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CHINESE TEA
FOR DUMMIES
By Jordan Coates
Have you ever wondered why your Chinese friend gives you an uncomprehending "huh?", when you say you'll have a cup of green tea? That's because Chinese tea culture and classification is a complex and mysterious world, that the uninitiated amongst us cannot understand. Fret not! Here is Jordan Coates and his whirlwind Chinese tea-drinking masterclass to help you sip more knowledgeably.
宁可三日无粮， 不可一日无茶。 According to this old Chinese proverb, it is “better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one”. Just in case you needed any convincing, the Chinese take their unofficial national drink seriously.
into a manageable concept. Although there are many different methods of classification, one widely accepted method, is to divide tea into six main categories: lǜchá 绿茶 (green tea), báichá 白茶 (white tea), wūlóngchá 乌龙茶 (oolong tea), hóngchá 红茶 (red tea), huángchá 黄茶 (yellow tea), and hēichá 黑茶 (dark tea).
leafy spirals. Then you must breathe in the smell, both before and after brewing, and close your eyes to fully appreciate the aroma. Finally you will taste the tea, slurping to really activate the flavour and noting the aftertaste, which can linger on the tongue’s surface and reveal much about the quality and complexity of the tea.
I was taken aback by the range of teas and the contrast between different types, some barely recognisable as tea how I knew it. With a vast array of leaves set out before us, our host tried to break it down
Like savouring a fine wine, sipping on premium tea is an experience you should relish. Firstly, begin by examining the tea leaves, which come in varying shapes and sizes, from tightly curled pearls to delicate
To share an insight into this multifaceted world, I tasted a few varieties and here is my take on them:
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