Green Tea

When it comes to tea, one often thinks of the complex flavors brought about by various manufacturing processes: green tea requires fixation, black tea needs fermentation, and Pu'er tea must undergo maturation before it can be consumed... But there is a type of tea that closely captures the natural taste of the leaves themselves: white tea. White tea is one of the six major types of tea and is renowned for its fresh, unroasted, and unrubbed character. If we liken tea production to cooking, some green teas would be stir-fried, black teas would be braised, while white tea would be blanched, preserving the most basic and original flavor of the tea. It's like human relationships – they don't need to be dramatic, just consistently warm and sincere. Some people say that white tea should not be brewed in a purple clay pot. They believe that white tea is delicate and easily spoiled by the heat retention of a purple clay pot; its fragrant aroma can also be partially absorbed by the dual-pore structure of the pot, affecting the overall flavor. Is this really the case? Can white tea be brewed using a purple clay pot? Absolutely. The distinctive feature of…...

Summer is hot, and drinking tea requires special attention. Many people drink a variety of teas without any pattern during summer, which not only fails to cool them down but also causes discomfort. Many people prefer cold drinks in summer, but drinking tea is actually better. When choosing tea for summer, it's important to consider the climate, the nature of the tea, and one's own constitution. How can we enjoy good tea in summer? Today, we introduce some suitable teas for the season. Cooling Off with Flower Teas In summer, it's advisable to choose cooling flower teas that can help relieve thirst and reduce heat, though those with weak spleen and stomach should avoid them. When deciding on what flower tea to drink, consider the properties of different teas; those with weaker constitutions may opt for more neutral or slightly warm flower teas. Chrysanthemum has a sweet taste and is slightly cold, effectively dispersing wind heat and calming the liver while improving vision. After prolonged visual strain, brewing a cup of chrysanthemum tea can not only refresh the mind but also prevent cardiovascular diseases. Staying Alert with Green Tea Under the blazing sun and high temperatures of summer, the body…...

Driving for a little over an hour from Quanzhou, Fujian, you arrive at Xiping Town, Anxi County—the birthplace of Tieguanyin. Xiping was once known as Qipeng, named after the mythical great roc said to have rested here. After passing through the town, we entered the winding mountain roads, our car like a fish swimming upstream into a sea of green. Looking out the window, tea fields stretched as far as the eye could see, terraced hills and sprawling plots in various shapes and sizes. Upon entering Nanyan Village, the air was filled with a fresh, invigorating tea fragrance. Taking a deep breath, every nerve and cell relaxed. When we arrived at Taishanlou, the annual Nanyan Tieguanyin Tea King Competition was entering its final round. The villagers held their breath, intently watching the courtyard. In the center stood a large tea table, about four to five meters long, on which ten white porcelain lidded jars were lined up horizontally, each corresponding to a numbered sample from 1 to 10. Staff took samples from the jars, weighing them according to standard procedures before placing them into the jars. Facing each jar, three white porcelain tea cups were arranged in a vertical row,…...

It's often said that a woman who drinks tea has a certain charm. And a woman who enjoys drinking tea from a Yixing clay pot possesses a natural, refreshing, and perfectly balanced beauty. Today, I'll introduce ten styles of teapots that are particularly favored by women. 01 Xi Shi (Doll) Teapot The Xi Shi teapot has a plump and adorable shape with graceful curves. The flush-fitting lid makes the entire form appear unified, making it perfect for handling. As one of the four great beauties of ancient China, the name Xi Shi naturally evokes associations of beauty, elegance, and nobility. As the saying goes: Beautiful is the Xi Shi, but the most wonderful is the Xi Shi teapot. 02 Beauty's Shoulder Teapot The Beauty's Shoulder teapot resembles an elegant and lovely ancient Chinese woman, exuding imperial splendor while also possessing the grace of a young lady. The design is full and dignified, with the main focus on the roundness of the body. The lid blends seamlessly with the body, and the teapot feels warm and smooth to the touch. 03 Smiling Cherry Teapot The Smiling Cherry teapot, originally named the Three-Line teapot, draws inspiration from ancient ceramic tea storage jars…...

