Tea is one of key elements of Chinese culture.Originated in china and drinking tea has been a practice since thousands years ago. Driking tea is the best way to seek inner peace when you pour boiled water into tea leaves. The tea accidently came to Chinese daily life, it's said that back to 4000 years ago, Emporor Shen Nong ordered a cup of water but a piece of leave was blew into his cup of boilded water. Emperor Shen Nong found the brown colored water is mild bitter but brings him refreshment. Then our ancestors planted tea in many places that produce many types with different flovours.
China is the first country in the world that discovered and used tea plants. Tea began to be cultivated in China over 2,000 years ago. The improvement of tea-making techniques helped propagate the custom of tea drinking eventually making tea a major drink in the country. Tea leaves are the dry products after the tender leaf buds of tea plants are processed, Tea can be divided into six types based on the processing methods, namely, black green, dark, Oolong, white, and yellow tea. Other types include fermented non-fermented, and half-fermented tea. Types of tea vary from place to place; among the best-known are Hangzhou Longjing (Dragon Well) of Zhejiang Province, Suzhou Biluochun of Jiangsu Province, Yueyang JunshanSilver Needle of Hunan Province, Anxi lron Guanyin of Fujian Province and Pu'er of Yunnan Province. The health benefits of drinking tea were supposedly discovered by Shen Nonga legendary figure in Chinese history who was believed to have lived some 6,000 years ago, and is regarded as the first to study and learn the health benefits of drinking tea.
The Tea falls into following categories:
Green Tea
A non-fermented Chinese tea characterized by its green col-or both before and after brewing. Famous varieties include Longjing (Dragon Well), Silver Needle, Maofeng, and Biluoc-hun.
Black Tea
A type of fermented tea with reddish dried tea leaves which produces tea of the same shade. Black tea leaves are withered, twisted, fermented and dried. There are many kinds of black tea in China, including Keemun (Anhui Province), Dianhong (Yunnan Province), Minhong (Fujian Province), and Chuanhong (Sichuan Province). Of all these, Keemun is the best-know black tea.
Oolong Tea
A type of Chinese tea, also known as qingcha (dark green tea) . After having been partly fermented, the tea leaves become green with red edges, and have both the fresh and strong smell of green tea and the sweet flavor of black tea. Famous types of oolong tea include Tieguanyin (lron Buddha) produced in Fujian and Frozen Peak Oolong produced in Taiwan.
White Tea
A famous type of Chinese tea with leaves slightly fermented and covered by fine silver-white hairs. The tea water looks yellow-green and clear, and tastes slightly sweet, White tea is said to be effective in relieving internal heat. There are many varieties of white tea, such as Silver Needle Tea, White Peony Tea, and Shoumei Tea. It is mainly produced in Fujian Province.
Yellow Tea
A lightly fermented tea. Its preparation process is similar to green tea. Roasting, oxidization，drying, and twisting are the indispensable skills required for making this tea. Compared with other tea, yellow tea leaves give the tea its yellow color. Yueyang in Hunan Province is home to yellow tea.
Dark Tea
A type of post-fermented tea which is dark brown and has a strong taste when brewed. Some of the best-known dark teas are Yunnan Pu'er, Sichuan Bian Tea, Guangxi Liupu Tea, Hunan Dark Tea, Hubei Dark Tea, and Shaanxi Fu Tea. Dark tea facilitates digestion and can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar. It is conducive to boosting the immune system and has antioxidant, anticoagulant, and antithrombotic functions.
