Tea makers stir-fry tea leaves at the 20th Dafo Longjing Tea King Competition held in Xinchang county, Shaoxing, on April 23. [Photo/Tide News]

The 20th Dafo Longjing Tea King Competition was held in Xinchang county, Shaoxing, on April 23, with master tea maker Liang Xiaoli claiming the top honor after more than 30 years of perfecting his craft.

Growing up surrounded by the sights and smells of tea, Liang began hand-firing Dafo Longjing during middle school. "Winning the title is the result of years of hard work and learning. I will work even harder to pass down the hand-firing skills of Dafo Longjing," he said, showing the thick calluses on his palms.

This year's competition brought together 20 top tea artisans. Each competitor had two hours to hand-fry 750 grams of fresh leaves in a searing hot wok, using over a dozen traditional techniques like tossing, pressing, and spreading to craft the signature flat, smooth, pointed leaves of Dafo Longjing.

The judges scored entries based on appearance, liquor color, aroma, taste, and leaf quality. Liang's tea stood out with its lasting tender fragrance and mellow flavor.

Young faces also made a strong showing. Several "post-90s" tea makers competed, highlighting a new wave of traditional skill. Rising star Zhen Zhenhua said, "Hand-firing tea is not just technique, it's the continuation of culture. We young people must keep Dafo Longjing alive and thriving."

Beyond the competition, Xinchang county is pushing for bigger goals: building premium eco-tea gardens across six major tea mountains, cultivating artisan producers, and aiming to become China's top Longjing-producing region.