CHINESE TEA & CULTURE ViconyTeas Release 2014

The History of Chinese Tea

5000 years ago

• Medicine

• Shennong

& Food

Han Dynasty: Tea as herbal medicine and drink

The Portrait of Shennong

Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties: Early stage of Tea Culture

•The Elixir of the Taoism

•"advocating Honesty with Tea" of the Confucianism

The Tang dynasty(618-907) was a prime time during the development of the Chinese feudal society, which provided excellent social conditions for the promotion and popularization of tea and tea drinking custom. 

However, comparatively speaking, the development of tea culture in the Song dynasty(960-1279) had more changes and innovation than the Tang dynasty. For example, the way of tea drinking, the varieties of tea, the literatures of tea and the supervising organizations had all undergone great breakthroughs in the Song era.

Ancient utensils used to cook tea in Tang dynasty unearthed in Famen temple, Shangxi

A Teapot Made in Song Dynasty

The Classic of TeaCha Jing 茶經

The founding emperor of the Ming dynasty(1368-1644)-Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict to abolish cake tea and replaced it with bud tea instead(before that, tea was all fine powdered and then pressed into cakes. It was labor intensive and time consuming) which promoted the creation of many new production and processing skills of tea in the Ming dynasty.

In terms of tea processing skills, the roasting skills kept developing and gradually exceeded the way of steaming; in the aspects such as tea garden management, tea collection and mastering the botanical characteristics of tea plants, there all were more improvement and development than in the Song dynasty and the Yuan dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding Emperor of Ming dynasty who abolished cake tea and replaced it with loose tea in China

A Teapot Made in Yaozhou Kiln in Ming Dynasty

A Yixing Purple Sand Teapot Made in Ming Dynasty

In the Qing dynasty(1644-1911), besides the men of letters and the royal family, drinking tea also began to be popularized as a kind of custom among the ordinary people, and became a part of conventions. An important symbol of the popularization of tea drinking among the people was that the modern teahouses mushroomed and became an important social place for all the classes, including the common people.

Tea Sets of Chinese Qing Dynasty

A Teapot of Qing Dynasty Tea Sets of Chinese

Qing Dynasty

China’s Tea Producing Area-Mainly divided into four parts

Tea Producing Area of Southern China （华南茶区）

Including:

South of Yunnan ProvinceSouth of Guangxi ProvinceMiddle and South of Guangdong ProvinceSoutheast of Fujian ProvinceTaiwan ProvinceHainan Province

Tea Producing Area of Southwest China （西南茶区）

Including:

Middle and North of Yunnan ProvinceNorth of Guangxi ProvinceEast of Sichuan ProvincePart of Southeast of TibetGuizhou ProvinceChongqing

South Tea Producing Area of Yangtze River （江南茶区） -The Main Tea Producing Area Of China

Including:

North of Guangdong ProvinceNorth of Guangxi ProvinceNorth and East of Fujian ProvinceHunnan ProvinceJiangxi ProvinceZhejiang ProvinceSouth of Hubei ProvinceSouth of Anhui ProvinceSouth of Jiangsu Province

North Tea Producing Area of Yangtze River （江北茶区）

Including:

South of Gansu ProvinceSouth of Henan ProvinceSoutheast of Shandong ProvinceNorth of Hubei ProvinceNorth of Anhui ProvinceNorth of Jiangsu Province

 Varieties of Chinese TeaHow many kinds of Chinese tea do you know?

