Infusing confidence in his craft

According to Chen, making oolong tea requires a dozen procedures, and during the process, attention must be paid to many details. If one is ignored, the whole process will be a failure.

By learning from the suggestions of others, he has come to realize the value of communication. "Although the craft has been left by our elder generations, good tea cannot be made by solitary learning. Discussion with other tea makers is required to make improvements," says Chen.

Based on that philosophy, in 2013, Chen established a master's studio in Anxi where people interested in making the tea can communicate with each other and polish their skills by learning from those who are well-versed in the craft.

According to Chen Jinquan, a student of Chen Lianggu, "Masters generously impart their skills to us at the studio, and I have benefited tremendously. In the past, the tea I made was of variable quality, and the best I could sell it for was around 100 yuan ($14.8) per kilogram. After improving my skills at the studio, the quality of my tea is now consistent and it sells for more than 200 yuan per kg."

The studio has also come to be viewed as a demonstration center of the tea-making craft in Gande, attracting visitors to watch how people make tea and experience the process by themselves. According to Chen Lianggu, in the first year after its establishment, nearly 5,000 people visited the studio.

Since many local people started to make tea, in 2011, Chen Lianggu also established a tea cooperative to standardize production, build brands and sell tea. Now, more than 200 local households have joined the cooperative.

Recalling his years making tea, Chen Lianggu says he has enjoyed the process very much. "I really love tea, and have worked hard to ensure people drink good tea. People can only do a good job when they are devoted to it and, it's in this way that a product gains recognition from others," he says.