Tea in China:Origin, History,

and Cultural Contexts

茶 cháNorthern: cha

Russian - chai Turkish - çay

Japanese - cha

Southern: teEnglish - teaFrench - théGerman - TeeSpanish - te

Legendary origins of tea

Emperor Shennong( 神农 shénnóng)discovered tea by accident in 2737 BCE

History of tea drinking

Han dynasty - Tea used for medicinal purposesTang dynasty – Tea drinking widespread, for

pleasure

Classic of TeaWritten around 760 CE

• Origin of tea

• Tools for making tea

• How tea is manufactured

• How to brew tea

• Tea wares

• Drinking tea

• Anecdotes about tea

• Places that produced tea

Where does tea come

from?

茶树 cháshù

茶叶 chá yè

Types of tea中国人喝各种各样

的茶，比如…

• green tea 绿茶• white tea 白茶• black tea 红茶• oolong tea 乌龙

茶 (wūlóng)

• floral tea 花茶

Making tea 泡茶 pàochá

• quench thirst• aid digestion• fatigue & depression• mental alertness• blood circulation• remove toxins• relieve pain in joints and

limbs• enhance disease resistance• keep skin youthful• impede tooth decay• contribute to longevity

Tea and health中国人认为茶对身体好。

Tea drinking culture

• Served to guests

• Social events

• With or after meals

• Tea and conversation

• Ritual importance

• Gratitude or respect

• Offered to ancestors

Tea and art

Tang dynasty painting showing court ladies playing music and drinking tea

Teapots and cups

Qing dynasty teapotwith landscapes

茶壶 cháhú

茶杯

Teahouse茶馆 cháguǎn

Tea today中国人也喝冰茶，珍珠奶茶，花茶等。zhēnzhū

Tea around the world世界各国的人都喝茶。

gè

Tea and politics

请你说说中国茶…