Knowledge of China Tea

www.jiangtea.com

Classification

• Green Tea• Red Tea(Black Tea)• Yellow Tea• Oolong Tea• White Tea• Reprocessed Tea• Flower tea

• Green Tea• Unfermented tea, made with the new shoots of

approptirate tea leaves as raw materials, by applying the typical techniques of inactivation, rolling and drying.– Stir-fried– Roasted– Sun-dried– steamed

• Benefits of drinking green rea– Helps with anti-ageing– Helps to keep slim– Prevents computer radiation – Helps to get rid of bad breath or smell

• Most famous Green Tea– Xihu longjing 西湖龙井 West Lake Dragon

Well Tea in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.– Xinyang maojian 信阳毛尖 Xinyang

Maojian in Xinyang, Henan Province.– Biluochun 碧螺春 Biluochun Tea in Lake

Tongting,Suzhou province.

• Red tea- Black tea– Fermented tea, made by wilting, rolling, fremertation and

drying.• Benefits of drinking red tea – warms the stomache– Helfs digestion– suitable in cold seasons

• Most famous red tea– 滇红茶 Dianhong ， such as 普洱 Puer tea inYunnan– 宜兴红茶 Yixing red tea in Jiangsu– 祁门红茶 Qimen red tea in Anhui

• Oolong tea• Also Blue tea,unfermented tea, a blend of

green tea and red tea• Has pleasant fragrance of green tea• Benefits: – it decomposes fat– helps people lose weight.

• Most famous oolong tea– 武夷岩茶 Wuyiyan tea– 安溪铁观音 Tieguanyin in Anxi, Fujiang province.– 洞顶乌龙茶 Dongding in Taiwan

• Yellow tea• Benefits– Refresh the mind– Helps to clear away heat and toxic

materials in body• Most famous yellow tea: – Junshan Yinzhen– Mengding huangya– Dayeqing

• Flower tea • fragrant• Rose, jasmin…..etc flowers• 香花有茉莉、珠兰、玳玳、玫瑰、

柚花

History of Chinese Tea Culture• 1. Gestation Period (Before 618 A.D.) Chinese Legend has it that Shennong Shi 神

农氏 was the first person who had discovered and drunk tea.

In this period, tea was mostly consumed for medicinal purposes to treat digestive and nervous conditions, not to drink for pleasure.

神农氏

From 350 to 600 A.D., the demand for tea dramatically increased and outstripped the supply of wild tea trees.

Farmers began to grow tea plants in the Sichuan province, but soon tea cultivation had spread throughout China. So Sichuan is the cradle of Chinese tea culture.

• 2. Forming period (618-907 A.D., Tang Dynasty)

During this time, tea drinking evolved into an art form. Tea as part of the Chinese culture was epitomized by the book “Tea Scripture” by Lu Yu in 780 A.D.

Due to the complexity and the great number of accessories needed for the tea ceremony, only the affluent connoisseurs could afford all the equipment and the servants needed to prepare the tea.

The leaves were steamed, crushed, fired, and crushed into a brick. Tea was made by breaking a piece from this brick and boiling it in water.

• 3. Prosperous period(907-1279 A.D., Sung Dynasty)

During this period, every aspect of tea was further refined. Tea rooms and houses were built in order to enjoy tea at a social and spiritual level.

There were even competitions among tea connoisseurs and on the quality of the tea leaves, water.

The art of making ceramic tea equipment was developed a great deal.

Tea preparation became less complicated and more peaceful.

• 4. Widespread period(1368-1911 A.D. Ming & Qing Dynasties)

During this era, tea became a beverage to be enjoyed by everyone, rich and poor.

Different methods to process tea originated during this period, which as a result led to different types of tea such as green, oolong, and black teas.

The ways of making tea became various. Brewing tea first appeared in the period.

Poems, books and paintings on tea were numerous.

The art of tea• The art of tea including the tea ceremony, the

technique of brewing tea, the process of tasting tea, tea set, tea paintings, etc.

• 1st stage: prepare the surroundings The ceremony should be carried out in an

appropriate space. A table large enough to hold the tea-making utensils, the drip tray, and the water is the minimum necessary. Ideally the surroundings should be peaceful and conducive to relaxation and socialization. Incense, flowers, and low, soft, traditional music will all add to the ambience, as will songbirds.

• 2nd stage: warm the pot and heat the cups At this point the cups and pot are laid on the table. They are then

warmed and sterilized with hot water, the excess is then poured away. when pouring from the cups in the Taiwanese style, the wooden tweezers may be used instead of bare hands.

• 3rd stage:appreciate excellent tea At this point those who would partake of the tea

during the ceremony examine and appreciate its appearance, smell, and its other characteristics.

绿茶红茶

普洱

铁观音

乌龙茶

• 4th stage: put the tea leaves into the pot The teapot is filled with tea. For a 150 ml tea pot at

least 15 grams of tea leaves are used, however depending on the size of the pot and the strength of the tea the pot may be filled between 1/2 and 2/3 full.