Green tea

绿茶

White tea

白茶

Black tea

红茶

Yellow tea

黄茶

Oolong tea

青茶

Dark tea

黑茶Scented tea

花茶

Green Tea （绿茶）

The national drink of China [ 国饮 ]

Main functions ：

•Dispel the effects of alcohol

•Clearing away summer-heat

•Refresh oneself

-Has The Biggest Number Of Types In China

Anji Baicha

安吉白茶

Huangshan

Maofeng

黄山毛峰

Longjing

龙井

Green TeaBiluochun碧螺春

Taiping Houkui太平猴魁

Main Types:

Longjing( 龙井） Huangshan Maofeng 黄山毛峰

Anji Baicha 安吉白茶 Biluochun 碧螺春

Biluochun (Pi Lo Chun)

Dong Ting mountain of TaiHu

Jiangsu province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1.Flowery with a lasting sweet aftertaste

2.Complex and delicate taste

3.Tiny, slightly curled tea leaves

covered with white down

Anji Baicha

Anji County, Zhejiang province China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1. Fresh, floral and mellow with lovely lemony notes

2. A soft, silky mouthfeel and a sweet aftertaste

3. Slender, tender pale jade-colored leaves

Longjing Tea (Dragon Well Tea)

West Lake, Huangzhou, Zhejiang provin

ce, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1. Fresh, floral and mellow with orchard fruit notes

2. A soft, silky mouthfeel and a sweet lasting aftertaste

3. Greenish, whole flat and neat leaves with sharp edge

Huangshan Maofeng (Yellow Mountain Fur Peak)

Huangshan, Anhui province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1. Fresh, mellow with lovely nutty notes

2. A pleasant floral aftertaste

3. Slender, tender pale jade-colored leaves

White Tea （白茶）

Features:

Birthplace ：Fujian Province

1.Plant :whitish appearance

Baihao YinZhen(Silver Needle Tea)

2.Liquid: yellow-green

3.Fresh smell

Bai Mu Dan (White Peony Tea)

-Gains Great Popularity In Recent Years In China

Bai Mu Dan (White Peony Tea)

Fuding,Fujian province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1. Smooth and mellow

2. Cucumber fresh with soft fruit notes

3. Tender green one or two leaves with one bud

Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle)

Fuding, Fujian province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1. Light, delicate quenching flavors 

2. Fresh full textured with a satisfying velvety finish

3. Light, plump and large downy tips

Black Tea （红茶）

Main functions ：

• Help manage - or even prevent - diabetes

• Help protects your heart

-Originated In China And Spread And Known Worldwide

• May help with weight loss

• A tremendous source of potent antioxidants

Keemun Tea

祁门红茶

Tan Yang Congou 坦洋工夫 Bai Lin Congou

白琳工夫

Black TeaYunnan Black Tea滇红

LapsangSouchong正山小种

Main Types:

Lapsang Souchong

正山小种Yunnan Black Tea

滇红

Keemun Congou 祁红工夫

Keemun Maofeng 祁红毛峰

Lapsang Souchong

Tongmu, Wuyishan Mountain Fujian province, China

Features:

Birthplace ：

1. Richly and smoulderingly smoky yet with great harmony and wealth of dried Longan aroma (Traditional Type)

2. Mellow, fruity and flowery (Modern Type such as Jin Jun Mei)

-The Oldest Black Tea In The World

Type: Traditional Lapsang Souchong (smoked with pine woods),Modern Lapsang Souchong (without being smoked) including Jin Jun Mei （金骏眉） and Yin Jun Mei （银俊眉）

Keemun Tea (Qimen Black Tea)

Qimen County, Anhui province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1.  Thin and cut leaves. Complex aroma with a hint of smokiness (Keemun Congou)

2.  Fuzzy-tipped tight whole leaves,  toasty, chocolaty and fruity (Keemun Maofeng Tea or Keemun Aromatic Tea)

Keemun Congou （祁红工夫） , Keemun Maofeng,（祁红毛峰） Keemun Aromatic Snail( 祁红香螺）Keemun Golden Needle （祁红金针）

Type:

Yunnan Black Tea (Dian Hong)

Fengqing County, Yunnan province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

1.Thin and cut leaves in black and gold . Mellow, Fruity and full-bodied

(Dianhong Congou)

2.  Naturally curled, slender whole leaves. Delicate, sweet, brisk, flowery （ Yunnan GoldBud, Golden Snail and Golden Needle)

