Recently, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued Announcement No. 685, officially approving two local tea enterprises — Sichuan Yamong Mingshan Tea Co., Ltd. and Ya'an Gulotang Tea Co., Ltd. — to use the "Mengshan Tea" Geographical Indication (GI) special mark. This national-level authorization not only confirms that the two companies' tea leaves are sourced from the core Mengshan production area, but also serves as an authoritative official endorsement of their product quality, traditional processing techniques and distinctive flavor — another solid achievement in Ya'an's deepening of "Mengshan Tea" brand building and high-quality development of its tea industry.
A GI Badge: From "Regional Name" to "Quality Promise"
The GI special mark is an authoritative identifier for high-quality regional specialty products. It embodies the quality reputation of local products, carries the cultural identity of the region, and serves as an important credential for specialty agricultural products to go global and participate in international trade. For tea enterprises, obtaining the right to use the GI mark can effectively amplify brand reach, raise the added value of "Mengshan Tea" products, and strengthen the market competitiveness of individual businesses and the industry as a whole. Meanwhile, backed by the national IP protection system, GI certification precisely guards against counterfeits disrupting the market order, helping compliant enterprises expand sales channels and optimize product quality — ensuring the brand value of GI products truly pays off.
In recent years, Ya'an's market regulation authorities have focused on the transformation and application of geographical indications, continuously improving a full-chain, normalized regulatory service system. They have proactively visited tea enterprises to promote trademark usage, GI protection and IP-related laws and policies, enhancing the initiative of market entities in applying and protecting geographical indications.
Brand Value Surge: Ya'an Tibetan Tea Now Top Sichuan Dark Tea Brand
Behind the GI expansion is the overall rise of Ya'an's tea brand portfolio. According to data released by the agricultural and rural authorities of Ya'an's Yucheng District, the brand value of "Ya'an Tibetan Tea" — the representative of Sichuan dark tea — has soared from RMB 1.281 billion in 2016 to RMB 4.292 billion in 2026, ranking first among Sichuan dark tea brands and earning a place on the National Agricultural Brand Excellence Cultivation List. As a key component of "Traditional Chinese Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Customs," the Southern Road Tea Processing Technique has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The district now holds 247 green, organic and geographical indication certifications — the most in Ya'an.
On the industrial front, Yucheng District adheres to the "Three Tea Coordination" strategy, advancing simultaneously on raw materials, processing and markets: of the district's 300,000 mu of ecological tea gardens, 187,000 mu are included in the national green food raw material base, and 20,000 mu are dedicated to leading new-style tea beverage brands, with fresh-leaf sampling pass rates exceeding 99%. In the first half of 2026, local tea enterprises supplied over 1,000 tonnes of tea raw materials to brands such as Luckin Coffee, Mixue Ice Cream & Tea and Nongfu Spring. Cross-industry marketing is also breaking new ground — co-branded tea drinks have created viral products, with a single livestream session reaching a record daily sales of over RMB 800,000, and more than a thousand stores online and offline covering the whole country, transforming traditional Tibetan tea into a trendy beverage embraced by urban youth.
From Tea Mountain to Teacup: Eco-Brands Resonate with Industrial Upgrades
From the official expansion of the "Mengshan Tea" GI badge to the leap in brand value of "Ya'an Tibetan Tea," Ya'an's tea industry is steadily advancing along a path of standardization, branding and internationalization. As an ecological tea brand rooted in the giant panda habitat of Mengding Mountain, Panda Tea has long upheld a zero-chemical-fertilizer, zero-pesticide ecological cultivation philosophy, positioning itself as "ecological tea, cultural tea and intellectual-property tea," joining the "Mengshan Tea" GI and Ya'an Tibetan Tea in forming a diverse ecosystem for Ya'an's tea industry. As more Ya'an fine teas carry officially endorsed quality promises to the whole country and beyond, Panda Tea also stands ready — one cup of ecological tea from the homeland of giant pandas — inviting tea lovers worldwide to savor the natural gift of Ya'an's mountains and waters.
Sources: CNIPA Announcement No. 685 (2026-08-14); Ya'an Municipal Administration for Market Regulation; Toutiao "New Chapter of Rural Vitalization Along Qingyi River — Yucheng's Three-Industry Integration"; Cover image generated by AI.
