THE INTERCONNECTION OF CULTURE AND ART IN THE PACKAGING DESIGN OF PU’ER TEA: A STUDY OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN XISHUANGBANNA

Abstract

Pu'er tea encapsulates Chinese tea culture and the ethnic traditions of Xishuangbanna. This research aims to: (1) analyze the intricate relationship between Chinese tea culture and packaging design, and (2) develop a Pu'er tea packaging design strategy that integrates Xishuangbanna's ethnic characteristics with Chinese tea culture. To achieve these objectives, the study employs a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative data from interviews with 10 stakeholders to explore cultural representation in packaging and quantitative surveys analyzing 313 samples. The results produced a ‘Cultural Symbols Hierarchical Transformation Model’ and proposed a strategy of ‘regional cultural symbols + tea ceremony spirit’, advocating for an ethnic symbols database to bridge intangible cultural heritage preservation and commercial design. The study not only provides guidance for Pu'er tea packaging design but also offers a reference for innovating heritage-based derivatives and promoting traditional culture internationally, with potential applications to other tea varieties.

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