Dianhong Congou （滇红工夫） , Yunnan Gold Bud,（滇红金芽） Yunnan Golden Snail （滇红金螺）Yunnan Golden Needle （滇红金针）

Type:

Oolong Tea （乌龙茶）

Main functions ：

• Stronger Immune System

• Strengthens teeth

-Of The Most Amazing Diverse Taste And Flavor

• Help with weight loss

• A tremendous source of potent antioxidants

Tieguanyin | Iron Goddess of Mercy 铁观音

Taiwan Oolong 台湾乌龙

Oolong TeaFenghuang Dancong | Phoenxi Oolong凤凰单枞

Wiyi Yancha | Rock Oolong武夷岩茶

Main Types:

Tieguanyin Oolong (Iron Goddess of Mercy)

Anxi, Fujian province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

Type: 1. Lightly roasted Tie Guan Yin

2. Heavily Roasted Tie Guan Yin (traditional type)

3. Moderately Roasted Tie Guan Yin 

1. Green and tightly rolled in ball shape

2. Light green Jade color. Very flowery(lightly roasted Tie Guan Yin); Complex,less floral (Heavily Roasted); A good balance of floral aroma and complex taste(Moderately Roasted)

Tieguanyin Oolong(Lightly Roasted)

Wuyi Yancha (Wuyi Rock Oolong)

Wuyishan Mountain, Fujian province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

Type: Rougui （肉桂） ,Shuixian （水仙） ,Dahongpao（大红袍） Baijiguan （白鸡冠） , Tieluoshan （铁罗汉）

1. Close, tight and slender in dark

2. Flowery, mellow, rich and complex with long lasting sweet aftertaste Pure Qidan Dahongpao

(Big Red Robe Oolong)

Fenghuang Dancong (Phoenix Dancong Oolong)

Chaozhou, Guangdong province, China

Features :

Birthplace ：

Type: Mi Lan Xiang （蜜兰香） ,Huang Zhi Xiang （黄枝香） ,Yu Lan Xiang （玉兰香）， Da Wu Ye （大乌叶）

1. Beautifully rolled into even fine stripes in goldish-dark color

2. noted for their ability to naturally imitate the flavors and fragrances of various flowers and fruits. 

Phoenix Dancong (Huang Zhi Xiang)

Yellow Tea （黄茶）

Features:1. Adding an extra step during production, called "Sealed Yellowing" （闷黄）

Huoshan Huangya(Traditional Type)

2. Sweet, mellow and bright yellow in color, while without any hint of grassy taste characteristic of green tea.

-The Most Elusive Chinese TeaType:

Junshan Yinzhen （君山银针） , Huoshan Huangya （霍山黄芽）Mengding Hungya （蒙顶黄芽），Huoshan Huang Da Cha （霍山黄大茶）

Dark Tea （黑茶）

Features:

1. Brown infusion, mellow and smooth. Some kinds of puerh would smell flowery

Aged Puerh Tea

2. Kept longer taste better

-Kept Longer Taste BetterType:

Ripe Puerh Tea （熟普洱） , Aged Raw Puerh Tea （陈年生普）Liu Bao Dark Tea （六堡黑茶），Hunan Dark Tea （湖南黑茶）

Scented Tea ( 花茶 )1.Mostly made of Green tea or black tea and flowers

2. Aromatic flavor ( 香气浓郁 )

Types:

1. Jasmine Scented Tea

2. Rose Scented Tea

3. Osmanthus Tea

Premium Jasmine Tea -Jasmine Silver Needle

Premium Jasmine Tea-Bi Tan Piao Xue

Do you know?

1.How many kinds of tea we have mentioned ?What are they?

2.Which kind does Biluochun belong to?

3.Which scented tea is most popular?

Green tea , White tea ,Black tea ,Dark tea, Yellow tea ,Oolong teaScented tea

Green teaJasmine tea

4 、 Which province is Pu-erh’s birthplace?

5 、 Which kind of tea is the most popular one in the west?

