F.T.L. 豐泰隆 and Dayatang 大雅堂 are our two brands —
rooted together, bound by a single lineage.
A Cup of Fine Tea
Six Generations of Perseverance and Legacy
F.T.L. 豐泰隆 and Dayatang 大雅堂 are our two brands —
rooted together, bound by a single lineage.
F.T.L.：Since 1851
【F.T.L. 豐泰隆: A 175-Year Legacy, Six Generations】
F.T.L. 豐泰隆 represents the most completely documented lineage of the Tanyang Congou tea-making craft. According to the Memorials of Min-Zhe Governor Ying Gui: "The village of Tanyang produces over 7,000 chests of tea annually, accounting for more than 70% of Fujian black tea production at the time."
（1827.9.9 – 1893.4.4）
Shi Guangling founded F.T.L. 豐泰隆. He was a co-founder of Tanyang Congou black tea and a pioneer of China's modern tea industry. He opened the maritime tea route for Fujian black tea and pioneered the double-smoked method. Due to the exceptional quality of his tea, F.T.L. 豐泰隆 was chosen as a supplier of specialty tea to the British royal family.
（Double-smoked Congou from Fuhkien, mark F.T.L.-D.S., 30 chests for Windsor Castle, included in the Annual Provision List.）
30 chests ≈ 1.5 tons (1 chest ≈ 50 kg)
This record is cross‑verified with the original 1888 annotated entry from the Royal Household Procurement Records.
Archival Evidence:
The National Archives (UK), reference LS 4/132 (1889), accounting records of the Lord Steward's Office (Royal Household) state:
(1895-1972)
Shi Zuofan (style name: Fulong), great-grandson of Shi Guangling, was a founder of modern China's tea industry and the first Chief Tea Evaluator of the state-run Fu'an Tea Refining Factory.
He systematically established the modern black tea evaluation system, trained the first group of Chinese tea experts to go abroad, and authored Essentials of Minhong Black Tea Refining, still a classic textbook in tea science.
Key contributions:
He formulated industry standards for China's black tea sector;
Innovated the “stepwise fermentation method”;
During a difficult period, he risked his life to preserve traditional tea-making techniques.
In 2021, the Tanyang Congou Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center posthumously recognized him as the “Founder of the Modern Black Tea Refining System.”
The tea-making workshop of F.T.L. 豐泰隆 holds significant importance in the history of tea production and is recognized as a cultural relic in China.
(1928-2015)
Shi Jikang was a tea scientist, engineer, and head of the Technology Section at the state‑run Tanyang Tea Factory.
His life was marked by turmoil and lived at the edge of danger. At a time when the craft of Chinese Gongfu black tea was at risk of being lost, he risked everything to preserve this intangible cultural heritage:
Winter 1969: Used an ox‑cart to hide six chests of antique tea‑making tools engraved with "F.T.L. 豐泰隆" in an abandoned kiln on Baiyun Mountain's north slope.
Shi Liqiang is the sixth‑generation direct inheritor, an ICH bearer, and a tea industry innovator of the 21st century.
The ICH collection teas personally crafted by Shi Liqiang set a contemporary black tea auction record of 450,000 RMB per chest at a Soong Ching Ling Foundation charity auction.
His work has been featured in reports by major Chinese media outlets.
Guanxianghong and the Double-Smoked Method – An Oriental Taste Code Flowing in the Genes
Six generations have preserved the taste heritage through the double-smoked method (achieving 0.8% theaflavin content) and the Guanxianghong cultivar (with an 85% purple bud rate).
The tea's history as a royal tribute (served at the 1887 Golden Jubilee banquet) and global material evidence (such as a 1908 tea chest found in Singapore) attest to its 175 years of cultural depth. From its premium status at London auctions to the contemporary record of 450,000 RMB per chest, the tradition continues through innovation while honoring its roots.
Crafts Never Age
– From Yesterday into the Future
F.T.L. 豐泰隆 ®, a century-old tea merchant with six generations of heritage, embodies 175 years of refined craftsmanship and trusted reputation.
Rooted in this family legacy, we founded 大雅堂 ® in 2016 — starting from a single cup of black tea, it has evolved into a cultural platform that brings together masters of China’s intangible cultural heritage.
