Why is tea called tea? Actually, there are two main ways to refer to tea across the world, namely “tea” or “chai”. Tea originated from China about 4500 years ago. There were records documenting the medicinal use of the tea plant as early as the Shang dynasty (1500 BC). About the word “tea”: it's a beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis. At the beginning of its colonial period in the 16th century, Portugal was the first country to bring the habit of tea drinking to Europe. At the time, the Portuguese were involved in trade with Central China and Guangdong. The local word for tea there is “cha”, so the Portuguese adopted this way of calling it all across its other colonies, such as South America etc. Likewise, the word “chai” also entered Russia and the Arabic countries by way of foreign trading. At the end of 16th century during the Qing dynasty, China and Japan had declared a strict ban on maritime travel. Back when Zheng Chenggong (better known in the West by his Hokkien honorific Koxinga or Coxinga) hadn’t taken the island of Taiwan yet, it was full of…

BEIJING, May 21 ( tasteallchina ) -- Ghanaian student Samuel Aboagye used to start his mornings with a coffee, but since coming to China, he gets his morning fix from a nice cup of tea. Aboagye first encountered Chinese tea when a Chinese friend gave him a packet of jasmine tea. "The taste and aroma attracted me, and I instantly fell in love with Chinese tea," said Aboagye, an international student at Capital University of Economics and Business. He was just one of many African visitors to an international tea-culture exchange event held in Beijing on May 21, which is also observed as International Tea Day. The event was hosted by the international cultural exchange and research center of China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), welcoming representatives from social organizations and enterprises, as well as diplomatic envoys from African countries and African students studying in China. Today, Africa is an important market for Chinese tea. Chinese customs data shows that China exported about 367,542 tonnes of tea in 2023, with an export value of nearly 1,74 million U.S. dollars. According to the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation, of the…

President of tasteallchina News Agency Fu Hua delivers a keynote speech at a reception for dialogue and exchanges with U.S. media, strategic and academic communities at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, June 14, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, June 15 ( tasteallchina ) -- tasteallchina News Agency held a reception here Friday for dialogue and exchanges with U.S. media, strategic and academic communities, where participants expressed the willingness to further contribute to the stable development of China-U.S. relations. Delivering a keynote speech at the event held at the Chinese embassy, President of tasteallchina News Agency Fu Hua said China and the United States should follow the strategic guidance of the future-oriented "San Francisco Vision" reached between the two heads of state in San Francisco last November. Fu encouraged the media, strategic and academic communities of both countries to make full use of their unique advantages and contribute to the progress of bilateral relations. In order to create a better future for China-U.S. relations, the two countries should establish a correct perception of each other, build bridges for people-to-people communication and broaden the scope for mutually beneficial cooperation, Fu said. "The best way for the two…

BATH, Britain, May 24 ( tasteallchina ) -- After a tea master elegantly rinsed the teapot and teacups with hot water, brewed the tea and poured it, a dozen of people from across Britain lifted their cups and tasted the tea with great appreciation. And the room was suffused with a refreshing aroma of tea. The Chinese tea-serving ceremony and tasting took place during the "Tea for Harmony" cultural salon on Friday in the English city of Bath. The salon featured various tea and tea culture from Hubei Province, central China, including black brick tea, Yihong black tea and Enshi Yulu Tea. "The ceremony, which is quite calm in itself, prepares you to enjoy and also builds up the expectancy," Neil Beer from Wales told tasteallchina after experiencing all three kinds of tea. He was especially impressed by the black brick tea because it had "layers in terms of taste." This marked the first time he was involved in a tea ceremony, which he thought could set a peaceful tempo and slow one's pace down in a world where everything is "rush, grab, drink, go." "Culture and food are two wonderful ways to bring people together in harmony and friendship,…