Tea is a traditional beverage in our country. It contains large amounts of tannic acid, tea alkaloids, caffeine, and small quantities of aromatic oils, chlorophyll, multiple vitamins, and other nutrients. Drinking tea in moderation can invigorate the mind and body, quench thirst, eliminate dampness and heat, and alleviate illnesses, all of which are greatly beneficial to human health. So how should one drink tea healthily? Follow the four principles of "early, less, mild, and warm"! 01 Early The best time to drink tea is in the morning. After a night's metabolism, the body has consumed a lot of water, and the concentration of the blood is high. Drinking a cup of mild tea not only replenishes fluids but also dilutes the blood and prevents damage to the gastric mucosa. Tea is rich in caffeine, which has an exciting effect, keeping the mind alert, and this effect lasts for some time. If tea is consumed in the afternoon or evening, it may cause insomnia at night, which could have a negative impact on health, especially with newly harvested green tea, which has a strong stimulating effect. 02 Less The best amount of tea to drink is in small quantities. A large…...

Mengding Ganlu is a renowned tea produced in Sichuan, China, with a long history and excellent quality. So, what type of tea is Mengding Ganlu? What are its unique characteristics and appeals? Let’s explore this from three main aspects. 1. Origin of Mengding Ganlu: Mengding Ganlu is produced in Mingshan District, Ya’an City, Sichuan. The area is blessed with picturesque mountains and clear waters, and a climate suitable for tea cultivation. The origin of Mengding Ganlu is known as the “Birthplace of World Tea Culture,” a place rich in historical and cultural heritage. 2. Taste of Mengding Ganlu: The leaves of Mengding Ganlu are bright green, with a rich aroma and a clear infusion color. Its taste is fresh and sweet with a lingering aftertaste, full-bodied yet slightly astringent. Tasting Mengding Ganlu, one can feel the tea’s fragrance spreading throughout the mouth, providing a refreshing experience. 3. Historical and Cultural Value of Mengding Ganlu: Mengding Ganlu has been a famous tea since ancient times, with a long history. According to historical records, it dates back to the Western Han Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago. Mengding Ganlu is not only a traditional Chinese famous tea but also a treasure of world…...

Cool tea is a beverage commonly prepared in the Chaoshan region by boiling compound or single local herbal ingredients. In the 18th century, Li Qingxiang, a resident of Xikeng Village in Puning, summarized and formulated multiple recipes for cool tea, each composed of twenty-four medicinal ingredients, along with their preparation methods. Through generations of inheritance and innovation, today's 24-ingredient cool tea is made from authentic Chinese medicinal herbs using modern scientific techniques to extract and separate its active components, ultimately producing granulated formulations. The 24-ingredient cool tea is composed of 24 herbs sourced from a list of ingredients that are both food and medicine. The main ingredients include: dandelion, lotus leaf, Houttuynia cordata, mulberry leaf, lophatherum, Prunella vulgaris, gardenia, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, polygonatum, fat sea date, green plum, kudzu root, Chinese yam, fresh rhizome of reed, hawthorn, lophatherum, lily, jujube, cassia seed, black sesame, poria, tangerine peel, and mint. The 24-ingredient cool tea is guided by traditional Chinese medicine theory and based on herbal ingredients, with effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, quenching thirst, removing fire and dampness, becoming a popular health care method, especially prevalent in the Chaoshan area. The craft of making the 24-ingredient herbal (cool) tea was…...

    Before brewing tea, you can pre-warm the cup. When brewing, avoid filling the cup with water, pour out the water quickly, and don't let the tea leaves steep in hot water for too long. These are all details in the process of brewing tea. Regardless of what type of tea you're brewing, there are three key elements to pay attention to: the amount of tea used, the water temperature, and the brewing time.     Three Practical Techniques for Brewing Tea     1. Amount of Tea: There is no uniform standard for how much tea to use each time. This mainly depends on the type of tea, the size of the teaware, and the consumer's drinking habits.     There are many types of tea, and the amount used varies depending on the type. For example, when brewing general black or green teas, about 3 grams of dry tea leaves are placed in a cup with 150-200 milliliters of boiling water. If drinking Pu'er tea, 5-10 grams are used per cup. The most tea used is for Oolong tea, where each serving is typically 1/2 to 2/3 of the teapot's capacity.     2. Brewing Water Temperature: For high-quality green teas, especially those with delicate buds and…...

