Chinese Tea – Nutritional Value, and Health Benefit

Chinese tea is one of the world’s most beloved beverages. So potent was its lure that wars were fought to supply its demand. The root of the Opium Wars lay in its high demand in Britain. The Boston Tea Party was again an attempt by the Britishers to control its trade in the colonies. While other centers like India and Sri Lanka rose to meet the growing global demand, Chinese tea remains one of the most popular beverages worldwide.

Tea is a beverage made from the leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and boiled water. Tea leaves are processed using traditional Chinese methods. Chinese tea is consumed throughout the day, including during meals, as a substitute for plain water, well-being, or for simple pleasure.

What is Chinese Tea?

You will see plenty of teas labeled as ‘Chinese tea’ in supermarkets. However, the term Chinese tea is a misnomer. There is no singular Chinese tea. There are many types of Chinese tea, including, black, green, white, yellow, oolong, and dark. There are also scented and herbal teas. All of these are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference lies in the processing of the tea leaves. In China, tea is not just a drink to warm yourself on a cold day or a means of relaxation. It is a way of life with a history that intermingles with the nation’s history at various points.

In All the Tea in China, the author describes tea as one of China’s treasures. The Buddhist monks and Taoist philosophers who promoted the beverage probably were responsible for imbuing the art of drinking tea with a greater meaning, an almost meditative quality. The book quotes Lu Yu, who in his famous work on tea described it as “a haunting flavor, strange and lasting. ^[rx]

History of Chinese Tea

China is the birthplace of tea and the beverage has always enjoyed a special place in its culture and trade. According to legend, tea was discovered in 2737 BC by Chinese Emperor Shen Nong. He found it accidentally when a leaf from a nearby shrub floated into the water. Chinese emperors have since given utmost importance to tea. They exercised tight control over the cultivation and manufacturing of tea.

Its popularity and importance continued to grow over the centuries. It was a critical part of their trade and grew to be part of an elitist culture and a mark of an intellectual. Part of China’s fascination with tea also gave rise to different ways of processing, from compressed to loose leaf. Many of the teas that we now see originated in China. So special was its position in the culture, that it was also used as a tribute.

Etiquette and Culture

Tea has been an integral part of China’s culture for millennia. Tea was considered one of the seven daily necessities, along with firewood, rice, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and oil. It has inspired literature, poetry, songs, ballads, arts, and philosophy. It was used to pay tributes under the Ming dynasty, a practice that continued. Most Chinese cities would have teahouses. These were public places where people would gather to drink tea and socialize. In fact, the only other cultural parallel would be pubs or bars in the Western world, except teahouses were even more intrinsic to the Chinese culture. They also changed in character from one place to another, from the functional tea houses of Hangzhou to the Tianjin teahouses where one could listen to operas or stories.

Tea continues to occupy its importance in modern Chinese society. An average person drinks tea throughout the day, sometimes in place of water. The Chinese tea culture is distinct from the beverage’s consumption in any other place. While it is taken casually, there are also formal occasions where tea is served. It can be served for a specific and special reason, such as to apologize, honor, or show respect. Drinking tea is seen as both a social and intensely individual experience. It is seen as part of self-cultivation, a meditative practice.

What is a Chinese Tea Ceremony?

There are two main Chinese tea ceremonies, the wedding tea ceremony and the Gongfu tea ceremony. Both the ceremonies require the proper tea set. The wedding ceremony is one of the most important wedding rituals where the new bride and groom prepare the tea and serve their elders. The ceremony is meant to honor the elders and thank them.

The Gongfu tea ceremony, on the other hand, is a more meditative experience. It is an elaborate ceremony with a strict ritual. One must be aware of the ‘cha qi’ or tea energy and be aware of how it affects one’s body and mind. Careful attention is paid to every step of the brewing, focusing on the aroma and flavor of the tea. It is marked by an almost dance-like motion of the person making the tea. The Japanese tea ceremony may also have evolved from the Gongfu tea ceremony.

