2. The Origin of Tea
• Legend that Emperor
Shennong boiled
water to drink
(2737 BC)
• Tea leaves fell from
bush close by into
water
• Shennong drank it
and liked it
3. Daily Life
• Still part of Chinese daily life
• National drink
• Most popular drink after water
4. The Art of Tea
• Lu Yu‟s book
“The Classic Art
of Tea”, 8th
century
• Picking, brewing,
serving, tasting
5. The Art of Tea (Cont.)
• Environment/
atmosphere
• Teahouses
• Teapots
Yixing Zisha (purple-
sand) clay teapot
7. Believed Benefits
• Refreshes mind
• Relieves headaches,
dizziness, sleepiness
• Antioxidant
• Aids immune system
• Improves digestion
• Prevents cancer
8. Types of Chinese Tea
• Thousands of tea types
• 5 main types
• Green tea
Unfermented, „raw‟
o
Longest history, most
o
popular in China
Green leaves, liquid
o
mostly clear, tinted with
green
Longjing (Dragon Well) in West
o
Lake, Hangzhou; color, fragrance,
flavor and shape
9. Types of Chinese Tea
• Black (red) tea
Fermented before
o
baking
Easy to transport
o
Popular with
o
Westerners
Red in color,
o
thicker in flavor
10. Types of Chinese Tea
• Oolong tea
Moderately
o
fermented
Between green and
o
black tea
Mellow taste
o
Said to make you
o
fitter
11. Types of Chinese Tea
• White tea
Picked and harvested
o
when leaves are still
buds
Light aroma/color
o
Rare, expensive
o
• Scented tea
o Flowers + tea leaves
o Osmanthus, plum, and jasmine
12. Trade
• Drove economy
in ancient times
• China = main
(and first)
producer
• Major export
• Spread across
the world
