The Culture of the World's Favourite Drink
Plan My Trip →Tea is woven into the fabric of Chinese life — a daily drink, an art form, and a philosophy. This guide introduces the history, types, and rituals of Chinese tea, and how to experience them on your travels.
Legend credits the mythical emperor Shennong with discovering tea around 2737 BC. China remained the world's only tea producer for millennia, and the beverage spread along the trade routes to become the world's most popular drink after water.
All teas come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis) — the differences come from processing. China classifies them into six types: green, white, yellow, oolong, black (hongcha), and dark (hei cha, including Pu-erh), plus the scented and compressed varieties.
Each region produces its signature teas: green teas of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, oolongs of Fujian, black teas of Anhui and Yunnan, and the fermented teas of Yunnan. Tea-growing areas — like Hangzhou and the Wuyi Mountains — are beautiful destinations in themselves.
The gongfu ('skill') style of tea-making uses small pots and tiny cups to extract the tea's full character in multiple infusions. Watching a skilled host perform the ritual — with its precise pour and appreciation of each cup — is a highlight of any China visit.
Tea houses are the living rooms of Chinese society — places to meet, relax, and linger over endless cups. Chengdu's teahouses, Hangzhou's lakeside pavilions, and the old teahouses of Beijing each have their own atmosphere.
For quality tea, buy from reputable shops or producers. Look for whole, well-formed leaves, fresh aroma, and honest pricing. Tea makes an ideal souvenir — light, beautiful, and genuinely of the place.