China is considered the home of tea. Chinese tea is a beverage from the leaves of tea plants. In the early period of the 17th century, Chinese tea was exported to Europe. The Chinese drink tea throughout the day, including during meals, as a substitute for plain water for health or simple pleasure.
Chinese tea may be classified into five categories according to the different methods by which it is processed: Green Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, Compressed Tea and Scented Tea. The tea from China is in great abundance and variety. To tell if a pot of tea is nice you can mainly rely on the color, smell, taste and form. Here are the top excellent Chinese teas of China.
West Lake Dragon Well Tea (Xi Hu Long Jing)
The West Lake Dragon Well Tea is a variety of green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is well-known worldwide and is highly praised for its green color, long-lasting elegant fragrance and mellow taste.
Dongting Spring Snail (Bi Luo Chun)
Dongting Biluochun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting Mountains ofJiangsu Province. It has a small leaf which is famous for its very sweet vegetal fragrance and thick mouth feel. When steeping this tea you will notice some of the down in your brew.
Huangshan Fur Peak (Huangshan Maofeng)
Huangshan Maofeng tea is a green tea produced in south eastern interior Anhui province of China. The best teas are picked in the early Spring before China’s Qingming Festival. When picking the tea, only the new tea buds and the leaf next to the bud are picked. It is said by local tea farmers that the leaves resemble orchid buds.
Anxi Iron Goddess (Anxi Tieguanyin)
Anxi Iron Goddess Tea is a premium variety of Chinese oolong tea originated in the 19th century in Anxi in Fujian province. There are different gastronomic characteristics of Tieguanyin produced in different areas of Anxi.
Lu’an Mellon Seed (Lu’an Guapian) Photo 1
Lu’an Mellon Seed (Lu’an Guapian) Photo 2
Lu’an Guapian is one of the best Green tea to come from Lu’an County in An Hui province of China. This is no small feat considering An Hui is renowned for producing a variety of high quality green teas since the Tang Dynasty. Lu’an Guapian has a particularly smooth taste, sweet aroma and bright color.
Keemon Black Tea (Qimen Hongcha)
Keemon Black Tea is a black Chinese tea with a winey and fruity taste, designated as a China Famous Tea. The aroma of Keemun tea is fruity, which creates a very distinctive and balanced taste.
Yunnan Pu-erh
Pu-erh tea, also spelled as Pu’er tea is a variety of post-fermented tea produced in Yunnan province.Yunnan Pu-erh tea is compressed into various shapes and is black or brown-red in color. It tastes mellow and is purported to reduce blood cholesterol. It is reputed to be the beauty tea and slim tea. It can generally improve in taste over time.
White Fur Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) Photo 1
White Fur Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) Photo 2
White Fur Silver Needle is produced in Fuding, Fujian. It is made from young bud sets and therefore is thought to have more of the amino acid theanine, which is known for its relaxing and mood enhancing properties.