Chinese tea is served in more and more families around the world today. However, if you are new to the Chinese tea, what are some common facts that you have to know about this worldwide drink?

Here let’s take a look at some of those Chinese tea basics. We hope this will make you already look like a Chinese tea expert.

As China’s national drink, tea has been known in the country for over 4,000 years. That is almost as old as the Chinese civilization.

A popular Chinese legend says that the discovery of tea by Shen Nong-one of China’s most famous mythological figures-was more by luck than by fate. One day, Shen Nong noticed some leaves were blown into his pot of boiling water and produced a lovely, refreshing drink.

As the homeland of tea, China has some of the world’s oldest tea plantations with ancient tea trees as old as 2,700 years.

Out of question, these tea trees are a national treasure, and enjoy a 24-hour guard service.

Around China, hundreds of varieties of Chinese tea falling into 8 major classes are produced. They are green tea, black tea, red tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, compressed tea, and flower-scented tea.

Of those varieties, it’s great to try Longjing(green), Da Hong Pao(oolong), Maojian(green), Pu’er(compressed), and Shuixian(oolong), some of the most popular Chinese tea in the market. The teas are greatly sought after by tea lovers worldwide.

The varieties of Chinese teas may be in plenty, but they are all harvested from one single species of plant: the Camellia Sinensis.

This plant favors acid soil and a warm climate. Camellia Sinensis shrubs are ever green, with the leaves growing 4-15 cm long and 2-5cm broad. The tea leaves to be processed are those young and tender ones.

The processing the leaves undergo determines what type of Chinese tea they will become. Green tea is dried under the sun in order to bring out a natural flavor, while oolong tea is fermented long and hard for a deep and crisp taste.

It has been known for centuries Chinese tea had a wide variety of health benefits. It helps you fight against cancer, and allows you to be slimmer and look younger.

Know these facts about Chinese tea, and you will already look like a tea expert!

Tags: Health, Chinese tea, Chinese tea varieties, Chinese tea basics, tea plantations