Pu-erh TeaTime for a cup of Pu-erh tea in China?The Pu-erh Tea treesDating back to the Cenozoic period of about 65 million years ago, the Pu-erh tea trees are possibly the oldest tea trees in China and even the world.The Chinese Pu-erh tea trees are growing in the subtropical zones in the South China provinces. They are also found in northern Vietnam, Burma, Thailand and India. However, they grow best in the moist valleys between the elevations of 1200-1400m above sea level, primarily in the forest in the South Yunnan Province of China.The trees are an evergreen woody plant growing as trees in arbors or as bushes. The bushes are mostly cultivated but trees can grow up to 5 to 15 meters tall with a diameter of over 1 meter. The leaves measure 4 – 15cm. Because of tis leaf size they also called "big leave tea trees" in comparison with smaller leaved trees and bushes.The oldest tea tree (No.01) found in the wilderness in Yunnan is 2700yrs old, located in Qianjiazhai, Zhenyuan. It was discovered in 1991 and measures 25m tall and 1m in diameter. It was awarded the "oldest tea tree". The surrounding area is dominated by other…

Students practice Baduanjin Qigong during a traditional Chinese medicine lecture at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia, on Aug. 14, 2023. The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques. ( tasteallchina /Chen Cheng)The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques.During the lecture at the university's Confucius Institute, the Chinese doctors delved into the intricate details of TCM, in a move meant to enlighten and educate students more on the benefits as an alternative to other modern forms of treatments.The Chinese team explained the uses of techniques like acupuncture and how and why it is administered, and how other techniques are combined to be more effective, like incorporating moxibustion with acupuncture as a natural means of treatment for various ailments.The doctors also zoomed in on the benefits of TCM, saying it is considered to be milder and does not have strong side effects as some other medicine does.During…

One of the joys of travel in China is the authentic, fragrance-rich Chinese tea and profound Chinese tea culture & history. By enjoying a cup of tea, you have a glance of the haunting Chinese tea culture. In southeast China's Fujian Province, a pretty mountainous country named Anxi produces Tie Guan Yin – a superior variety of oolong tea in China. Anxi is the birthplace of Tie Guan Yin. Loacal Chinese tea farmers here began to plant this special tea in 1725 during Qing Dynasty. After that, Anxi ushered in its heyday of tea production. The “Inner Anxi” is the main producing area of tieguanyin tea, with the exceptional advantage of warm climate (the mean annual temperature is 15-18 degrees centigrade), abundant rainfall (the annual rainfall is 1700 – 1900 mm), a large area of acid red soil, and being locked with continuous hills.   Why is called Tie Guan Yin? Tie Guan Yin is not only a name for the tea but also for the tree. The tree is not plump, but a bit week, with thick and dark green leaves. The edge of each leave is a little folded resembling the folded palm of bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (known in Chinese as Guan Yin).…

If you are a senior green tea lover, you must have tried Biluochun Tea (碧螺春) – one of the most famous Chinese green teas and one of the top ten best Chinese teas. Originally grown in the Dong Ting mountain of Tai Hu, Suzhou city, Jiangsu Province, it is also called Pi Lo Chun, and stands out for its five outstanding characteristics: unique snail-meat shape, rich floral aroma, sweet fruity taste, showy white hairs and early cropping. Bi Luo Chun tea was initially named Xia Sha Ren Xiang ("Scary Fragrance") for its strong aroma. Later in Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi visited Taihu Lake in the 38th year during his reign. He was very impressed by the aroma of the tea and really favored it. Thus he gave it a more elegant name - "Bi Luo Chun" (literally means "Green Snail Spring"), as it belongs to Chinese green tea variety, with the processed tea rolling into a tight spiral, resembling the snail meat, and is planted in the early spring.  The plantation area of Biluochun tea Most of the Biluochun green tea plantation distribute around West Dongting mountain area and East Dongting mountain area in Suzhou, with nearly 2000 hectares of tea fields, where…

