Hi everyone! I am back with more interesting stories after a long vacation. I hope you are doing great. Today I wanted to share with you on Chinese tea. Are you a tea person like I do? I love tea especially, Chinese Tea. Tea has been around for more than thousand years ago and it was originated in the South West part of China. Due to the warm and tropical climate zone, it has the most suitable soil to plant tea trees here. Did you know, Chinese Tea was first discovered as medicine and evolved into our beverage today?
Recently with my visit in China, I have learnt interesting facts on Chinese tea. Did you know, Chinese Tea is being categories into 8 classes!
1. Chinese Green Tea – Green tea is the most natural of all Chinese Tea classes. It is picked, natural dried and fried briefly just to get rid of the grassy smell. Fermentation is not being process here. Green Tea has the mot medical value and least caffeine amount all 8 classes. Green Tea contain a medium to high aroma but light in flavor. There are many types of Green Tea you could buy, but the most famous ones are, “Hou Kui” (Monkey King), “Long Jing” (Dragon Wall), “Gua Pien” (Mellon Seed) and “Mao Jian” (Fur Tip)
2. Chinese Oolong Tea – it is also known as, ‘Qing Cha”. Oolong Tea is in between green tea and black tea. Typical Oolong Tea leaves are green in the middle and red on the edges. Oolong Tea is fried, rolled and roasted and undergo a brief fermentation process. Usually Oolong Tea are for serious Chinese tea drinker as the aroma is from light to medium but the flavor is very strong. You may tried “Tie Guan Yin” (Iron Goddess), “Big Black Leave”, “Oolong Special”, Osmanthus Lone” and “Snow Flake Lone” as these are the most common Oolong Tea.
3. Chinese Black Tea – it contains the highest caffeine among all the Chinese Tea classes. Black Tea produce a full bodies amber when brewed as it undergoes drying, roasted and let ferment for a long period of time. The most famous Chinese Black Tea is no other than “Pu’er”. It has a robust taste with a mild aroma.
4. Chinese Red Tea – it is called Red Tea due to it is process from red leaves. This is where the leaves will turn into dark red copper color before they are fried, rolled and shaped. Red Tea has a very long shelf life as they can be stored for years! Red Tea have both low aroma and medium flavor but however it is not much in demand as compare with the rest. However, you should tried on “Lychee Red”, “Qi Men Red” and “Tian Red” and maybe you would love it.
5. Chinese White Tea – White Tea comes from the buds and leaves of Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves and buds are wither in natural sunlight before they are processes lightly. Usually White Tea is found in Fujian province. Sometimes, White Tea considered as a subclass of Green Tea. It has a very low caffeine content as well. “Longevity Eyebrow King” is apart of the White Tea series.
6. Chinese Yellow Tea – it is uncommon class of Chinese Tea but it is slowly gaining recognition in Western country. It is produce from yellow tea leaves. The process is similar as the Green Tea fermentation but the dying process is slower and the damp tea leaves are left to take on a natural, light yellow color. If you do not like the Green Tea intense flavor, you can choose Yellow Tea as has a mild, sweet and refreshing flavor. But beware of the temperature while brewing this Yellow Tea as the water should not be hotter than 180 degrees F. This tea may not be commonly or easily found but if you so happened, tried look for the “Yin Jan” (Silver Needle) and “Yellow Bud”
7. Chinese Flower Tea – Flower Tea is an unique class of Chinese Tea. It is subdivided into Flower Tea and Scented Tea. It is a simple concept whereby the dried flowers are used without any processing. It has medium flavor and strong aroma. You may tried, “Rose”, “Dragon Ball”, “Jasmine”, “Chrysanthemum” and “Hibiscus” too.
8. Chinese Compressed Tea – it is a whole and finely ground tea leaves that have been packed in molds and pressed either in block or cakes and columns shape. Compressed Tea is the most commonly produce and used form of tea back in China prior to the Ming Dynasty. Usually, Black Tea is used in Compressed Tea. It can be stored for years and decades believe it or not! Usually, “Pu’er” is used in Compressed Tea.
I hope the 8 types of Chinese Tea that I have shared with you will bring you some knowledge on tea. There are facts shown that by drinking Chinese Tea will bring goodness in us. More countries such as Western countries are now enjoy a cup of hot Chinese Tea. Hope you will find a your own favorite Chinese Tea too. Till then…
Good Luck & Enjoy
Stay tune to Wonderful Things in Life for more news!
Rosie
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