Chinese Teaware: An important part of the tea ceremony is the teaware. Given the cultural importance of tea and the prominence of tea ceremonies, the Chinese teaware developed independently. The unique tea sets are known for their beautiful workmanship and simple elegance. More elaborate than its Western counterpart, the Chinese tea set is also more redolent with a sense of history that is reflective of the beverage itself. In China, tea sets can be an heirloom piece, an exquisite piece of art that is preserved carefully.

Tea is brewed in a lidded bowl, then poured into a clay pitcher to ensure an even brew. The clay of the pitcher absorbs the tea and some old pitchers may not even need tea leaves for a brew. The absorbed tea in the hot pitcher is enough to flavor the hot liquid! Many families have special pitchers, passed on through generations with beautiful works of art.

The tea is poured from the pitcher onto scent cups where one can savor the fragrance of the tea. To serve, the tea is poured into cups. Smaller than usual cups, these are cradled in one’s palms. Made of porcelain, the cups, like the pitcher, are also often exquisite. All this is served on a special tea tray with a slatted top. The intricately carved trays are meant to drain out any spills. Other tools include a tea holder to hold the tea, tea tongs to handle the cups, tea brush to wipe spilled tea, a tea needle to clean the teapot spout, and a little tea pet to be placed on the tray.

Type of Chinese Teas

Chinese tea encompasses a very wide range of teas. In fact, every tea that we see today has originated from China. We can thank the Chinese love for tea and their experimentation with its processing for the many kinds of teas that we see today. The six main types of Chinese tea are:

• White tea: Since it goes through minimal processing, white tea is made of the youngest and finest tea leaves. While not as well known as green tea, white tea is just as beneficial for health. Read our comprehensive article on the benefits of white tea.
• Black tea: While the rest of the world may call it black tea, the Chinese themselves call it red tea. The name comes from the color of the tea. Black tea was the first tea to be adopted by the Europeans. Because of its global popularity, it was later cultivated in other countries, particularly India and Sri Lanka. Black tea is also packed with many benefits, as our article details.
• Oolong tea: Falling somewhere between the green and black tea, the oolong tea is semi-oxidized. It has the freshness of green tea with the mellow flavor of black tea. It stays flavorful even after repeated steeping.
• Green tea: The oldest tea in China, it is also the most popular. It has now gained popularity all across the world because of its beneficial properties. A really good green tea gives a clear and pale liquid. Apart from its medicinal properties, it is treasured for its flavor, fragrance, and aftertaste. Our in-depth coverage of green tea tells you about its health benefits and decaf variations.
• Yellow tea: A happy accident, yellow tea was discovered as a by-product of making green tea. People realized that if the tea leaves were not dried properly during the making of tea, they would turn yellow. What was once dismissed as a defective product, soon became popular for its flavor? It is also full of benefits for your health.
• Dark tea or Pu’er tea: This is another tea that came into existence by accident. When tea was transported over large distances, the leaves would change in character because of their interaction with the changing dry and damp conditions. Today you can get two types of pu’er, raw pu’er and ripe pu’er.

Apart from these basic teas, there are two other popular variations:

• Scented tea: Traditionally scented tea was made by exposing the tea leaves to flowers or fruits of choice during their processing. The aroma of the flowers or fruits would slowly permeate into the tea leaves. Many modern manufacturers today just spray the tea leaves with essential oils for a heady aroma. The most popular type in this category is jasmine tea.
• Herbal tea: In China, the practice of drinking herbal tea is almost as strong as basic teas. Part of the ancient Chinese traditional medicines, these teas were believed to cure a host of health problems while boosting wellness. Popular herbal teas include wolfberry tea, ginseng tea, hawthorn tea, and mint tea.