F.T.L. 豐泰隆 is the root, deeply anchored in the fertile soil of Eastern Fujian; 大雅堂 is the crown, carrying forward its bloodline to thrive and flourish.
From One Tea to a Hundred ICH Crafts
Today, the alliance brings together over 100 ICH tea makers, tea utensil craftsmen, and tea culture scholars —its reach extending into ancient utensil-making techniques and tea space aesthetics, with new craftsmen joining each month.
They share a common obsession with craftsmanship—their handiworks take countless days and nights, blending heart and hand, treating every detail of the teaware like a daughter's dowry as they chisel and carve. To restore historic tea recipes, they spend years shuttling between laboratories and ancient texts.
Their devotion answers a fundamental question: When robotic arms can perfectly replicate every step, why do human hands still tremble as they pass on 175 years of warmth?
On the wall, photos of departed artisans still hang. Their gaze still rests on the future of tea culture.
Just as the six generations of F.T.L. 豐泰隆—from the tea workshops of the late Qing dynasty to today's Guanxianghong—they continue to mark the path of inheritance.
From a single style of black tea to a hundred ICH crafts, Dayatang joins hands with the ICH Inheritors Alliance
Auction Cooperation
From 2017, China Guardian launched the "Si Cha Ya Wu Dayatang" (Dayatang Tea Utensils) and "Dayatang Nature & Flavor" special sessions.
From 2019, Xiling Yinshe Auction introduced the "Dayatang Contemporary Craft" special session.
Over ten auction houses have become Dayatang partners.
Larger-scale auctions are coming soon.
Media Coverage
Shi Liqiang (Gongfu Black Tea ICH Inheritor)
Sixth-generation inheritor, creator of Guanxianghong
Dayatang ICH collaborated with CCTV to produce a feature on Shi Liqiang's development of the "Red Rose" (Guanxianghong) tea cultivar. CCTV-10's Science & Education Channel and other media have reported on his work, with broadcasts also aired on Fujian TV and Fuzhou TV. The feature documents how this sixth-generation inheritor of a century-old tea house preserved traditional methods while developing a new tea variety with independent intellectual property rights. Original footage is available for reference.
Che Jie (Pu'er Tea Master)
Programme: The Mekong River with Sue Perkins | Platform: BBC Two | Premiere: October 2014
In 2014, a BBC crew travelled to Bampo Laozhai in Nannuo Mountain, Xishuangbanna, to document the daily life of tea master Che Jie in his ancient tea garden. The camera follows host Sue Perkins into the primeval forest to visit thousand-year-old tea trees. Che Jie is shown hand-fixing tea leaves in a traditional wok, the leaves tumbling in his palms. The episode also captures life in the Hani village and the generations-old bond between Che Jie and his community.
Visit the BBC Programme Index website and search the programme ID for verification.
Also featured in: CCTV documentary Tea: Story of the Leaf
Li Xingchang (Pu'er Tea ICH Inheritor)
Programme: Pu'er: The Dark Gold of Yunnan | Platform: BBC World Service (The Documentary) | Aired: March 2018
Li Xingchang explained the differences between ancient tree tea and plantation tea to the BBC in the Pu'er region, demonstrating traditional fixation and rolling techniques. He spoke of his family's multi-generational tea-making history and led journalists into ancient tea gardens, sharing the terroir and heritage of Pu'er tea. Available on the BBC World Service website.
Partnering with the Base
In July 2025, Dayatang ICH was invited to become a core partner of the China National Cultural Trade Base (Sanya), joining a global initiative aimed at promoting cultural heritage and craftsmanship.
The base aims to build a global platform that fosters the exchange of intangible cultural heritage and craftsmanship, creating opportunities for international collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue.
F.T.L. 豐泰隆 and Dayatang 大雅堂 ICH, brands with a 175‑year history, have traversed a century of change—connecting heritage craftsmanship with contemporary life through dedication and skill.
Journey of ICH Across Ten Thousand Miles
To date, we have visited over 100 ICH inheritors of tea and crafts. Some old friends captured in our lens have since passed away; fellow travelers from those early days have gradually faded from the road.
Each inheritor carries a unique story and their craft, passed down through generations. We are part of this journey — as recorders, as companions. In the frame is their craft; outside the frame are our shared ten years.