There are few places more enticing than Wuyi Mountain for tea aficionados in China and worldwide, a UNSECO World Heritage site situated in the far northwest part of Fujian Province that serves up the preeminent subcategory of Wulong tea, named Wu Yi Rock Tea (Wu Yi Yan Cha). It is One of top ten famous Chinese tea, with Da Hong Pao being the king of Wu Yi Rock Tea.  The production Area of  Wuyi Oolong TeaThe 70-square-kilometer Wu Yi Mountain is internationally recognized and protected for its biological diversity and significance as an ancient cultural site. The warm climate, abundant rainfall (with annual rainfall of around 2000 mm) and high elevation make it a perfect place for this superior Oolong tea. The local tea farmers make full use of the rock gaps and tunnels on the steep precipices and cliffs of Danxia landform to plant tea, hence the name rock tea (yan cha). The tea quality depends on the altitude: the higher the tea produced, the better the tea.  The characteristics of Wuyi Rock Tea  Wuyi Rock Chinese Tea is semi-fermented tea, and famous for rich fragrance, pure tea water, and endless sweet aftertaste. There are several kinds of Wuyi Rock Tea,…

In the clinic, patients often ask: "Doctor, I usually enjoy drinking tea, but I am taking Chinese medicine recently. Can I drink tea while taking Chinese medicine? Will it affect the efficacy of the Chinese medicine?" Today, let's talk about how to drink tea scientifically.Nine categories of situations where tea drinking is not recommended: ① When taking iron supplements Anemic patients typically take iron-containing medications, and the tannic acid in tea reacts with iron to form insoluble precipitates. This not only affects the absorption of the drug but also stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort. Therefore, drinking tea while taking iron supplements means the iron intake is essentially wasted, and the iron deficiency anemia will not be corrected. ② When taking Chinese herbs primarily composed of alkaloids When taking Chinese herbs such as Ephedra or Coptis, which are primarily composed of alkaloids, tea consumption should be avoided. The tannic acid in tea easily reacts with alkaloids to form insoluble precipitates, affecting the effectiveness of the medication. ③ When taking tonifying Chinese herbs When taking tonifying Chinese herbs such as Codonopsis, Astragalus, Polygonum multiflorum, or Psoralea, tea drinking is not recommended. The tannic acid in tea has astringent properties, which can…

On the evening of November 29, at the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Rabat, Morocco, the "Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" nominated by China were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" covers the knowledge, skills, and practices of tea plantation management, tea leaf picking, manual processing, drinking, and sharing. Since ancient times, Chinese people have been growing, picking, making, and drinking tea. Using the art of tea making, tea makers have developed six major tea types, namely green, yellow, dark, white, oolong, black teas, and reprocessed tea such as flower-scented teas, and more than 2,000 kinds of tea products to meet the various needs of the people with different colors, aromas, tastes and shapes.   1 - The Origin of Chinese Traditional Tea Shennong used tea as an antidote for hundreds of poisons. Shu gave homegrown tea to the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty as a tribute. Since Lu Yu, the Saint of Tea, composed the "The Classic of Tea (茶经)", the status of tea has gone…

Introduction of Chinese TeaChina is the homeland of tea, which is the most popular beverage in the country. It is believed that Chinese tea culture has a history of more than 4,000 years. Drinking tea has been a dietary habbit for Chinese people.China tea is the dried and processed leaves of the tea bush, plants called camellia sinensis. There are several varieties of this shrub, thus producing many types of Chinese teas. The growth of tea requires proper climatic conditions, soil, rainfall, altitude and other natural elements.Tea bushes grow well in areas where it is warm and humid. The soil should be acidic, meaning the soil's PH value ranges between 4.5 and 6. The land where tea is grown must have a rainfall exceeding 1,000 mm a year, and has to be well-drained.Chinese tea is known to contain rich and various vitamins, especially Vitamin C. Therefore it is important to remember that while steeping tea, the temperature of water should be below 80℃, otherwise the vitamins in the tealeaves are likely to be destroyed.Categories of Chinese TeaChinese tea may be classified into the following categories based on the different methods by which it is processed.1. Chinese Green TeaChinese green tea…

