The Taizhou Tea Market opens in Taizhou. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The opening ceremony of the Taizhou Tea Market took place in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan 1, signaling a new era for Taizhou's tea culture, industry, and technology.

With a tea plantation area of 201,400 mu (13,427 hectares) and 379 tea production and processing entities, Taizhou produces over 5,000 metric tons of tea annually, with an output value of around 800 million yuan ($109.60 million).

Despite the success of local tea brands like Tiantai Yunwu Tea, the tea industry in Taizhou faces challenges due to the lack of a centralized, professional tea market.

In response, the Taizhou Tea Market was erected. It will showcase local green tea alongside renowned brands from major tea-producing regions, divided into four main halls and a boutique hall based on the six types of traditional Chinese tea.

During the opening ceremony, Taizhou Tea Market formed a strategic partnership with the tea industry associations of Xishuangbanna autonomous prefecture and Lincang city in Yunnan province, fostering cross-regional collaboration to ensure consumers have access to safe, high-quality, and healthy teas.

At present, over 100 tea enterprises have joined the tea market.