MIRACULOUS LEAF 叶之灵

A Journey Into the Soul of Chinese Tea

Miraculous Leaf is a cultural documentary centered on Chinese tea. Through the six major categories of Chinese tea, the film traces the historical origins of famous tea-producing regions and explores the lives of generations who have lived with and for tea.

It celebrates craftsmanship, explores lesser-known tea-making techniques, and honors the wisdom, dedication, and philosophy of Chinese tea artisans, revealing a deep respect for nature and an unwavering commitment to cultural heritage.

Directors: Pan Weiping, Xia Zhongjing

Produced by: Suzhou Front Media Co., Ltd.

Guiding Organizations:

China Tea Marketing Association

Shanghai Tea Culture Association

Co-producers:

Shanghai Education Television Station

Institute of Chinese Tea Culture, Nanjing University

Jiangsu Normal University

Suzhou University of Science and Technology

Academic Advisor: Academy of Film, Macau University of Science and Technology

Format: Color, 4K Resolution

Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

GREEN TEA: “EVERY LEAF, EVERY EFFORT”

Preserve the freshness of the leaf through minimal oxidation, it is the most widely produced and consumed tea in China.

BLACK TEA: “THE BEAUTY OF RED”

Fully oxidized and rich in aroma, it is China’s most influential tea in global trade.

DARK TEA: “LEGENDS OF BLACK TEA”

Through post-fermentation and aging, it develops deep flavors and has long played an important role in regional tea trade.

YELLOW TEA: “GOLDEN MOMENTS”

Defined by the rare “yellowing” process, it is one of the most delicate and least produced teas in China.

WHITE TEA: "THE GENTLE HERO”

With the simplest processing, it relies on natural withering and careful drying to preserve its pure character.

OOLONG TEA: “FLOATING BETWEEN WORLDS”

Partially oxidized and highly craft-driven, it bridges the styles of green and black tea with complex aromas.

GREEN TEA: “EVERY LEAF, EVERY EFFORT”

Focus: Non-fermented Techniques; The “Heirloom Artisans” Behind Green Tea

WHITE TEA: "THE GENTLE HERO”

Focus: Natural Withering; The “Keepers of True Nature” in White Tea

DARK TEA: “LEGENDS OF BLACK TEA”

Focus: Ancient trade routes (Tea-Horse & Tea-Boat Roads); The “Mountain Path Messengers” of Dark Tea

OOLONG TEA: “FLOATING BETWEEN WORLDS”

Focus: Complexity of “Yao Qing” shaking process; The “Shapers of Fragrance” of Oolong Tea

YELLOW TEA: “GOLDEN MOMENTS”

Focus: The rare “Men Huang” process; The “Time-carvers” Behind Yellow Tea

BLACK TEA: “THE BEAUTY OF RED”

Focus: East-West cultural exchange; The “Ambassadors of Tea Aroma” of Black Tea

SCREENINGS, FESTIVALS & AWARDS

World Premiere – Singapore

On 14 March 2026, MIRACULOUS LEAF had its World Premiere in National Gallery Singapore.
During the bilingual event (Mandarin and English), tea masters from the Teochew and Fujian regions featured in the film shared the history of their intangible cultural heritage tea artistry during a post-screening Q&A.

Invited guests also included representative inheritors of Teochew Gongfu Tea from Guangdong and Tanyang Gongfu Tea from Fujian, together with of Singapore LimCha (Teochew tea) and Huaxia Tea Centre, reflecting the living continuity of tea culture across cultures.

Bringing together tea practitioners from both China and Singapore, the event created a meaningful platform for dialogue and cultural exchange, connecting shared traditions within a contemporary context.

MIRACULOUS LEAF 叶之灵

ABOUT THE FILM