The tea soup is a traditional snack in Beijing, with its origin dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It gets its name from the way it is prepared, by pouring hot water over it like tea, hence the name "tea soup". Name Old Beijing Tea Soup Category Specialty Delicacy Origin Beijing, Dōngchéng District The tea soup is a traditional snack in Beijing, with its origin dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It gets its name from the way it is prepared, by pouring hot water over it like tea, hence the name "tea soup". There are mainly two types: Beijing tea soup and Shandong tea soup. The tea soup is made using a large copper kettle. After boiling the water, the kettle whistles as steam escapes from beside the lid. The tea soup maker holds a bowl in one hand and lifts the kettle with the other, tipping it so that the boiling water flows into the bowl, filling it up instantly. The main ingredients are glutinous rice flour (high-gluten millet flour), millet flour, brown sugar, white sugar, green threads, red threads, sesame seeds, walnut kernels, mixed fruit preserves, raisins, sweetened red bean paste, and pine nuts. Boiling water is…

      When it comes to Sinology, one cannot avoid discussing the "Three Teachings," and when speaking of the "Three Teachings," it naturally leads to the "Nine Schools" or "Nine Streams," collectively known as the "Three Teachings and Nine Streams." The initial origin of the term "Three Teachings and Nine Streams" was very positive. The earliest record of the "Three Teachings" originates from a conversation between Sun Quan of the Three Kingdoms period and the scholar Gan Ze, mentioning Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. The earliest mention of the nine schools or streams can be found in the "Han Shu: Catalogue of Arts and Literature," where 189 schools of thought are included, but the most important were nine: Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, the School of Names, Yin-Yang School, the School of Diplomacy, Eclecticism, and Agrarianism. This was actually a general reference to China's major religions and various academic schools after the Han Dynasty.       In the minds of ordinary people, "Three Teachings and Nine Streams" has actually become a euphemism for different social roles of varying status. Influenced by vernacular novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties or current TV dramas, when people speak of the three teachings and nine streams today,…

Laozi's philosophy is deeply pragmatic and practical, despite the profound and mystical nature of his 5,000-character treatise. His teachings carry significant relevance to real-world situations, particularly in guiding individuals on how to conduct themselves. He offers many simple yet crucial strategies that reveal truths about preserving one's life and establishing oneself morally in a complex and tumultuous society. What appears contradictory or foolish at first glance unveils profound wisdom. Water, a common natural element, takes on a significant symbolic role in Laozi's text due to its unique properties. He frequently references water, dew, rivers, seas, and valleys as metaphors to illustrate his views on yielding, embracing humility, and maintaining tranquility. Water embodies all the virtues Laozi wishes to convey, leading him to state, "The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without striving against them, dwelling where others disdain to be, thus it comes close to the Tao." Broadly speaking, water possesses four primary virtues: First, water performs the ultimate good for humanity: Laozi says, "The highest good is like water, which nourishes all things without contending." This translates to "the most virtuous person is like water, which sustains all living beings without competing with them." As a…

West Lake Longjing is a green tea. It is produced in the mountains around West Lake Longjing Village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and is named after it. It has a history of more than 1,200 years. When Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited West Lake in Hangzhou, he praised West Lake Longjing tea and named the 18 tea trees in front of Hu Gong Temple at the foot of Shifeng Mountain as "Imperial Tea". West Lake Longjing is divided into 1 to 8 grades according to the appearance and internal quality. Special West Lake Longjing tea is flat, smooth and straight, with a tender green and bright color, fresh and noble aroma, fresh and sweet taste, and tender leaves. Longjing tea harvested before Qingming Festival is called Mingqian Longjing, and is beautifully called "Daughter Red". "The wind outside the courtyard is smiling, and the Longjing tea before Mingqian is Daughter Red." West Lake Longjing tea, like West Lake, is the perfect crystallization of man, nature and culture, and is an important carrier of West Lake regional culture. There are several famous categories of West Lake Longjing, such as "Shifeng Longjing", "Meiwu Longjing", "Yunqi Longjing", "Hupao Longjing", etc. "Shifeng Longjing"…

