“Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.”
Today, I would like to share with you the century-long friendship between Anlehao and another famous tea estate—Tong Qing Hao. In the Yiwu tea mountains, the relationship between these two estates is much like that of two brothers, supporting one another and growing together.
Anlehao and Tong Qing Hao are long-standing friends; behind this “long-standing friendship” lie generations of companionship. In an era when transportation was inconvenient and information was scarce, it was truly not easy for these two estates to maintain such a lasting friendly relationship. They were more than just business partners; they were dear friends in life. During festivals and holidays, the two families would visit one another to share tea and reminisce about old times.
I have heard from the older generation of tea practitioners that the predecessors of Anlehao and Tong Qing Hao used to ascend the mountains together to select tea gardens and study tea processing techniques. In Yiwu, while competition between tea estates does exist, cooperation is even more prevalent. This is because everyone understands that for the reputation of Yiwu tea to truly flourish, all estates must work together. If they engage in mutual sabotage, it will only lead to mutual destruction, which benefits no one and harms the overall reputation of Yiwu tea.
Tong Qing Hao had already established a loose-leaf tea factory in Yiwu by 1736, possessing an even longer history than Anlehao. Meanwhile, Anlehao held a unique advantage in the production of tribute tea. Each estate played to its strengths: Anlehao focused on the quality of tribute tea, while Tong Qing prioritized market expansion. Through this complementarity, they worked together to spread the fame of Yiwue tea throughout the country. In that era, Yiwu’s ascent to the position of the foremost among the six great tea mountains was inextricably linked to the collective efforts of major estates like Anlehao and Tong Qing Hao.
This relationship reminds me of our current tea circle. Often, there is cutthroat competition and disparagement among peers. However, the development of the tea industry truly requires healthy interaction. A true tea practitioner should have the breadth of mind to appreciate the strengths of their peers, learning from one another to progress together. Having been in the tea industry for decades, I have seen far too many examples where cutthroat competition led to mutual destruction; therefore, I cherish the friendships among my peers even more deeply.
Speaking of wellness, I have recently observed a very interesting phenomenon. Many friends prefer to drink tea alone, but in truth, drinking tea with companions offers even greater wellness benefits. Why? Because the process of tea drinking is itself a social activity; chatting with friends can relieve stress, and stress is the greatest enemy of modern health. It is something we all feel: prolonged stress leads to fatigue, poor sleep, and diminished vitality. The friendship between Anlehao and Tong Qing Hao was precisely built through tea. A pot of fine tea shared with a few close friends—this is one of life’s great joys. When drinking tea, put down your phone, focus on savoring the tea liquor, and engage in face-to-face conversation with your friends; this experience is something no supplement can ever replace.
Tea has its grades, but people should not be divided by status or wealth. The friendship between these two estates was seamless and transcended all distinctions. Their relationship teaches us that true friendship is built upon a foundation of mutual respect. When making friends through tea, one need not concern oneself with the cost of the tea; what matters most is the sincerity of the heart.
“Century-long friendship” is not merely a simple phrase; it is an affection sustained through the sincere efforts of many generations. In today’s fast-paced era, we should more than ever learn from this spirit—using the time taken for a single cup of tea to cultivate and nurture true friendships.
“Making friends through tea — please, have a cup.”
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
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