Jian ware

When brewing tea, a layer of foam may appear on the surface of the tea liquor, known as tea foam. Opinions about this foam have been divided throughout history. Tea sage Lu Yu believed that this layer of foam contained the essence of the tea, but not everyone appreciates this layer of foam. There is even a saying that "foam indicates high levels of pesticide residues." So what causes the foam? Is there any relationship between the foam in the tea and the quality of the tea? Image What is tea foam? The formation of foam in tea liquor is mainly due to the presence of a substance called tea saponin. Tea saponin, also known as tea sapogenin, is a fine columnar crystal found in the roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of tea plants. Its aqueous solution can produce persistent, soap-like foam when shaken. Tea saponins are a class of structurally complex glycoside compounds with a bitter and pungent taste. They have strong foaming properties and are not affected by the hardness of the water, so teas with abundant foam tend to have a relatively rich flavor. In the Wei-Jin era, Du Yu wrote in a poem: "The foam forms…

The tea of the Song Dynasty favored white, while the tea wares were revered for their black-glazed bowls, unique in history. Silver-threaded hare's fur, shimmering with brilliance; paper-cut decorations, vivid and lifelike; partridge splashed, with spots that change in light. The clear black and white contrast between the black-glazed bowl and the tea highlights the beauty of the foam. The Song Dynasty revered Daoism, and the white tea in black vessels embodied the principles of Yin and Yang. The Jian kiln, located in the area of Houjing and Chizhong Village, Shuigai Town, Jianyang County, Fujian Province, is renowned for its production of black porcelain. The Jian kiln was one of the major kilns during the Song Dynasty, initially established in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, primarily producing celadon. By the Song Dynasty, a cluster of kilns emerged in Jianyang, with 99 long dragon kilns, producing a large quantity of black porcelain. Jian ware can be categorized into six main types based on the glaze patterns: Ujim (dark blue-black), hare's fur, oil spot, partridge, iridescent, and miscellaneous colors. Hare's Fur Bowl A hare's fur bowl features fine brownish-yellow or rust-colored thread-like streaks on a black glaze surface, resembling hare's…

When the journalist arrived in Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City, on the 13th, the town's mayor, Wu Wang, warmly greeted us and invited us to taste some tea. Boiling water was poured into a cup, and as the leaves unfurled in the water, the tea broth gradually turned amber, emitting a rich aroma. "This is the main venue for professional tea competitions that have been held here for 800 years. As they say, 'Tea doesn't truly emit its fragrance until it reaches Xingcun.' We are a significant hub along the ancient Tea Road and the birthplace of black tea in the world." Mayor Wu said with a smile. Photo by Shi Chenjing, Fujian Daily – Swallows' Nest Ecological Tea Garden A short distance away lies the Swallows' Nest Ecological Tea Garden. Although the tea-picking season had passed, there were still five or six tea farmers moving about deep within the garden, pruning the tea plants to lay the groundwork for an increased yield in the coming year. Tea farmer Yang Wen Chun bent down and pointed to the soybeans planted among the tea plants: "Professor Liao Hong from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University proposed an intercropping model of planting soybeans in…