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Key Techniques for Planting Xiangsi Tea and Cultivation Management Methods

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Xiangsi tea is made by drying and sun-processing the vines and leaves of the rosary pea (Abrus precatorius). The best quality is judged by a high proportion of leaves and a blue-green color. It should be noted that the seeds of the rosary pea are toxic; they are one-quarter black and three-quarters red in appearance, and are used externally to treat ringworm, scabies, carbuncles, and eczema, but must not be taken internally. The cultivation techniques for the rosary pea are as follows: 1. Site selection. The rosary pea originally grows in moist hilly mountainous areas and by mountain streams. For artificial cultivation, terraced fields and sloping land with easy drainage and irrigation should be chosen, and it can also be planted in front of and behind houses or in flower pots. 2. Germination. Soak the seeds in clean water

Xiangsi tea is made by drying and sun-processing the vines and leaves of the rosary pea (Abrus precatorius). The best quality is judged by a high proportion of leaves and a blue-green color. It should be noted that the seeds of the rosary pea are toxic; they are one-quarter black and three-quarters red in appearance, and are used externally to treat ringworm, scabies, carbuncles, and eczema, but must not be taken internally.

The cultivation techniques for the rosary pea are as follows:

1. Site selection. The rosary pea originally grows in moist hilly mountainous areas and by mountain streams. For artificial cultivation, terraced fields and sloping land with easy drainage and irrigation should be chosen, and it can also be planted in front of and behind houses or in flower pots.

2. Germination. Soak the seeds in clean water for about 24 hours, then remove them, wrap them in cotton cloth, and change the water twice a day. After about 7-10 days, once the seeds have sprouted, sow them.

3. Sowing. Sow around the Spring Equinox, using 1.5 jin of seeds per mu.

4. Field planting specifications. Plant on raised beds about 70 cm wide, with two rows per bed, and a row-to-plant spacing of 40 cm x 25 cm, using 4500-4800 seedlings per mu.

5. Field transplanting or direct sowing. One of the following methods may be used. 1. Raise seedlings in a nursery, and transplant to the field when the tea seedlings reach 20 cm. 2. After the seeds have germinated, they can also be directly sown in the field in hills, with 1-2 seeds per hole. 3. Alternatively, without germination, dry seeds can be directly sown in the field, with 3-4 seeds per hole. Because the seeds are very hard and do not easily absorb water, this method requires more than a month before the seeds sprout and break through the soil.

6. Fertilization. Mainly use farmyard manure, apply little or no chemical fertilizer, and fertilize in furrows in the middle of the beds.

7. Harvesting. Harvest when the tea seedlings have grown to about 60 cm, cutting from the ground and leaving 5-10 cm, with 4-6 cuts per year. Bundle the harvested tea into bundles, rinse with clean water, air-dry the surface water, cut into sections of 0.5-1 cm, and send them to a tea factory for purchase and processing.

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