Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.
Dear friends, for a traditional brand to survive and develop in modern society, it requires not only respect for tradition but also a spirit of innovation that keeps pace with the times. Today, I will talk with you about Yuan Li, the modern leader of “Qian Zhen Li Kun Song Pin,” to see how she finds balance between upholding tradition and pursuing innovation.
As the modern leader of “Qian Zhen Li Kun Song Pin” and a national-level tea maker in Yunnan Province, Yuan Li has authored classic books on Yunnan tea making, bearing the responsibility of continuing and promoting the traditional tea-making techniques of this century-old brand. In her, we can see the sense of responsibility and mission held by top-tier tea masters. Growing up in tea gardens, she has a natural affinity for tea leaves. Having followed her family in plucking and processing tea since childhood, her understanding of tea is deeper than most. As an adult, she has systematically summarized modern tea science experiences and published monographs, combining traditional manual techniques with modern standardized science.
Yuan Li’s persistence and innovation in tea making are reflected in several aspects. Regarding raw materials, she insists on selecting high-quality ancient tree tea from the Yiwu tea region, which is the foundation of Song Pin and cannot be compromised. At the same time, she has introduced more scientific raw material testing methods, using physicochemical analysis to ensure that every batch of raw materials meets quality standards. In terms of craftsmanship, she preserves traditional manual tea-making processes but has introduced a modernized management system for hygiene standards, warehousing, etc. This approach of “new within the old, and old within the new” allows Song Pin’s products to retain their traditional charm while meeting modern consumers’ requirements for food safety.
I have had several exchanges with Yuan Li, and my deepest impression is her sincerity and passion for tea. She is not purely a businesswoman, but a true tea person. She will repeatedly research a single tea cake’s quality issue and discuss craftsmanship details with masters late into the night. This obsession with quality is precisely why Song Pin can continue its reputation as the “Tea King.” In this era of pursuing rapid returns, those who can settle their hearts to make tea are truly becoming fewer and fewer.
From a health preservation perspective, Yuan Li’s insistence on raw material quality directly protects the health of consumers. In tea gardens with organic planting and ecological management, pesticide residues in the produced tea leaves are almost zero, and heavy metal content is extremely low, making consumption safer and more reassuring. Furthermore, because ancient tree tea has a long growth cycle, the types and contents of its internal substances are superior to ordinary plantation tea. Long-term consumption of such high-quality tea naturally provides more obvious health benefits for the body. Some of my friends, since switching to drinking authentic ancient tree tea, have clearly felt improvements in their physical condition—their energy has improved, and their digestion has become smoother.
Tea has different grades, but people of all statuses can enjoy it. Yuan Li’s story tells us that tradition and innovation are not contradictory. A good tea maker must both respect the precious experience left by predecessors and dare to introduce new technologies and concepts. Much like drinking tea, traditional brewing methods have their traditional charm, and new brewing methods also have their unique flavors; the key is to find the method that best suits oneself.
Yuan Li has proven through her actions that the century-old brand Qian Zhen Li Kun Song Pin can continue to shine in modern society. The future of “hao-level” tea is worth our anticipation. Making friends through tea — please, have a cup.
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
ZENTEA MANOR
Alliance Supply Chain Services Limited
www.zentea-shop.com