Every year, at the end of March and early April, Pu'er spring tea enters the spring tea picking season. Many tea enthusiasts who love Pu'er tea choose to try it fresh during this time, savoring the charm of spring tea. Spring tea is rich in nutrients, has a full-bodied soup, a thick texture, a strong flavor, and a fresh and intense aroma, with a higher value for storage and transformation over time. Early spring Pu'er tea, after a whole winter of rest and recuperation, absorbs abundant nourishment from the tea plant as the earth warms up. Through photosynthesis, the tea buds grow robustly, containing a large amount of internal tea substance. Moreover, due to its low production volume, early spring Pu'er tea is quite precious, especially the first-picked spring Pu'er tea, which is considered a premium grade among teas. The benefits of drinking Pu'er spring tea: It replenishes nutrients and trace elements, relieves the pressures and fatigue of daily life, and maintains vitality in the body; characterized by freshness and sweetness, moderate consumption can quench thirst, alleviate spring lethargy, promote metabolism, and improve mood. There are many benefits to drinking spring tea, not only does it allow you to taste…...

Yiwu Gafengzhai is located in Majie Village, northwest of Mengla County, Xishuangbanna. It is a village inhabited by the Yao people. Named “Gafengzhai” (Wind-swept Village), it stands at a wind-exposed spot surrounded by mountains, with a stream flowing in front and winds passing through the village. This village has the highest elevation among the Seven Villages of Yiwu and produces the least amount of tea, yet it boasts the most intact ancient tea trees. The teas from Gafengzhai can be categorized into several areas. The ancient tree tea commonly referred to as Gafengzhai is from the non-state-owned forest. The state-owned forest area includes the King Tree, Tea Field, Cold Water River, and White Sand River. The prices of these teas vary according to factors such as the age of the trees and the location. Its fresh tea has a rich floral aroma, which later transforms into fruity, honey, and woody scents. The taste evolves from sweet to robust, with a pronounced wild character. When sipped carefully, the tea reveals a smooth and lingering texture. Gafengzhai belongs to Yiwu Town, Mengla County, and sits at an altitude of around 1,200 meters, bordering Laos near boundary marker No. 14. It takes about…...

The Ming Dynasty was a period of innovation in tea processing and the creation of loose leaf teas, setting new trends for tea drinking. In the 24th year of Hongwu reign under Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1391), the production of compressed tea bricks was abolished, promoting the development of loose leaf teas. Many famous teas emerged as the method of brewing changed from whisking to steeping. The process of tea preparation became simpler, and fewer tea wares were needed. 1. Simplification and Reduction of Tea Wares The older tea cakes of the Tang Dynasty required the "boiled tea method." The finely processed dragon and phoenix compressed teas of the Song Dynasty necessitated the "whisked tea method." Both the "boiled tea method" and the "whisked tea method" involved complex procedures and a multitude of tea wares. The brewing of loose leaf teas in the Ming Dynasty was much simpler: a small amount of tea would be placed in a cup (or pot), and hot water poured over it, ready to drink. This method was also known as the "pinch tea method" during the Song Dynasty. At this point, only a kettle for boiling water and a cup (or pot) for brewing were…...

When brewing tea, you may occasionally encounter a situation where the water taste is prominent. What causes this? It is mainly due to the impact of water on the tea brewing process. So what effects do water quality and water temperature have on tea brewing? Why does tea have a strong water taste when brewed? Here are some reasons: 1. Hard Water Quality The hardness of the water affects the solubility of compounds in the tea leaves. Soft water has a higher solubility, resulting in a stronger tea flavor. Hard water contains more calcium, magnesium ions, and minerals, leading to lower solubility and thus a weaker tea flavor. Therefore, we should try to choose soft water and avoid using high-hardness water like well water for tea brewing. 2. Low Water Temperature The solubility of tea is proportional to the water temperature. If the water temperature used for brewing is too low, the amount of compounds dissolved from the tea leaves will be small, leading to an insufficient tea flavor and a more pronounced water taste. There's no need to overly worry about high temperatures destroying vitamins in tea, as the stability of vitamins in tea is relatively high, and the…...