, China – December 29, 2025 — In a landmark moment for Chinese specialty tea on the global stage, Yichang Tea, a premium brand under Angel Yeast Group, has secured Gold for its Jasmine Black Tea and a Highly Commended award for its Orchid Green Tea at The Leafies, the prestigious international tea competition organized by the UK Tea Academy in the United Kingdom.

The dual accolade highlights the exceptional quality and artistry of teas cultivated along the 30th parallel north—the world’s celebrated “golden belt” of tea production—where Yichang’s mist-wrapped mountains, mineral-rich soils, and gentle seasonal transitions create a terroir unmatched in depth and balance.

Judged by leading tea experts from one of the UK’s most respected institutions for tea education and connoisseurship, The Leafies recognizes teas that exemplify authenticity, origin integrity, and sensory excellence. Yichang Tea’s success signals growing international appreciation for Chinese artisanal teas among discerning buyers in Britain and beyond.

The Gold-winning Jasmine Black Tea is crafted using a traditional multi-night scenting method: fresh jasmine blossoms are layered repeatedly with fine black tea leaves to capture the ethereal fragrance of southern China’s summer evenings. The Highly Commended Orchid Green Tea, meanwhile, delivers a delicate floral nuance and silky mouthfeel—a subtle tribute to purity, place, and mindful craftsmanship.

“We’re deeply honored by this recognition from the UK Tea Academy,” said Eric Ao, General Manager of Angel Yeast Europe. “Receiving both a Gold and a Highly Commended award reflects our farmers’ unwavering dedication and our mission to harmonize heritage with precision. We hope these teas invite tea lovers in the UK and around the world to experience the soul of the 30th parallel—not just as a drink, but as a story steeped in mountain mist and centuries of care.”

Backed by Angel Yeast, a global leader in biotechnology serving over 170 countries, Yichang Tea combines time-honored cultivation methods with modern quality assurance—ensuring consistency, traceability, and sustainability without compromising terroir-driven character.

This achievement not only celebrates flavor—it builds a cultural bridge between China’s ancient tea mountains and Britain’s vibrant, evolving tea culture.

About Yichang Tea Group

Yichang Tea Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Angel Group. Yicha Group consolidates and integrates local tea industry resources through market-driven mechanisms. The company is committed to enhancing industrial concentration, strengthening market competitiveness, and building a leading enterprise that drives innovation and sustainable growth across the tea value chain.