| | | | | Chinese TeaChina tea (or Chinese tea) have amongst the longest tea making history in the world. Tea has been cultivated there for over two thousand years. The word 'tea' is derived from the Chinese 'Cha' from which the Indian 'Chai' also originates. The East India Company first brought Chinese tea to England from Canton in 1684. In China, only green teas are drunk but black teas are produced by fermentation, or oxidisation, of the withered leaves, black tea was originally developed to prolong the life of tea intended for export. Chinese teas are low in tannin and are therefore ideal afternoon and evening teas. | Green China TeasChinese green tea grades include Hyson - rolled into tiny pearls, Gunpowder - rolled into tiny balls between 1 and 3 millimetres in diameter, and Chun Mee made from leaves one centimetre long. There is much difference between a Chinese green tea and one from Japan. Chinese green teas are less vivid in colour than Japanese green teas and produce a crystal clear liquor with a colour anything between orangy green to pale pink. The taste of Chinese green teas is purer and less aromatic than Japanese green teas. Brew from three to five minutes. See Grey’s Green China Teas. | Black China TeasThere is much secrecy in the making of Chinese tea and great skill is used by the co-operatives in blending teas from several gardens to ensure consistency in quality no matter what the prevailing climatic conditions. Yunnan, known as the 'mocha of tea' is produced in the high plateaux of southern China. This is the only chinese tea that can be drunk with milk. Keemun is from Anhui province and is the most famous of Chinese black teas. It is known as the 'Burgundy of teas' and was Britain's favourite tea in the nineteenth century. Some extremely rare and expensive chinese teas are produced in the mountainous regions of Sichuan (Szechwan) and Jiangsu.Fujian Province is renown for its distinctive Lapsang Souchongs in which larger leaves, souchong, are smoked over pinewood fires to give an unmistakably tarry taste which many tea drinkers find becomes their favourite tea. Lapsang Souchong is a constituent of our Afternoon Blend and gives it a distinct and moreish character.Chinese black teas are always whole leaf - use one teaspoon per cup, freshly boiled water and allow about five minutes to brew (infuse). See Grey’s Black China Teas. | Oolong TeasOolong teas are indigenous to Taiwan (Formosa). Oolong teas are still considered to be the most subtle, being fermented longer than Chinese oolongs (60% compared with about 20%). Small independent gardens produce them in the traditional hand-made way. Taiwan has a very humid climate with a temperature always between 55 and 82 degrees F - ideal for tea growing. Oolong teas are distinct in that they are semi-fermented (or partially oxidised) to give a tea with characteristics between that of a green tea and a black tea and having a fresh yet sophisticated taste. They are smoother than black tea yet less grassy than green teas. They may be drunk with milk. Oolong tea is found in our Russian Caravan blend, traditionally carried along the Silk Road from China.Use two teaspoons per cup with water just off the boil and brew for about seven minutes to bring out the full flavour. See Grey’s Oolong Teas. | Pouching TeaPouching is slightly fermented, less than an oolong tea and so has characteristics of both green teas and oolong teas. It is an evening tea with a light golden colour and subtle flavour. Pouchong has another distinction in that the tea is wrapped in paper during fermentation. | White China TeasChina is justly famous for its beautifully subtle and young white teas. These undergo minimal processing, being just withered and dried, to produce the most delicate white teas you will ever try. Yinzhen Province is home to the famous white tea Baihao Yinzhen - White Down Silver Needles, this truly is the white tea of emperors and is only harvested at dawn on a couple of days during a few weeks each year if the climatic conditions are perfect. See Grey’s White Teas. | Scented China TeasGreen tea tossed with Jasmine flowers and black teas tossed with rose petals (Rose Congou) are classic scented teas from China and make very pleasant alternatives. |
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