Two batches of Nanyang tea weighing 11.7 tons and worth 5.38 million yuan ($810,000) from Xixia county, were recently cleared by customs to be exported to Spain and Portugal, according to Nanyang entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau on June 21.

It's the first time that Nanyang tea has entered the European Union (EU) market which has higher requirements for market access. The EU export comes after two success export trials to Southeast Asia and to Russia, affirming the tea's quality.

As an upscale export market, EU has the strictest access requirement on Chinese tea. The EU has more than 500 specific requirements for exported tea, including pesticide levels and heavy metal limits. Nanyang entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau implemented stringent measures in order for the tea gain access to the EU market.

From January to May this year, Nanyang's total tea export volume reached 382 tons with a value of $12.91 million.

Edited by Owen Fishwick