• 5th stage: brew the tea Rinse the leaves by using hot water and then pour out the

water. 行云流水 Refill the pot with hot water poured from some height above

the pot. 悬壶高冲 The bubbles which may have formed on the surface are

removed using the lid, and pour hot water on surface of the teapot. 刮沫淋盖

Wait for tea aroma and serve the tea to the guests. 高冲低斟

• 6th stage ： aroma appreciation Aroma appreciation consists of four steps: smelling, looking,

tasting and relishing. Like meditation, aroma appreciation requires an inward-turned mind in a peaceful world.

• 7th stage: compliment The ceremony ends with the used tea leaves being put

into a clean bowl for the guests to appreciate the tea in its used form. Good etiquette dictates that the guests should

make appropriate compliments regarding the choice of tea.

• 8th Final stage: cleaning up Brewed tea and tea leaves should not remain in the teapot

after the tea-savoring. It must be cleaned up thoroughly and rinsed with hot tea.

Utensils must be sterilized with boiling water. The tea pot should be rinsed with hot tea and the outside

of the pot should be rubbed / polished with a good linen cloth.

A teapot should never be rinsed with water, nor washed with detergents or soaps.

Allow the tea pot to dry naturally. Let the utensils and serving cups air dry on a tea tray.

Characteristics of Chinese Tea Culture• Elegant in atmosphere

Tea-drinking, or rather, tea-savoring is not only to get out of thirst, but also to enjoy the pleasure, to reflect upon oneself, to think about life. It leads to the peace in mind.

Characteristics of Chinese Tea Culture

• Various in forms

Chinese tea culture is expressed in forms of poetry, painting, proverb, objects (tea leaves, tea service, etc), cultural activities, restaurants, gifts, process of tea-making and tea-savoring, etc.

The spirit of tea

• Profound in thoughts, as well as the most important part.

• Chinese tea culture is based on the Confucianism and integrates the distillation of Taoism and Buddhism.

• It emphasizes the harmony with nature, soul and mind.

Spiritual Content

• Harmony “ 和” is the core value of Chinese tea culture. 1. Harmony is the common thought in Confucianism(“ 大

和 ” , “ 中 庸 之 道 ” ） ， Taoism （ 天 人 合 一 ） and Buddhism （禅茶一味） .

2. In Tea Scripture, it is illustrated by the design of the wind stove, an instrument used to make tea. The wind stove is made of iron( 金 ), put on the floor( 土 ), to boil( 火 ) the tea water( 水 ) with charcoal( 木 ).

Thus, the process of making tea is actually the harmony or balance among the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Spiritual Content

• Harmony “ 和” is the core value of Chinese tea culture. 3. In steeping tea, it is expressed in the harmony of the

tastes. “ 酸甜苦涩调太和，掌握迟速量适中” In serving the guests, it is expressed in courtesy. “ 奉茶为

礼尊长者，备茶浓意表浓情” In drinking the tea, it is expressed in the compliment. “ 饮

罢佳茗方知深，赞叹此乃草中英” In the surroundings and mind, it is expressed in the virtue.

“ 普事故雅去虚华，宁静致远隐沉毅”

Spiritual Content

• Tranquility “ 静 ” is the road one must follow to cultivate oneself.

Tranquility not only refers to the peaceful environment but also the calm mind. When the savor of the tea is unconsciously absorbed into every corner of your body, you may feel kind of empty, or relaxed, your spirit may be purified. In this way, you reflect upon yourself and achieve the harmony with nature.

Spiritual Content

• Tranquility “ 静 ” is the road one must follow to cultivate oneself.

This idea is profoundly illustrated in some Chinese poems. 戴昺的《赏茶》诗：自汲香泉带落花，漫烧石鼎试新茶。

　　 绿阴天气闲庭院，卧听黄蜂报晚衙。 清代郑板桥诗云：不风不雨正清和，翠竹亭亭好节柯。 　

　 最爱晚凉佳客至，一壶新茗泡松萝。

Spiritual Content

• Happiness “ 怡 ” is the enjoyment both in body and mind.

Tea-savoring is the happiness that can be enjoyed by everyone, rich or poor, educated or illiterate. Different kinds of people may pursue it in different ways, so it proves the idea of Taoism that to enjoy yourself for your

needs. “ 自恣以适己”

Spiritual Content

• Happiness “ 怡” is the enjoyment both in body and mind. In the process of tea-savoring, Poets enjoy themselves by placing their feelings on objects,

composing a poem, and making friends. Buddhists delight themselves by appreciating the spirit of

Chan 禅 , understanding the truth of life. Taoists please themselves by maintaining good health,

hoping to be immortal. Common people become happy by relaxing and enjoying

life.

Spiritual Content

• Truth “ 真” is the ultimate pursuit of tea-savoring. The pursuit of Truth includes three points: 1.truth in spirit 道之真 : in tea-savoring, the goal is to cultivate

yourself.

2.truth in passion 情之真 : through savoring tea, the friendship should be enhanced.

3.truth in nature 性 之 真 : in tea-savoring, completely relax yourself and free your mind.

Conclusion

• China is the homeland of tea. • Chinese tea culture covers all realms of life. • The study of Chinese tea culture is of great

significance in that it is closely related with Chinese traditional culture.

• Today, tea has been consumed as a beverage in all over the world.