Chinese tea has been around for centuries and is still a popular drink today. The history of Chinese Tea dates back to the earliest dynasties in China, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty that it became more widespread. Today, there are many types of Chinese teas to enjoy: green tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea - so many options! Read on to learn about some of the benefits of drinking different types of Chinese teas, along with their various flavors.
What actually is Chinese tea?
As China is one of the oldest nations in the world, it has an extensive history. Chinese tea is immersed in that centuries-old tradition. Known as "chá" in Mandarin, Chinese tea was originally exclusively reserved for royalty but gradually became more common among the people over time.
Chinese tea is actually remarkably diverse, with many different tastes and flavors. Most of them are made from thirty to one hundred floral buds of Camellia sinensis and processed in a manner that increases their potency and reduces their caffeine content while preserving or enhancing their flavor. Chinese tea production is focused primarily on the southern provinces of China, which have a warmer climate that encourages faster growth.
History of Chinese Tea
Chinese tea has thousands of years' worth of history behind it. Its origins can be traced back to remote antiquity when leaves were used medicinally or in conjunction with various rituals.
Tea was first brought to China by Arab traders in the 10th century who was often on the road and would carry it with that journey. The Arabs didn't just bring tea there, but also Arab physicians that taught Chinese herbalists about their use and benefits (namely, an antibacterial and antifungal effect).
Beverage Vs. Medicinal Drink
The Chinese also began to drink tea for their own medicinal purposes, but there is still a debate as to what comes first: the use of the tea plant medicinally or the traditional use of it as a beverage.
The earliest records of using Chinese tea for medicinal purposes occurred during the Song Dynasty. During this time, it became a common drink and was believed to be very beneficial for health because it helped keep out illness and ward off injury. It was also believed to aid in digestion and aid with mental alertness.
History of White Chinese Tea
The most favored kind of tea for medicinal purposes during that time was white tea. Because of its light taste and relatively low caffeine content, white tea is the best choice for people who want a drink that won't lead to a sleepless night or an upset stomach.
As tea became a common drink for all classes of Chinese society, it started to be used as currency. In fact, during the Song Dynasty, tea was the most widely traded currency in China by weight, with loose tea being more valuable than gold!
Popularity of Black Tea
At the height of the Song Dynasty, China had a very large black tea industry. During this time, black tea enjoyed a great deal of popularity, and many large production sites existed in southern China producing a huge amount of black tea. This is why China is often referred to as the 'birthplace of black tea.'
Modern-day Chinese Tea
Today tea is still an important part of Chinese culture and is steeped in history and culture. In recent years, tea has moved towards becoming more than just a drink but also something you can prepare as well as serve - thus adding to the variety of beverages available! Still, we cannot forget that tea is much more than just a drink: there is artistry and culture behind it.
Something that we don't often think about is the preparation and presentation of the tea as well as its taste.
Preparation of Chinese Tea
The production of tea requires at least two steps: growing and harvesting Camellia sinensis and processing the leaves to make them suitable for brewing as a beverage or for use in other products. The harvesting step involves plucking and sorting the leaves and buds from the stems and rolling them to loosen their veins, which makes it easy for processing.
Harvesting leaves and buds from a Camellia sinensis plant
The first step is to pluck the flowers, stems, and buds carefully from the plant. The leaves are then rinsed, ensuring that the stems and buds are thoroughly wet. There are many options besides using water to rinse the leaves, such as polishings with citric acid or lemon juice.
The next step is to cut up or shred the harvested product into small pieces to be used for brewing tea. This step is commonly referred to as Sheng Pu.
After the processing of the tea leaves, there are a few choices for tea drinkers to make regarding the type of tea to drink. Some of the most prevalent ones include white, green, oolong, and black.
The drying process determines the quality of the tea. If the leaves and buds are dried slowly in a humid atmosphere before packaging, they produce a higher quality tea. Teas such as black and oolong produce equally high quality with only a shorter period of time.
Oolong tea is made from somewhat oxidized leaves. Black tea is completely oxidized, while green and white teas are not oxidized at all. With the exception of white/yellow teas, the processing method determines whether a brewed cup of tea will be black or green in color.
Distinct types of Chinese tea
White Tea
White tea has an exceptionally light flavor and not much caffeine (about half as much as green tea) and is very delicate in flavor because it's made from immature leaves. You can usually tell if a tea is a white tea by its color: it usually comes in a pale clear green color and has a distinctive floral aroma. It is typically served as an after-dinner drink.
