When you think of Chinese tea, you may probably picture the beverage you sometimes are offered at fancy Chinese restaurants, or maybe even be reminded of the free tea bags that are thrown at the bottom of the bag along with fortune cookies when ordering take-out.
The truth is, you are not incorrect...this is in fact "tea from China", but it is nowhere near what true Chinese tea has to offer!
China is the birthplace of tea, and literally produces hundreds of varieties of tea!
You might have discovered elsewhere, either on my site or not, that ALL tea comes from the same Camellia sinensis bush. China is the mother of this tea plant and was once the world's largest supplier of tea.
Today, China has to play second fiddle to India, which is now the world's largest producer, a majority of that being black tea. But China at least falls next in line and gives to us some of the best varieties around. Most of my favorite teas come from this country.
Now although the four main types of tea are processed in China, white and green teas remain the most common. There are many regions in China that grow and export tea. The Fujian Province in China produces a large amount of Chinese tea, some of which is considered the most delicate.
White tea from China like Silver Needle, is probably the most powerful yet subtle of all teas. This famous variety, also known as "yinzhen" tea, remains my favorite variety of white tea. We also get Pai Mu Tan, also called "White Peony", another popular variety of white tea grown here.
Green tea like Dragon Well is a well-known variety of green produced in China. The brew gives a smooth sweet taste and is recognized as one of the best Chinese greens. Yet lesser varieties like "white monkey", a sweet and almost tangy form of green tea can be found here as well! These green teas are just two examples of over a hundred varieties and sub-varieties of teas that are processed here. They are also great for newcomers too!
Remember when I mentioned about the beverage that is served at fancy Chinese restaurants? Do you know what type of tea that is? In most cases it will be oolong tea, a type of tea that is in between green and black.
Even though white and green types account for most of China's tea, oolong is no stranger, and varieties like "Ti Kuan Yin" (meaning iron goddess of mercy) and "Wuyi Ensemble" are some of the best that I've tried. In fact, Wuyi Ensemble happens to be my favorite oolong tea.
Chinese tea doesn't stop at those three types...there is also black tea from China. Ever hear of Keemun tea?
This variety is perhaps the most famous variety of Chinese black tea, which is usually rolled by hand and yields a cup that is rich and smoky! Perfect for coffee drinkers searching for a healthier alternative.
The above are some popular examples of Chinese tea that you may come across. Please keep in mind that there are way more! This is why I love tea...there is always a new cup to look forward to and experience!
So, after reading the insight on this page, I'm sure you'll laugh the next time you see or hear someone refer to Chinese tea as just the little inferior teabags that comes with their Friday night order huh?
To experience the varieties mentioned on this page, go to adagio.com, and start exploring the world of tea!
