Ying Hong No. 9

Ying Hong No. 9 (英红九号) is a tea cultivar developed in 1961 in Yingde, Guangdong, derived from the Yunnan large-leaf cultivar (Yunnan Daye Zhong) introduced to Guangdong in 1959. It was certified as a provincial-level variety in 1986. The plants are tall with a semi-open habit, dense branching, and large oval leaves of a light green colour with slight inward folding and wavy edges. The cultivar was selected for early sprouting, long growth period, and high suitability for red-tea production — it is the basis of the modern Yingde Hong Cha industry.