Maker of special blend spends decade on technique

Two years ago, Li Xingchang participated in a national-level skill competition that attracted tens of thousands. He won the top prize in group tea-making.

"Many are confused as to why I take part in such competitions since I've already won fame. I just want to prove that I'm still No 1 in this field although I'm not young," Li Xingchang says.

He takes cooking a dish of cabbage as an example to show the difference between tea made by different people.

"The cooking process is the same when producing the same dish with the same raw materials and seasonings. However, the taste differs depending on the chefs," he says. Elements such as the time of picking tea leaves, the humidity, sunshine, temperature, firing wood and the mindset of the maker influence the tea's flavor.

"A good tea maker should have high concentration levels," says Li Xingchang.