All the Tea in China
An Introduction to China Famous Tea 中国名茶介绍
Tea is the most popular drink in China. Legend has it that the first cup dates from 2737 BC, when Camellia
Sinensis leaves fell into water being boiled for Emperor Shenong. He loved the result, tea was born, and so
were many traditions. The art of brewing and drinking tea has been popular since the Tang dynasty (AD 618-
907). The universal word for tea comes from one Chinese character - pronounced either "te" (Fujian dialect) or
"Cha" (Cantonese and Mandarin) and all types of tea come form one plant: Camellia Sinensis. Tea can be
roughly classified into seven basic categories depending on the method of processing: white, green, oolong,
black, yellow, pu-erh, and scented tea.
WHITE TEA (白茶)
White tea is minimally processed and made from the immature buds of the tea plant that are picked and dried.
White tea has the lowest caffeine content and is very light in color and aroma. The most famous white tea in
China is Bai Hao Yinzhen (also known as white tea Yinzhen, white needle, 白毫银针) from Fujian Province.
Sweet and very delicate with anti-toxin qualities.
GREEN TEA (绿茶)
Most tea grown and consumed in China is Green. Green tea is tea that has been allowed to mature and has
been picked, pan fired (or steamed) to stop the oxidation process after a very short period. The natural flavor
of the leaf stands out and often a green tea will have a subtle sweetness that is lost when the tea is turned into
a style such as oolong or black tea. Green Tea is delicate, so allow the boiling water to cool for a minute before
brewing to prevent "cooking" the tea. Green tea produces a greenish to yellow liquor and can range in bouquet
from grassy to floral.
The most famous among the various green teas in China are
Oolong TEA (also spelled wulong tea or wu long tea, 乌龙茶)
Oolong tea has been allowed to oxidize partially and thus produces a more complex, darker liquor, and sits on
the scale between a green and a black tea. The liquor produced, therefore, can range from a greenish yellow,
to a dark amber. It is also popular for its medical benefits, including assisting the body building process and in
dieting. The gong fu cha ceremony best reveals its complexities.
Two of the most famous oolong teas in China are
BLACK TEA (红茶)
Black tea, or red tea as it is known in China, is a result of the complete oxidation of the leaf. It's popular in the
west so it makes up the bulk of China's tea exports. Black teas are known for their robust, full-bodied flavors of
cocoa, earth, molasses, and honey. Qi Hong (Keemun, Qimen, 祁红, 祁门红茶) originates from Qimen, Anhui
Province. It has been the favorite black tea among Chinese black tea connoisseurs since it was developed in
1876, Qi Hong is mild and smoky and once used in English breakfast blends. Dian Hong (滇红) is dark and has
a chocolatey aftertaste. Unlike other Chinese teas, Dian Hong can take milk.
PU-ERH TEA –( Pu-erh, Pu'er tea, Puer tea or Bolay tea, 普洱茶)
Pu-erh tea is green, black or oolong that's fermented from a few months to 50 years and often compressed into
bricks. Its name comes from the town of Pu-erh in Yunnan Province. Pu-erh has a rich earthy flavor. The color
is very dark, almost red. Some prized pu-erh teas are more than 50 years old and are very rare. Drunk for
centuries by the Chinese, pu-erh is said to lower cholesterol, aid digestion, and cure hangovers. Buying Pu-erh
is like buying wine: there are different producers and different vintages, and prices vary greatly.
Scented Tea (Flavored Tea, Flower Tea, huacha, 花茶)
Scented or flower tea is either green, black or white tea that has been infused with certain flowers (jasmine,
orchid, rose, gardenia, plum and magnolia) and sweet-scented osmanthus with jasmine being the most popular.
Fuzhou in Fujian Province and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province have long been famous for jasmine tea. Don't
confuse flavored teas with the caffeine-free herbal teas made from herbs, roots, and blossoms (e.g.,
chamomile, peppermint, rosehips, kicorice, ginger).
Yellow Tea (黄茶)
One of the rarest types of teas, Yellow teas are produced from carefully picked buds and leaves that are
minimally processed. Yellow teas have more caffeine than green teas and can yield light colored infusions and
delicate tastes and aromas. Some Yellow teas are thought to be especially beneficial to the health. The most
famous yellow tea is JUN SHAN SILVER NEEDLE(Junshan Yinzhen, silver needle of Mount Jun, 君山銀針) from
Hunan Province.
An Introduction to China Famous Tea 中国名茶介绍
Tea is the most popular drink in China. Legend has it that the first cup dates from 2737 BC, when Camellia
Sinensis leaves fell into water being boiled for Emperor Shenong. He loved the result, tea was born, and so
were many traditions. The art of brewing and drinking tea has been popular since the Tang dynasty (AD 618-
907). The universal word for tea comes from one Chinese character - pronounced either "te" (Fujian dialect) or
"Cha" (Cantonese and Mandarin) and all types of tea come form one plant: Camellia Sinensis. Tea can be
roughly classified into seven basic categories depending on the method of processing: white, green, oolong,
black, yellow, pu-erh, and scented tea.
WHITE TEA (白茶)
White tea is minimally processed and made from the immature buds of the tea plant that are picked and dried.
White tea has the lowest caffeine content and is very light in color and aroma. The most famous white tea in
China is Bai Hao Yinzhen (also known as white tea Yinzhen, white needle, 白毫银针) from Fujian Province.
Sweet and very delicate with anti-toxin qualities.