Green Tea
Green tea is made from the tender, new leaves of the tea plant and has very little caffeine (about one-third as much as black tea). Green tea varies in taste depending on the variety, but some common characteristics include sweet, grassy notes that go well with savory dishes.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is semi-oxidized and falls somewhere between green and black teas in terms of both processing and taste. It has a noticeably light flavor, somewhere between green tea and black tea, and contains about half the caffeine of black tea.
Black Tea
Black tea is fully oxidized (the leaves are left to dry post-picking), making it bolder in flavor than its other counterparts. As part of Chinese culture, black tea is served at all formal gatherings or large parties because it's appropriate for any occasion. Black tea has about half the caffeine of green tea and white tea.
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh Chinese tea is a type of fermented tea that has been aged for at least two years. It comes in dark, brown-colored leaves which are curled in an accordion shape. Additionally, the leaves are twisted in the form of small twigs with fruit calyxes.
The dry leaf aroma typically includes notes of earth or woodiness, while the wet leaf scent may include leather, tobacco flowers, and mushroom notes. Because of its long aging process, Pu-erh tea is also known as Long fermented tea.
Benefits of Chinese tea
Many of us know that drinking tea is good for our bodies, but not everyone knows how Chinese tea differs from other teas. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of using Chinese tea in detail.
Prevent against stroke and heart disease
Chinese tea can help lower cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. In fact, drinking just one cup of green tea per day could reduce your chances of strokes by 10%. According to the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, it's also possible that you could lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by 50%.
Relieve Stress
Chinese tea is very beneficial for the mind. It is a great stress reliever, and it also provides a calming effect on the mind. A cup of tea in the morning with breakfast or in the afternoon with a snack is truly an enjoyable experience.
Improve Memory
Drinking Chinese tea is also good for your brain. Three cups of oolong tea each day can lower the risk of dementia, while green tea can lessen the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. It may be primarily due to antioxidant effects, but green tea is also known for its mood-boosting properties.
Protect against Cancer
Another reason why you should drink Chinese tea? All types can help prevent cancer. In fact, one study in Chinese women showed that oolong tea can lower the risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
Acts as a pain reliever
Chinese tea may help ease menstrual pains and is sometimes used as an alternative painkiller for people with conditions like arthritis or back pain.
Helps in weight lose
Chinese tea can also help you to reduce weight. It promotes gastric juice secretion along with the fat decomposing ability and helps with better food digestion, ultimately lowering BMI and a slimmer waistline.
Anti-aging properties
Oolong tea has anti-aging properties and can help with cystic acne, narrow pores and act as a natural sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful sun rays.
Improve Bone Density
Another study showed that Chinese tea also helps fight osteoporosis. After drinking it just for a few days, you will experience a significant increase in bone density which can be great for people looking to build up their bone mass, especially those aged 45 years and older.
Green living benefit
The leaves of green tea plants require less water to grow than most other crops. They are good for the environment because they help to control pests, weeds, viruses, and bacteria.
Additionally, this type of tea can provide all of these benefits without any side effects at all!
How Can You Make Chinese Tea?
Each tea comes with an instruction manual that will help you with the optimum brewing experience. We also present you with an easy peasy, step-by-step guide on how to make Chinese tea, so you can prepare it in no time.
- Put a teapot on the stove, turn it up to high heat, and let it heat for 2 minutes.
- In another pot, pour boiling water over as many tea leaves as you would like for your cup of tea. Let them steep until the water is dark green or black in color.
- Once your teapot is heated, take it off the stove, and pour the hot water onto the tea leaves.
- Place a lid on your teapot and let it steep for 3 minutes.
- You will also want to stir the leaves occasionally during this period - do not leave it to steep for over an hour, as the leaves will get bitter.
- Take the teapot off of the burner and pour out a cup of tea. Drink it!
With the vast variety of Chinese tea available on the market today, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to boost your immune system or need help with digestion after a big meal, Qin tea has what you need! Qin tea deals with premium quality tea sourced directly from China and Taiwan so, you can totally trust the quality and service.
Let us know if we can assist in finding out which type of tea is best suited to your needs. Each tea comes with an instruction manual that'll help you with the whole brewing process so you can get the optimal taste of authentic Chinese tea. Plus, the tea comes in a zipped pouch, so you can rest assured that it'll stay fresh and tasteful for a long time. We'll make sure it arrives at your doorstep within 2 days (or even faster!) Have we convinced you? Buy from Qin Tea now and take advantage of our premium products and services!