Yunnan

Black tea

Why tea is popular?

Benefits of drinking tea

1 Medical value

4 Refresh oneself

3 Lose weight

2 Eliminate grease

5 …

Medicinal value

1.Anti-cancer

2.Lower blood pressure

3.Improve eyesight

Do you want to know how to become beautiful by drinking scented tea?

Tips about scented tea

1 Skin whitening ：

Rose tea 玫瑰茶Peony tea 牡丹茶

2 Lose weight:

Lemon grass tea( 柠檬草茶 )Jasmine tea （茉莉花茶）

紫罗兰花茶 violet

金盏花茶 marigold

3 Reduce Stress

Please think…

1 Please list at least four benefits of drinking tea.

2 Which scented tea can help us to reduce stress?

Marigoldviolet

3 Can you spell 牡丹花茶？

Peony tea

The Art of Tea 茶艺• 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 温壶烫杯

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 鉴赏名茶

At this point those who would partake of the tea during the ceremony examine and appreciate its appearance, smell, and its other characteristics.

• 4th Stage: Put The Tea Leaves Into The Pot 乌龙入宫

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 AppreciationAroma 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.

A masterpiece by Chinese ancient famous painter,Liben Yan,showing a scene of people of Tang Dynasty boiling tea.

The Spirit of Tea 茶道• Profound in thoughts, as well as th

e 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 Confucia

nism(“ 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 t

ea culture. 3. In steeping tea, it is expressed in the harm

ony 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.

Taboos

1.Before dinner

2. Right after dinner •lower the daily take-in

•hard to get nutrients•lose the appetite

3.Too hot tea

•hurt organs: throat…

4.Cold tea

•more phlegm( 痰 )

•easy to catch a cold

•lose nutrients

•produce harmful elements

5.repeated infusions( 冲泡多次） / overnight tea

6.Take medicine with tea

7.Too strong tea

•lose medical effects.

• headache/insomnia

2. How many taboos have we learnt? List at least three of them.

1. Now do you know why does Candy catch a cold?

Cold tea

SevenHot /cold tea

Before/after dinnerStrong tea/overnight tea

Storage

Air Water High temperature Strong light

What are the factors that

make tea go bad?

× Envelope : It can’t keep the tea from the air and water well..

Never store tea like these !!!

× Newspaper:

It has lead （铅） which is harmful for the health.

Right ways to store tea-leaves:

small plastic bags

Pottery Jar ( 陶瓷罐）

For short-time storage :

Metal tins( 金属罐）

Tips: For Long-time Storage

What teas should be kept refrigerated?

What teas shouldn’t be kept refrigerated?

Green Tea, Green Tieguanyin Oolong

Black Tea, White Tea, Black Oolong such as Phoenix Dancong and Wuyi Yancha, Puerh Tea, Dark Tea, Yellow Tea

Quiz ：

2.Where can’t you store the tea?

1.What are the 4 factors that make

tea go bad ?Air , high temperature

water , strong light

Envelope, Newspaper

How to recycle

tea leaves?

Tip1: Tea-flavored egg

Cook the egg thoroughly

Gently break the eggshell

Add tealeaves to the water

Procedures:

3

1

2

Enhance your thinking ability.

Keep you refreshed and sober.

Tea pillow茶叶枕

Dry the tea leaves in the sun.

and fill a pillow with dry tea.

Tip2:

Procedures ：

Functions ：

Light the dry tea

Then the mosquitoes will disappear!

Get rid of mosquitoesTip3:

Use dry teaMosquito-repellent

Insence [ 蚊香 ]

Tip4:

Care your hair.

Wash silk clothes.

Keep them shining..

Tip5: Sterilize （杀菌） and cure barbiers( 脚气 ).

Attention ！

• Green tea

• Persistent ,

repeating.

Tip6: Clear up fetid breath

Rinse the mouth( 漱口 ) with tea infusion.

Keep tealeaves in the mouth.

（口臭）

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