Varieties of Chinese tea

China is the birthplace of tea and famous for its rich tea culture; therefore, there are many kinds of tea and the ways of drinking it. Longjing tea is a non-fermented tea, and probably the most famous green tea in China. For the fermented tea, they have varieties of Black tea, Oolong tea Tieguannon tea, and Shui-xian tea. Some unique teas include Puh-er tea as an after-fermented tea, and White tea and Yellow tea as a light-fermented tea. There are also different kinds of scented tea which is known and as Jasmine tea. In China, tea is also categorized by the shape of tea leaves. Small round shaped kinds are called "gun powder", eyebrow shaped kinds are called "Soumi" or "Chunmi", folded tea leaves are called fanning. There are also firm molded teas. The most popular tea drunk by the Han ethnic people in China is green tea by those east of Yan-zi river, and Jasmine tea west of the Yanzi river. In Western China, Mongolia, and central Asia, after-fermented tea, is the most popular tea. Some people prefer to drink black tea in the urban areas in China, but most black tea is exported to other countries.

(Tadakazu Takeo)