Chinese Tea — Origin, Culture, Art, Utensil, Function, and Classification

History

What Is The History Of Chinese Tea?

Tea originated in China around 5000 to 6000 years ago and had been used to serve mainly two functions: sacrifice offerings in grand ceremonies and medicine to detoxify or cure certain diseases.

Later in Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC — 771 BC), tea was an important tribute to offer to kings and became popular among royals.

Until the Sui Dynasty (581 — 618), tea had already become popularized in the civilian world.

Extant Earliest Tea Leaf, Unearthed from the Mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han (188 BC — 141 BC) — Hanyangling Museum

Sage

Who Is The Sage Of Tea In Chinese Culture?

Lu Yu (about 733 — 840), respected as the Sage of Tea or God of Tea, finished "The Classic of Tea", an important tea encyclopedia that formed the comprehensive tea culture.

In this masterpiece, Lu Yu included tea's history, function, classification, cultivation, production, cooking method, utensil, ceremony, custom, story, and so on.

Afterward, tea has been one of the essential drinks in Chinese culture.

White Glaze Figurine of Northern Song Dynasty (960 — 1127), Believed as Lu Yu the Sage of Tea — Capital Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Culture

What Is The Chinese Tea Culture?

Chinese tea culture includes everything about tea: planting and production, ceremony and etiquette, morale, utensil, story, tea art, customs, and so on.

It can be highly complicated and exquisite, or quite plain and simple.

We can find tea culture in ancient tea books, poems, artifacts, and paintings, as well as from beautiful tea plantations and everyone’s teacups.

People are culture.

Hence, whatever, however, and wherever they drink, expensive or cheap tea leaves, fancy or simple tea sets, in a fabulous room, or just sitting on the roadside, are all important parts of Chinese Tea Culture.

In the Painting "Wen Hui Tu" by Emperor Zhao Ji (1082 — 1135), People Are Making and Drinking Tea

In the Painting "Wen Hui Tu" by Emperor Zhao Ji (1082 — 1135), People Are Boiling Water, Making and Drinking Tea — Taipei Palace Museum

Events

Why Is Tea Important In Big Rites Such As Chinese Weddings?

Tea trees can only grow from seeds and cannot be transplanted, representing eternal loyalty.

Also, tea symbolizes elegance, politeness, harmony, persistence, and modesty in Chinese culture.

Therefore, tea leaves have been served as tributes, rewards, and betrothal presents from royals to civilians. Serving and drinking tea are important rites in nearly all important ceremonies and activities, such as the Coming of Age and Traditional Chinese Wedding.

Water

What Is The Best Water To Make Tea?

According to The Classic of Tea, water from a spring in the mountains is the best, from a river is the second best, and well water is the worst.

Collecting pure dew, rain, and snow that didn't drop on the ground is famous water to make tea as well.

Function

Main Functions Of Chinese Tea.

Different types of teas can:

Refresh oneself, lose weight, lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, detoxification, aid digestion, anti-aging, ease pressure and anxiety, strengthen immunity, stimulate metabolism, cure certain diseases, and so on.

Suitability

When And Who Are Not Suitable To Drink Tea?

People with an empty stomach, such as before dinner;

Right after eating meals;

During the period of taking medications;

Women on their periods or pregnant;

Before sleep;

After drinking alcohol;

People with Panasthenia, Iron-deficiency Anemia, Liver Dysfunction, Heart Diseases, Gastric Ulcer, Fever, etc.;

Do not drink overnight tea, nor very strong tea.

Utensils

Important Tea Utensils.

Tea-Making Utensils of Tang Dynasty (618 — 907), Unearthed From Famen Temple

Utensils to Drink Tea in History of China, Photo by Dongmaiying.

Classification

Main Classifications of Chinese Tea.

Based on the fermentation degree, tea in China is divided into six groups: Green Tea, White Tea, Yellow Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, and Dark Tea.

Besides the six main types are Reprocessed Tea, such as Scented Tea.

Green Tea

Green tea is the most productive and common type in China, which doesn’t need fermentation in the making process. Hence, it contains the most Tea Polyphenol.

It is good for reducing radiation and inflammation, keeping fit, anti-aging, improving digestion, etc. However, it is not suitable for neurasthenic people.

White Tea

White Tea is a special type in China that has the most natural, simplest making process and the slightest fermentation degree.

It is believed to be good for balancing blood sugar, promoting metabolism, breaking down fats, and protecting the eyes and liver.

Yellow Tea

Yellow Tea is slightly more fermented than White Tea and is believed to be good for digesting, preventing cancer, sterilizing, and anti-inflammation.

Yellow Tea is a perfect choice for people with dyspepsia and adiposity.

Oolong Tea

Oolong Tea is half fermented, whose leaf is green in the middle and red at the edge.

It has the best effect on losing weight among all teas, which is also good for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol level, digesting, refreshing, anti-dysentery, etc.

Black Tea

Black Tea needs long fermentation in the making process, and its leaf and water are all red; in Chinese, it is named Red Tea.

Black Tea is believed to be good for digesting, warming the stomach, and allaying fatigue.

Dark Tea

Dark Tea has the highest fermentation degree and is especially popular in northern China, where the main food is lamb, beef, and other red meat.

Dark tea is very good for digesting, eliminating oil and fat in one's body, reducing cholesterol levels, decreasing blood sugar and blood pressure, antioxidants, and anti-aging.

Scented Tea

Scented Teas are made of tea leaves (usually Green Tea or Black Tea) with flowers or fruits.

Special techniques are used to mix tea leaves with flowers or fruits, whose scents would be absorbed and combined perfectly.

There are many combinations of Scented Teas, whose products can be tea leaf, flower, fruit, a mix of leaf and flower, or a mix of fruits.

Some common ingredients used to make Scented Teas are rose, osmanthus, jasmine, lily, chrysanthemums, honeysuckle, violet, lavender, lotus leaf, lemon, haw, fig, momordica grosvenor, etc.

Scented Tea

Season

What Is The Seasonal Drinking Of Tea?

According to the climate and characteristics of different teas, it is believed that every season has the most suitable tea to drink:

Scented tea for Spring, Green Tea for Summer, Oolong Tea for Autumn, and Black Tea for Winter.