GREEN TEA (绿茶)
Most tea grown and consumed in China is Green. Green tea is tea that has been allowed to mature and has
been picked, pan fired (or steamed) to stop the oxidation process after a very short period. The natural flavor
of the leaf stands out and often a green tea will have a subtle sweetness that is lost when the tea is turned into
a style such as oolong or black tea. Green Tea is delicate, so allow the boiling water to cool for a minute before
brewing to prevent "cooking" the tea. Green tea produces a greenish to yellow liquor and can range in bouquet
from grassy to floral.
The most famous among the various green teas in China are
- Longjing Tea (Dragon Well Tea, Lung Ching Tea, Xihu longjing, 西湖龙井) is from Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Province where it is produced mostly by hand and has been renowned for its high quality, earning the
the most Famous Tea in China. Complex, subtle and almost sweet flavor. - Bi Luo Chun(Green Snail Spring, Bi Lo Chun, Biluochun, 碧螺春): One the most famous of all Chinese
green teas - known for its tiny, curled leaves and buttery flavor, is originally grown in the Dong Ting
mountain of Tai Hu, Jiangsu Province. - Huangshan Maofeng Tea (黃山毛峰) is a green tea produced from Mt. Huangshan, Anhui Province;
Delicate, fragrant and surprisingly floral. - Taiping Hou Kui (Taiping Monkey King, 太平猴魁) tea is grown at the foot of Huangshan (黄山) in Taiping
County, Anhui province. It won the "King of Tea" award in China Tea Exhibition 2004 and is China
Famous Tea. Nutty, sweet and flowery aftertaste. - Lu An Guapian tea (Liao an gua pian tea, 六安瓜片) is a Green tea from Anhui designated as a China
Famous Tea. - Xin Yang Mao Jian tea (also know as green tip, 信阳毛尖) is a green tea produced in the Henan province
of China. It is designated as a China Famous Tea. - Lu Shan Cloud and Mist (Lu Shan Yun Wu, 庐山云雾) tea is a green tea from the Mountain Lu in Jiangxi
Province.
Oolong TEA (also spelled wulong tea or wu long tea, 乌龙茶)
Oolong tea has been allowed to oxidize partially and thus produces a more complex, darker liquor, and sits on
the scale between a green and a black tea. The liquor produced, therefore, can range from a greenish yellow,
to a dark amber. It is also popular for its medical benefits, including assisting the body building process and in
dieting. The gong fu cha ceremony best reveals its complexities.
Two of the most famous oolong teas in China are
- Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy, Tie Kuang Yin, Anxi Ti Kuan Yin, Anxi Tieguanyin, 安溪铁观音) is
from Anxi, a town in the southeastern part of the Fujian Province in China, known for producing the finest
Tie Kuan Yin in the world. Legend has it a farmer repaired an iron statue of the goddess, who rewarded
him with the tea bush shoot. Tea brewed from Tie Kuan Yin typically has a golden brown color, strong
baked aroma, rich taste, and a sweet roasted aftertaste. - Wi Yi Da Hong Pao (Scarlet Robe, Wu Yi Big Red Robe, 武夷大红袍) is an Oolong tea from Mount Wuyi,
Fujian Province. Full bodied and strongly floral, the real stuff comes from only 4 bushes. As it's of very
high quality, the Da Hong Pao is usually reserved for honorable guests.
BLACK TEA (红茶)
Black tea, or red tea as it is known in China, is a result of the complete oxidation of the leaf. It's popular in the
west so it makes up the bulk of China's tea exports. Black teas are known for their robust, full-bodied flavors of
cocoa, earth, molasses, and honey. Qi Hong (Keemun, Qimen, 祁红, 祁门红茶) originates from Qimen, Anhui
Province. It has been the favorite black tea among Chinese black tea connoisseurs since it was developed in
1876, Qi Hong is mild and smoky and once used in English breakfast blends. Dian Hong (滇红) is dark and has
a chocolatey aftertaste. Unlike other Chinese teas, Dian Hong can take milk.
PU-ERH TEA –( Pu-erh, Pu'er tea, Puer tea or Bolay tea, 普洱茶)
Pu-erh tea is green, black or oolong that's fermented from a few months to 50 years and often compressed into
bricks. Its name comes from the town of Pu-erh in Yunnan Province. Pu-erh has a rich earthy flavor. The color
is very dark, almost red. Some prized pu-erh teas are more than 50 years old and are very rare. Drunk for
centuries by the Chinese, pu-erh is said to lower cholesterol, aid digestion, and cure hangovers. Buying Pu-erh
is like buying wine: there are different producers and different vintages, and prices vary greatly.
Scented Tea (Flavored Tea, Flower Tea, huacha, 花茶)
Scented or flower tea is either green, black or white tea that has been infused with certain flowers (jasmine,
orchid, rose, gardenia, plum and magnolia) and sweet-scented osmanthus with jasmine being the most popular.
Fuzhou in Fujian Province and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province have long been famous for jasmine tea. Don't
confuse flavored teas with the caffeine-free herbal teas made from herbs, roots, and blossoms (e.g.,
chamomile, peppermint, rosehips, kicorice, ginger).
Yellow Tea (黄茶)
One of the rarest types of teas, Yellow teas are produced from carefully picked buds and leaves that are
minimally processed. Yellow teas have more caffeine than green teas and can yield light colored infusions and
delicate tastes and aromas. Some Yellow teas are thought to be especially beneficial to the health. The most
famous yellow tea is JUN SHAN SILVER NEEDLE(Junshan Yinzhen, silver needle of Mount Jun, 君山銀針) from
Hunan Province.
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