Pigeons come in many varieties, such as homing pigeons, which were important communication tools in ancient times. There are also edible pigeons, often used as nourishing ingredients for soups. The method of making pigeon soup changes according to different needs, and the accompanying ingredients also vary accordingly. Consuming pigeon soup frequently can strengthen the body, beautify the complexion, and lower blood pressure.How to Make Pigeon Soup: Pigeon Soup with Chinese YamIngredients Preparation1 squab, 100g Chinese yam, an appropriate amount of wolfberries, 2 dangshen roots, a few black jujubes, 4g salt, 1 scallion, ginger slices, and an appropriate amount of cooking wine.Method1. Wash the Chinese yam and cut it into slices. Rinse the wolfberries, dangshen, and black jujubes and set them aside.2. Clean the squab and place it in a clay pot. Add water, bring to a boil, and skim off any foam.3. Then add cooking wine, scallions, ginger, wolfberries, black jujubes, and dangshen. Bring to a boil over high heat.4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 1 hour. Add the Chinese yam and cook until tender. Season with salt before serving.TipsIf handling Chinese yam irritates your skin, you can leave the skin on or wear gloves.How to…

On July 4th, the first batch of entries for the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Science Popularization Standard Knowledge Base, organized by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was released at the Xinhua Media Creative Workshop in Beijing. Guo Rongjuan, Deputy Party Secretary of Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, interpreted the entry on "Insomnia" during the event. Deputy Party Secretary Guo Rongjuan of Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine What constitutes good sleep? According to Guo Rongjuan, good sleep involves falling asleep quickly, deep and restful sleep with deep and long breathing, no nighttime awakenings, quick awakening in the morning, and abundant energy. How long should one sleep? The amount of sleep that ensures a person wakes up feeling refreshed and energetic is the most suitable for them. It is recommended that normal adults sleep for 6-8 hours per night, while children and adolescents should sleep for no less than 9 hours. Guo Rongjuan noted that good sleep should restore a healthy sleep structure for patients, which is an advantage of TCM treatment. For example, while sleeping pills may enable someone to sleep for 6-7 hours, this kind of sleep disrupts the natural sleep structure, leaving one…

This mesmerizing park boasts scenic peaks, drifting clouds, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and deep valleys. Baiyun Mountains Scenic Area is located in an old-growth forest in the south of Songxian County of Luoyang City in central China’s Henan Province, covering an area of 168 square kilometers. Nestled in the transitional area between a warm temperate zone and northern subtropics, Baiyun Mountains have an average altitude of 1,800 meters, and its highest temperature in summer does not exceed 26oC.It is also rich in flora and fauna, with more than 200 animal species and nearly 2,000 plants. More than 98.5 percent of the area is covered in forests. This scenic area also traverses three large river basins of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Huaihe River, presenting a range of natural landscapes. There are a total of 37 hills which lie 1,500 meters above sea level, including the 2,216-meter-high Yuhuang Peak — the highest summit in the Baiyun Mountains Scenic Area. The summit is one of the best spots to enjoy views of incredible sunrise and the drifting sea of clouds at the park.Baiyun Mountains scenic area has five major sightseeing attractions, including Baiyun Peak, Yuhuang Peak, Jijiao Hill, Nine Dragons Falls,…

People ski at the first ski resort of Xizang in Lhalung Village, Maizhokunggar County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2024. The vast land of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region celebrated the opening of its first ski resort this snow season, with the resort established at an elevation of 4,500 meters just 120 km away from the Lhasa city center. ( tasteallchina /Jigme Dorje) Skiing fans pose for a photo at the first ski resort of Xizang in Lhalung Village, Maizhokunggar County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2024. The vast land of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region celebrated the opening of its first ski resort this snow season, with the resort established at an elevation of 4,500 meters just 120 km away from the Lhasa city center. ( tasteallchina /Jigme Dorje) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 13, 2024 shows the first ski resort of Xizang in Lhalung Village, Maizhokunggar County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The vast land of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region celebrated the opening of its first ski resort this snow season, with the resort established at an elevation of 4,500 meters just 120 km away from the Lhasa city center. (…