Abstract: Among the numerous high-quality teas in Anhui, the Huoshan yellow bud tea is well-known locally but hardly marketed outside the region. Making a commercial product a local specialty is an effective means of brand building. In fact, Huoshan County has taken the approach by authorizing designation to its yellow bud tea with the “Geographical Indication” as intellectual property to promote as well as to protect the merchandise. However, since the program is still in its early development stage, events that hindered a more successful result do exist. Difficulties like the overlapping and complicated management, inconsistency in production and product standards, fraud and misuses of the designation labeling, low awareness of the program by producers and merchants, and a lack of effective marketing plan. These shortages could be tackled by an improved system built on well-thought-out regulations, specifications for production standard, strict control of product grade, the improvement of tea merchant consciousness, as well as a highly engaged local community.