Six Types of Chinese Tea & Why You Need to Drink Them

As laowai, we are constantly reminded of two things: ONE: We are in fact laowai. “You are a foreigner.” has to be one of the most used expressions in the Chinese language, particularly in expat havens like Shanghai. TWO: We drink too much coffee. We should drink more hot water & tea. Today let us dive into number two. China is known across the globe for its high tea quality and expertise. What exactly are these teas, what do they do, and why do we need to drink them? We went to ask some professionals to find out…

CHINESE TEA OVERVIEW

Before we dive down into the specific categories, what’s explain a little bit about Chinese tea as a whole. To start here are the six main styles of Chinese tea & how far along they are in the fermentation process:

·Green Tea 绿茶  (lǜ chá)

o(0% Fermentation)

·Yellow Tea 黄茶 (huáng chá)

o(10% - 20% Fermentation)

·White Tea 白茶 (bái chá)

o(20% - 30% Fermentation)

·Oolong Tea青茶 (qīng chá) / 乌龙茶 (wū lóng chá)

o(30% - 60% Fermentation)

·Red Tea 红茶 (hóng chá)(Commonly known as “Black” tea)

o(80% - 90% Fermentation)

·Black Tea 黑茶 (hēi chá)(also known as Pu’er tea)

o(100% Fermentation)

LONGJING (DRAGON WELL) TEA

Green tea seems like a good place to start. Everyone is always talking about how great it is for your health. We’ve chosen “Longjing” tea as it’s one of the most commonly seen green teas in China, and is grown quite locally over in Longjing village near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Longjing tea is a pan-roasted green tea, roasted (or steamed) just before it dries out to stop the oxidation process that creates oolong/black tea. Longjing Tea has notable health effects focused on weight loss, lower cholesterol, and heart health due to its cleansing (detoxing) ability. Longjing tea is comprised of high amounts of Vitamin C, amino acids, and catechins.

Taste: Gentle & Sweet

Price: $$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤❤❤

JUNSHAN YINZHEN

(“Silver Needles of the Gentleman Mountain”)

Besides this awesome name, Junshan Yinzhen is an incredibly popular “yellow tea.” Yellow tea is a rare variation of green tea, only different in being steamed with a damp cloth just after oxidation begins (rather than before). One of the most famous, and most expensive teas in China. Notably the favorite tea of Chairman Mao Zedong. Health benefits around yellow tea are similar to that of green tea, utilizing such a similar process of preparation and fermentation level. Green tea is suggested to be slightly healthier and more effective for weight loss. Silver Needle teas like Junshan Yinzhen are often sold as “white teas” but in reality are classified as “yellow teas.”

Taste: Mellow & Bitter

Price: $$$$$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤❤

BAI MUDAN

“White Peony”

This is a white tea made with plucks of one leaf shoot and two younger leaves. Bai Mudan is a fruity tea in essence, with a fuller body than the previously mentioned yellow tea, and more floral aroma. White tea is considerably healthy and beneficial regarding its high levels of antioxidants. For cancer prevention, stronger bones, and clearer skin, white tea is the way to go.

Taste: Fruity/Floral/Full Bodied

Price: $$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤❤

OOLONG TEA

“Black Dragon Tea”

Oolong tea is where the fermentation process begins to take more noticeable effect on tea appearance and taste. Fujian province in Southern China is famous for their notable expertise in harvesting and processing oolong tea. Oolong tea and the experts behind it are most renowned for the intricate art of baking, rolling, shaping the leaves in tightly weaved pearls of tea.

Taste: Floral & Citrusy

Price: $$$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤❤

RED TEA

(Known as Black tea in the West)

Can’t blame the Chinese for calling the tea by the color of the actual liquid. In the West red tea would typically be referring to rooibos tea, but that’s not the case of here in the East. This is the typical “black” tea you’d see when you drink PG Tips, Earl Grey, or English Breakfast tea. Much more fermented than green, white, or oolong tea, and a much more powerful flavor. Health benefits of black tea include helping digestion, lower risk of diabetes, and strong teeth/gums.

Taste: Earthy & Mild

Price: $$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤

PU’ER TEA

Pu’er tea is a heavily fermented black tea produced in Yunnan provenance. Extremely expensive, and the older the is the more valuable it becomes. Likewise, the old the tree, the more expensive the tea is. Some teas from trees up to 500 years old can cost you thousands of dollars for a simple circular brick (as shown above). Health benefits of Pu’er tea include increased liver function and health, weight loss, and lower cholesterol.

Taste: Earthy, Strong, Bitter

Price: $$$$$

Health Benefits: ❤❤❤

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