Those were the words of CGTN reporter Wendyl Martin, describing what, for many, is an unexpected blend of origin and tradition: Rwandan-grown white silver needle tea, being sold and tasted in China.
But this tea's journey is more than a sip of flavour; it's a story of ancient trade routes, modern partnerships, and cross-continental adaptation.
'Our ancestors have been selling Chinese tea to the world,' said Wang Mingjie, a tea vendor at the market. 'They exported tea from Fujian Province via the ancient Silk Road. Our generation's goal is to plant Chinese tea all over the world.'
That dream led Chinese tea entrepreneurs to the highlands of East Africa, where climate, altitude, and soil converge to create near-perfect conditions for tea cultivation.
Rwanda and Kenya, in particular, offer the ideal mix of cool, misty hills and fertile volcanic earth perfect for growing premium varieties like white silver needle, a tea prized for its delicate flavour and high antioxidant content.
Rwanda now produces a rare, high-quality silver needle white tea, also known as 'Silverback Needles.' Grown at elevations of 5,500â€"7,500 feet in areas such as the Rukeri Valley and Gisovu Estate near Nyungwe Forest, it has found a home far from its Chinese roots.
'So we searched for a suitable area for the tea plantation. In Africa, we found the temperature and environment in Rwanda and Kenya especially suitable for tea trees,' Wang continued. 'We brought Chinese tea-making techniques there. Let's spread Chinese tea to the world.'
The decision to export not just the product but also the production process is beginning to bear fruit. White silver needle tea, long a hallmark of China's Fujian Province, is now part of Rwanda's increasingly diverse agricultural export portfolio.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) Annual Report, Rwanda's tea sector has shown strong growth. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, tea export revenue reached $114.88 millionâ€"a 7.1% increase from the previous year, despite a slight drop in production. The growth is attributed to improved quality and favourable global prices.
While the tea is taking root in African soil, it is also coming full circleâ€"back to Chinese cups, Chinese hands, and Chinese markets. And it does so with a unique identity: Chinese in technique, African in terroir, and global in ambition.
What makes this story especially intriguing is how Chinese tea-growing expertise met Rwandan altitude and ecology. Rwanda's volcanic soil, rainfall patterns, and higher elevations mirror the misty mountains of Fujian, the original home of white silver needle tea.
Thanks to this environmental harmony, Chinese entrepreneurs like Wang Mingjie haven't just built a supply chain, they've discovered a second homeland for their centuries-old craft.
Christian Mugisha
