List of Chinese teas facts for kids
Chinese tea is a special drink made from the leaves of the tea plant, called Camellia sinensis. People in China have been making and drinking tea for thousands of years! To make tea, the leaves are picked and then processed using traditional Chinese methods. After that, hot water, usually between 60 and 100 degrees Celsius, is poured over them.
People in China drink tea all day long. They drink it with meals, instead of plain water, for health benefits, or just because it tastes good. There are many different kinds of Chinese tea, each with its own unique flavor and story.
Contents
What Are the Main Types of Chinese Tea?
Chinese tea comes in many exciting types, each made a little differently. Here are the main ones:
| Name | What it's like | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Black tea (紅茶) | Strong and rich, often reddish in color. |  |
| Green tea (綠茶) | Fresh and light, often with a grassy taste. |  |
| Oolong (also known as Wulong) | A mix between green and black tea, with a complex flavor. |  |
| White tea (白茶) | Very delicate and mild, made from young tea buds. |  |
| Yellow tea (黃茶) | Rare and smooth, with a gentle, sweet taste. |  |
| Dark tea (黑茶) | Often aged for many years, with an earthy flavor. |  |
Special Tea Styles
Some teas are known for how they are prepared or what they look like:
| Name | What it's like | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Flowering tea (香片) | These teas are crafted into a ball that "blooms" into a flower when hot water is added. It's beautiful to watch! |  |
| Ground tea (Lei cha) (擂茶) | This tea is made by grinding tea leaves with other ingredients like nuts and seeds. It's often eaten as a thick soup. |  |
| Gunpowder tea (珠茶) | Green tea leaves rolled into small, round pellets that look like gunpowder. They unfurl when steeped. |  |
| Jasmine tea (茉莉花茶) | Green tea scented with fresh jasmine flowers, giving it a sweet, floral smell and taste. |  |
| Kombucha (昆布茶) | A fizzy, fermented tea drink that has a slightly sour and sweet taste. |  |
Teas from Special Places
Many famous Chinese teas are named after the places where they grow. The soil, climate, and traditions of these areas give the teas their unique qualities. Some well-known tea-growing regions include:
Herbal Drinks (Not True Tea)
Sometimes, drinks made from other plants are called "tea," but they don't come from the Camellia sinensis plant. These are often called herbal infusions or tisanes.
What Are the Ten Famous Chinese Teas?
China has many amazing teas, and some are so special they are called the "Ten Famous Chinese Teas." While there isn't one official list, these teas are usually included:
| Name | What makes it special |
|---|---|
| West Lake Longjing tea (Dragon Well Tea) (西湖龙井茶) | A very famous green tea from Hangzhou, known for its flat, smooth leaves and sweet taste. |
| Dongting Biluochun (Snail Spring Tea) (洞庭碧螺春) | A delicate green tea with a fruity, floral aroma, shaped like tiny snails. |
| Huangshan Maofeng (Yellow Mountain Fur Peak) (黄山毛峰) | A green tea from Huangshan, known for its fresh, sweet taste and slightly curled leaves. |
| Junshan Yinzhen (Silver Needle Tea) (君山银针) | A rare yellow tea made only from young, silvery buds. It has a very pure and gentle flavor. |
| Qimen Red Tea (祁门红茶) | A famous black tea from Anhui, known for its rich, malty flavor and sometimes a hint of orchid. |
| Lu'an Melon Seed Tea or Luan Leaf (六安瓜片) | A unique green tea where only the second leaf is used, shaped like a melon seed. It has a clear, refreshing taste. |
| Xinyang Maojian tea (信阳毛尖) | A green tea from Henan, known for its fresh, strong taste and thin, tightly rolled leaves. |
| Duyun Maojian (都匀毛尖) | A green tea from Guizhou, known for its fresh aroma and slightly curly shape. |
| Wuyi Tea, also known as Bohea (武夷岩茶) | These are oolong teas from the Wuyi Mountains, famous for their "rock rhyme" taste. This includes the very rare Da Hong Pao. |
| Anxi County Iron Goddess of Mercy (安溪铁观音) | A popular oolong tea from Fujian, known for its floral aroma and smooth, rich taste. |
| Peaceful Monkey Leader (太平猴魁) | A large-leaf green tea from Anhui, known for its unique flat shape and refreshing taste. |
| Lushan Cloud tea (庐山云雾) | A green tea from Mount Lu, known for its clear liquor and refreshing taste, often grown in misty conditions. |
Images for kids
-
Chrysanthemum tea is a popular herbal infusion.
-
Jin Fo tea is a relatively new Wuyi oolong tea.
-
A close-up of Huang Guanyin tea.
-
Shoumei tea is a white tea that is produced from naturally withered upper leaf and tips, with a stronger flavor reminiscent of lighter Oolong teas. It is mostly grown in the Fujian province or Guangxi province in China.
-
Fresh taiping houkui green tea leaves.
