Crash Course in Chinese Tea at the World Book Fair
Crash Course in Chinese Tea at the World Book Fair
New Delhi, January 14, 2016: Tea is considered a favourite beverage across India despite the emergence of recent western style coffee-shops. In neighbouring China, which is the ‘guest of honour’ country at the ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair, the association with tea can be traced back to a centuries-old tradition. It is believed that tea first originated in Southwest China during the Shang dynasty as a medicinal drink.
A kiosk at the fair has been set up by the School of Tea Culture of the Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, in China, which is the first university in the country to offer a course in tea culture. Visitors to the book fair can get a crash course into the origin and the developments of tea in China as presenters dressed up in traditional attire showcase different varieties of Chinese tea and demonstrate their respective preparations.
“The logic behind this exhibition is to make people aware of the Chinese culture. Tea holds a significance as it was used as a medicinal drink in China centuries ago, so we want people to learn about that,” says David Shao who is representing the stall at the Book Fair. Shao explains that tea is associated with the traditional Chinese culture and they are using it as symbol to show their culture to the people here.
While there are nearly 60 different varieties of tea available across China, they have brought along six of the best flavours – green tea, the black tea, the white tea, the yellow tea, the dark tea and the Oolong tea. Visitors can grab small cups of each flavor, besides taking home small packets of tea. “Black tea alone in China is of six types including an inclusive black tea, Jiuqu Hongmei, Lapsan Souchong, Jin jun mei, Dr Su black tea and Keemun black tea,” says Wang Xufeng from Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University.
