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= Chinese Tea = From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The role of tea in the Chinese society
Tea is an essential part of the lives of Chinese people, who enjoy drinking tea, entertaining their guests with tea, and have developed a set of tea-related traditions and social behaviors. Tea was first used for medicinal purposes by ancient Chinese people around 2,000 years ago, before it became a popular, budget-friendly refreshment and revered social lubricant.

Types of Chinese tea
All types of tea are derived from the plant camellia sinensis, which was discovered thousands of years ago in southern China. Camellia sinensis is divided into two varieties: '''camellia sinensis var. sinensis, a mild-tasting plant native to China and other East Asian countries, and camellia sinensis var. assamica''', a robust-tasting plant native to India.

Green tea, black tea, oolong tea, scented tea, pu-erh tea, and brick tea are the most common types of Chinese tea today. Each one contains a variety of color palettes and flavor profiles. Tea leaves are grown and processed in different ways. All teas undergo oxidation during the manufacturing process, whereas fermentation occurs only in certain types of tea.


 * Green tea, for example, is oxidized rather than fermented, featuring a fresh-tasting, vegetal flavor with a slightly bitter note. Longjing tea, Biluochun tea, Maofeng tea, and Lu'an Guapian tea are some of the most popular types of green tea.


 * Black tea, on the other hand, is heavily oxidized and fully fermented, giving it a brilliant red color and a more robust, smokier flavor that pairs well with sweetener, cream, and ice cubes. Today's most popular black tea cultivars in China are Xiao Zhong black tea, Gongfu black tea, and Broken black tea.


 * Oolong tea, roughly translated to "black dragon," is semi-fermented with a combination of non-oxidized polyphenols and high-molecular-weight theaflavins. It has a golden yellow color and a fresh taste with a strong oxidation kick. The floral-tasting bohea, originally cultivated in Fujian's Wuyi Mountains and known for its mineral-rich sediments, is one of today's most popular Oolong teas.


 * Made from the flowers, leaves, or fruits of plants, scented tea is a type of reprocessed tea peculiar to China. During the processing stage, the scented flowers are stuffed with the new tea leaves. Once the tea leaves have absorbed the floral scents, the dried flowers are sieved out, giving the tea liquid a rich color as well as a strong floral aroma. The most popular types of scented tea are jasmine tea, rose tea, magnolia tea, honeysuckle tea, and chrysanthemum tea.


 * Pu-erh tea, also known as pu'er tea, is a type of fermented tea traditionally grown in China's Yunnan Province. Growing from a tree known as the "wild old tree" native to the Yunnan region, pu'er tea leaves are typically tossed by hands long enough to staunch oxidation while retaining moisture and health-benefiting pathogens. The tea is then dried in the sun until it grows into a deeper color that comes with a rich, earthy flavor. Pu'er tea is well-known for its ability to lower cholesterol, remove toxins in blood, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases.


 * Brick tea, also known as compressed tea or tea cakes, are blocks of whole or finely ground black tea, green tea, or post-fermented tea leaves packed and pressed into block form. Prior to the Ming Dynasty, brick tea was the most widely produced and consumed type of tea in ancient China. In Central Asia and Tibet, tea bricks are commonly used as a form of food.

The consumption of tea in the Chinese society
In the Chinese tea ceremony, the consumption of tea is not simply to serve the purpose of quenching one's thirst. This activity is considered a form of art, a method of navigating the eclectic social art form native to drinking tea. According to tea experts, drinking tea with discernment and the right mindset allows the drinker to gain insight into the philosophy and principles that shape the Chinese culture, as well as to inculcate a deeper relationship with oneself and the universe.

Tea ceremonies in China typically require a refined, meticulous approach, beginning with gathering the appropriate types of tea, selecting tea sets, brewing tea using the right type of water and techniques, arranging decorations, and setting the landscapes. The staging of a formal tea ceremony is critical to its success.

Meanwhile, some ceremonies entail telling relevant folklore, citing poetry, and performing arts in order to create the best environment for guests to taste and appraise the contents of tea.

External links section
[http://www.teamuseum.cn/english/news/performance.htm China National Tea Museum. Tea Art Performances.]