Growing areas

Styles

Infusions

Tea varieties

• 24 flavors — herbal
• Anji bai cha — green
• Baihao Yinzhen — white
• Bai Jiguan — oolong
• Bai Mudan — white
• Baimao Hou — green
• Ban Tian Yao — oolong
• Biluochun — green
• Bu Zhi Chun — oolong
• Chun Mee — green
• “Congou” — black
• Da Fang — green
• Da Hong Pao — oolong
• Dianhong — black
• Fo Shou — oolong
• Golden Monkey tea — black
• Huang Guanyin — oolong
• Huang Meigui — oolong
• Huangshan Maofeng — green
• Huoshan Huangya — yellow
• Jin Fo — oolong
• Jin Jun Mei — black
• Jin Suo Chi — oolong
• Junshan Yinzhen — yellow
• Keemun — black
• Lapsang souchong — black
• Longjing tea — green
• Lu’an Melon Seed tea — green
• Mengding Ganlu — green
• Panda dung tea
• Pouchong — green/oolong
• Pu-erh — fermented
• Qilan — oolong
• Rougui — oolong
• Ruan Zhi — oolong
• Shou Mei — white
• Shui Hsien — oolong
• Shui Jin Gui — oolong
• Taiping houkui — green
• Tieluohan — oolong
• Tieguanyin — oolong
• Wong Lo Kat — herbal
• Yingdehong — black
• Zhuyeqing — green

Surprising Health Benefits Of Chines Tea

Drinking tea is known to have many health benefits and today we will go over just a few of those.

• Chinese tea can reduce the risk of insulin? is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes? – One of the many benefits of drinking tea regularly is it helps increase insulin? production in your body, helping you reduce the risk of diabetes?. Many people aren’t aware of the fact that tea contains polyphenols. These micronutrients are filled with antioxidants and other properties that help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is known that drinking 5-6 cups of oolong tea a day can reduce your risk of diabetes by over 30 percent.
• Chinese tea can aid you in losing weight – Chinese tea also helps when it comes to losing weight. The most popular tea for weight loss? is green tea. Green tea helps by speeding up your metabolism meaning your body will turn fat into energy at a faster rate. Green tea has natural caffeine in it, caffeine is known to naturally burn fat and help increase exercise performance. Green tea is also full of many antioxidants like EGCG which are known to help make breaking down fat a faster process.
• Chinese tea can improve muscle endurance – Known to be full of catechins, Chinese tea helps speed up the process of burning fat. It helps you gain muscle and increase your muscle endurance in the process. Increased muscular endurance has many benefits that include reducing the risk of injury, increase in confidence, and increase in physical abilities.
• Chinese tea is known to improve memory – Many of the benefits of green tea are for your physical health. But green tea can also help improve your mental abilities. This is because tea contains enzymes that help increase your brain function and decrease cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults. A study[rx] conducted in Singapore concluded that drinking tea regularly can reduce cognitive impairment in older adults by as much as 50-86 percent. This means that Chinese tea might help you find a way to combat cognitive diseases in the future like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Chinese tea has infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory? properties – infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">Inflammation? is caused when your body is trying to fight foreign objects that are trying to hurt it. This might mean your immune system will be fighting toxins, injuries, or even infections. Sometimes your body might confuse its own cells as a threat which can lead to an autoimmune? disease. You can see signs of infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation? if your skin is red, swollen, you are in pain, or the affected area seems warm due to increase blood flow. Green and black tea are known to be full of antioxidants. The most powerful antioxidant found in these teas is EGCG. This powerful antioxidant can reduce inflammation in immune and vascular cells.
• Fight free radicals – Free radicals can cause a lot of damage to your body if not taken care of properly. Free radicals are described as molecules that move throughout your body with unpaired electrons. Since these molecules are missing an electron pair, they look for other molecules to rob an electron from. This process can cause severe damage to your cells and body. Chinese tea helps your body because in order for your body to be able to work properly your free radicals and antioxidants need to be completely balanced. Having too many free radicals can cause Oxidative stress. Your body does benefit a little from some oxidative stress however, having too much oxidative stress in your body has been linked to conditions like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s diseases.
• Improves teeth and gum health – Drinking tea regularly is also known to help improve your dental health. Drinking tea on a daily basis can help give your body additional protection from cavities, gum disease, and bacteria that causes bad breath. Green tea has many benefits and one of the least known benefits is the fact that it aids in controlling bacteria in your mouth. This in turn helps you reduce your bad breath and help fight against cavities. Another way that drinking green tea helps reduce the risk of cavities is by controlling the acidity of your saliva. Chinese tea is also known to help improve gum health and has been proven to be better at controlling bad breath than chewing gum, mints, and other natural solutions for bad breath.

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