Heaven of Tea

In honor of the Beijing Olympics which start just over a week from today, I thought I would point out the best of Chinese tea. Tea is such an important part of Chinese culture that it is unlikely the athletes and spectators won’t be enjoying a cup of great Chinese tea.

China: the Birthplace of Tea
The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is a native plant of China. The legends have it that Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was sitting near a tea tree when some leaves fell into his pot of boiling water. He decided to drink it anyway and was surprised at the “refreshing” taste of the tea. This is merely legend - it cannot be proven and some details are unlikely - but it is clear that by the third century BC, the Chinese were drinking tea (see The Tea Companion for more information).

Since then tea has only grown in popularity in China and throughout the world. Wikipedia notes that tea “is considered one of the seven necessities of Chinese life, along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar.” Since studies have shown that tea is great for athletes, it seems appropriate that they enjoy some of the better Chinese teas while participating. And you should enjoy a warm cup of tea as well while watching the Olympic Games!

The Best of Chinese Teas
So what are the best of the Chinese teas? This is obviously very subjective, but I’ll offer you a few great Chinese teas and you can choose the ones that best suit you. Here’s my list:

Silver Needle Organic White Tea. Also known as Yin Zhen, Silver Needle was once reserved only for Chinese Emperors. It is still only picked for two days during the year and remains a phenomenally good tea. It’s the best of Chinese teas and offers a host of health benefits.

Dragonwell Organic Green Tea. One of the treasures of Chinese tea, Dragonwell is a pure green tea that is still hand-picked in China. It has a nutty taste that is very addicting. And something about Dragonwell increases your concentration on tasks. If you enjoy green tea, you really should try a cup of Chinese Dragonwell tea.

Jasmine Oolong Tea. Oolongs are the hardest teas to make well, but this one is a masterpiece. Chinese oolong tea scented with just the perfect amount of Jasmine - not too much, not too little. It shows off the quality available in Chinese teas.

Pi Lo Chun Green Tea. This is the closest to a flavored green tea you can get without being flavored. Grown near fruit trees, the tea takes on the sweet characteristics and scents of those trees. If you’re new to green teas, start with a flavored tea and work your way into the rare Pi Lo Chun Chinese tea.

Golden Monkey Black Tea. While the Chinese typically choose green teas, they still make great black teas as well. Golden Monkey has a subtle, chocolaty flavor that puts it at the top of Chinese black teas.

Iron Buddha Oolong Tea. From the Fujian province of China we get this excellent Chinese Oolong. This is pure oolong tea, but it has a wonderful floral aroma and slight floral taste.

Gunpowder Green Tea. Perhaps the most unusual green tea available, Gunpowder has a smoky flavor that makes it extraordinary. You won’t mistake it for another type of tea, that’s a promise. Be sure to only choose a high grade of Gunpowder - Teavana only offers the highest: Temple of Heaven grade.

Keemun Imperial Black Tea. Another smoky addition to our list, Keemun Imperial is famous China Black tea from the Anhui province. It has an interesting flavor that combines smokiness and maltiness in a delicious hot tea. This isn’t your typical black tea, but most great teas are a little atypical.

I could go on and on, but I tried to pick the best from each type of tea. So this year, enjoy watching the Beijing Olympic Games with a hot cup of excellent Chinese tea in your hand. Make it a cultural experience - with these teas, you’ll enjoy every minute!