Legendary Lady Lan, the Ancestor of Tea
2012-07-23
While cultivating indigo, Tai Lao also grows tea. Lu Yu’s *The Classic of Tea* states: “The practice of drinking tea originated with Emperor Shennong and became known through Duke Zhou of Lu,” suggesting that the discovery and use of tea trace back to the prehistoric Shennong era. However, the very first line of *The Classic of Tea* declares: “Tea is the noblest tree of the South.” Yet we know that Shennong Yan Di, revered as the ancestor of the Central Plains, actually hailed from a northern, nomadic or semi-nomadic culture. This clearly indicates that during the long prehistoric period, the originator of discovering and harnessing this “noble tree of the South” was not solely Shennong. In their book *Twenty-One Lectures on Tea and Tea Culture*, compiled by Cheng Qikun and others, the term “South” is interpreted narrowly as referring specifically to China’s southwestern region, leading to the one-sided conclusion: “In ancient times, four…
The happiness that comes with white tea
2012-07-05
I usually enjoy drinking green tea, but recently I came across a book by Pan Xiangli that mentioned the concept of "tea and Zen being one," suggesting white tea is the most fitting choice for this idea. This sparked a deep sense of admiration for white tea within me.
Before trying white tea, I’d always assumed its leaves were naturally white, with milky-white tea liquor. But when I finally got my hands on a small package of exquisite white tea, I couldn’t help feeling a profound sense of reverence. I carefully poured water into a glass cup, gently opened the tiny tea bag, and instantly, the delicate aroma of white tea filled my senses.
Holding a few tea leaves in the palm of my hand, I noticed their silvery-white tips—soft, fine, and almost needle-like. Indeed, white tea truly lives up to its reputation as the "noble of teas." As Song Huizong wrote in his *Da Guan Cha Ji*: "White tea stands apart from all others, distinguished by its elegant, translucent appearance and ethereal, delicate flavor. Growing spontaneously among forests and cliffs, it’s a gift of nature itself—something no human effort could ever replicate. Its inner and outer beauty shines through like pure jade."
2012-06-20
At 2:00 PM on June 9, a snapshot was taken in the internship classroom of Fuding Vocational Secondary School.
Six months ago, tea artist Jiang Jingjing was hired by Fangming Tea Industry Company. On the morning of June 9, she carefully dressed up in her company-provided single dormitory, ready to start her shift.
Meanwhile, on June 9, senior tea artist Xie Jia'an from Fuding City once again visited the community, generously sharing his expertise in tea ceremony performances with residents free of charge.
Twelve years ago, in June, Fuding City, Fujian Province, established its very first amateur tea art performance team. One of the founders, Xie Jia'an, a teacher at Fuding Vocational Secondary School, recalls that back then, the team’s performances were essentially demonstrations learned by just a few young women from video tutorials.
Fuding White Tea: Research Findings from China's Four Leading Authorities
2012-05-29
Research findings on the health and wellness benefits of Fuding white tea are set to be unveiled soon. As Fuding white tea continues to gain popularity and earn a stellar reputation, it’s steadily capturing the public’s attention and becoming increasingly well-known. When enjoying white tea, aside from its unique and delightful tasting experience, one of the topics that tea enthusiasts discuss most passionately is its distinctive health-promoting properties. In 2010, four of China’s leading national research institutions—the National Research Center for Engineering Technology of Plant Functional Components, the Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tsinghua University, the Center for Aging Pharmacology Research at Peking University, and the National Key Laboratory of Tea Science in Education—initiated an extensive study into the health and wellness benefits of Fuding white tea, and significant breakthroughs have already been achieved.
Tea beverages have become the primary drink of Taiwanese people.
2012-04-26
"Among Taiwan's population, 60% regularly drink tea. The island produces 16,000 tons of tea annually, yet only about 1,000 tons are exported overseas—leaving a domestic demand of roughly 45,000 tons each year. As a result, Taiwan imports around 30,000 tons of tea to meet this growing local demand, which continues to rise steadily."
These Taiwan tea consumption figures were clearly highlighted in the "2011 Straits Tea Industry Development Report," unveiled today at the report's launch event. The report also noted that, over the past two decades, Taiwan's tea industry has gradually shifted from an export-driven model to one focused on satisfying the robust domestic market on the island itself.
2012-04-24
White tea, when fully processed, boasts a surface covered with abundant white downy hairs, paired with green leaves accented by red veins—it falls under the category of fermented teas.
There are two distinct types of "white tea" being referred to here:
1. The first refers to teas crafted from the fresh leaves of the white tea plant, following a processing method similar to green tea production. These teas naturally retain their white hue due to the pale color of the buds and leaves, yet they skip the initial withering stage altogether. This type is technically classified as "white tea" within the green tea family—examples include Anji White Tea.
2. The second type involves using ordinary tea plant leaves, which undergo natural withering, mild fermentation, and then are dried without rolling or pan-firing—often employing either air-drying or gentle low-heat roasting. This results in what’s known as "fermented white tea," such as Fuding White Tea, which truly qualifies as the authentic variety of white tea.
What sets this second type apart is that the fresh leaves are withered until they reach about 80–90% dryness, at which point no further processing occurs.
The Development of Fujian White Tea and the Benefits of White Tea
2012-04-20
White tea, when fully processed, boasts a surface covered with abundant white downy hairs, paired with green leaves accented by red veins—it falls under the category of fermented teas.
There are two distinct types of "white tea" being referred to here:
1. The first refers to teas crafted from the fresh leaves of the white tea plant, following a processing method similar to green tea production. These teas naturally retain their white hue due to the pale color of the buds and leaves, yet they skip the initial withering stage altogether. This type is technically classified as "white tea" within the green tea family—examples include Anji White Tea.
2. The second type involves using ordinary tea plant leaves, which undergo natural withering, mild fermentation, and then are dried without rolling or pan-firing—often employing either air-drying or gentle low-heat roasting. This results in what’s known as "fermented white tea," such as Fuding White Tea, which truly qualifies as the authentic variety of white tea.
What sets this second type apart is that the fresh leaves are withered until they reach about 80–90% dryness, at which point no further processing occurs.
White tea pillow promotes sleep—definitely not your average tea pillow.
2012-04-20
In the Tai Mu Mountain region of eastern Fujian, locals enjoy rosy complexions, sharp hearing and vision, dark hair, strong teeth, and remarkable physical vitality—so much so that living well into their hundreds is no rarity. Surveys reveal that this area is surrounded by towering mountains, lush green forests shrouded in mist and clouds, and boasts a unique local specialty: white tea, renowned for its potent medicinal properties. Locals have even crafted white tea-infused pillows, which help them drift off to sleep effortlessly and wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning—plus, they rarely fall ill, enjoying long, healthy lives.
According to the ancient text *Huangdi Neijing*, "White tea from the deep mountains of eastern Fujian invigorates blood circulation, clears meridians, and promotes restful sleep when used as a pillow—its effects become truly remarkable after just three days." Recent research further confirms that white tea not only aids relaxation and improves sleep quality but also has remarkable benefits for eye health, effectively alleviating symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, tinnitus, and even hearing loss. Prolonged consumption of white tea may thus contribute significantly to both mental calmness and overall wellness.