Yanwu Legacy
A thousand metres up, where Guangdong meets Fujian, a peak vanishes into cloud most mornings. My ancestor named it in the late Qing dynasty: 岩雾, Yanwu. Rock Mist.
Six generations of my family have tended this mountain since. The first tea trees were planted in 1947 and left wild for nearly forty years. My grandfather returned to find them still alive, roots grown deep into stone. He began again. My father chose the mountain over the city. I was born the year his trees went into the ground. I am in London now, and so is the tea.
The Liu family, Chuan (1st) and Wan (2nd) generations, Qing Dynasty.
Archive photo from circa 1910.
1947
万世 Wan Shi Generation
The second and third generations cleared the peak and planted the first tea trees.
Nearly forty years of wildness followed. Nine trees survived, roots deep in rock.
The Shou (4th) generation.
Archive photo from circa 1990.
2000
家 Jia Generation
The fifth generation chose the mountain over the city. He planted a new generation of cultivars. His son was born the same year.
The Xing (6th) generation. First lessons in Gongfu Tea, 2004.
YANWU Continues the story
Anchored in a single tea mountain in Fenghuang, Chaozhou, and six generations of growing and making Dancong oolong. The tea, the practice, the culture, and the language surrounding it, now unfolding between Chaozhou and London.
Late Qing Dynasty
He cleared the first path through wild grass and stone. The mountain had no name until he gave it one. 岩雾. Rock Mist. Before tea, the family took root here.
The Shi (3rd) generation.
Archive photo from circa 1970.
1985
守 Shou Generation
The fourth generation returned after decades of absence and found the old trees still alive. He steadied himself on the steep slopes and planted again.
The Jia (5th) generation at Yanwu Peak.
Archive photo from circa 1995.
Now 兴 Xīng Generation
And I, the sixth, am in London. Born the same year as my father’s trees. They grew into the mountain; I grew toward the world, carrying them. Yanwu begins here.
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The Xing (6th) generation Shiyi Liu and Zipu Zhu. Founders at Yanwu Peak, 2026.
What you are holding has travelled a long way to reach you.
Through rock and spring water and sunlight and mist.
Through six generations of hands that cleared, planted, lost, returned, and planted again.
Through a century and a half of family choosing, each time, to stay rooted to the same mountain.
Now, it is here, in your hands.
The Liu family, Chuan (1st) and Wan (2nd) generations, Qing Dynasty.
Archive photo from circa 1910.
Late Qing Dynasty
He cleared the first path through wild grass and stone. The mountain had no name until he gave it one. 岩雾. Rock Mist. Before tea, the family took root here.
The Shi (3rd) generation. Archive photo from circa 1970.
1947
万世 Wan Shi Generation
The second and third generations cleared the peak and planted the first tea trees. Nearly forty years of wildness followed. Nine trees survived, roots deep in rock.
The Shou (4th) generation. Archive photo from circa 1990.
1985
守 Shou Generation
The fourth generation returned after decades of absence and found the old trees still alive. He steadied himself on the steep slopes and planted again.
The Jia (5th) generation at Yanwu Peak. Archive photo from circa 1995.
2000
家 Jia Generation
The fifth generation chose the mountain over the city. He planted a new generation of cultivars. His son was born the same year.
The Xing (6th) generation. First lessons in Gongfu Tea, 2004.
Now
兴 Xing Generation
And I, the sixth, am in London. Born the same year as my father’s trees. They grew into the mountain; I grew toward the world, carrying them.
Yanwu begins here.
The Xing (6th) generation Shiyi Liu and Zipu Zhu. Founders at Yanwu Peak, 2026.
YANWU Continues the story
Anchored in a single tea mountain in Fenghuang, Chaozhou, and six generations of growing and making Dancong oolong. The tea, the practice, the culture, and the language surrounding it, now unfolding between Chaozhou and London.
What you are holding has travelled a long way to reach you.
Through rock and spring water and sunlight and mist. Through six generations of hands that cleared, planted, lost, returned, and planted again. Through a century and a half of family choosing, each time, to stay rooted to the same mountain.
Now, it is here, in your hands.