China
China is the cradle of tea and the know-how surrounding the world's most widely consumed beverage after water. Over the centuries, tea has become an emblem of the country's cultural richness. From the misty mountains of Yunnan to the verdant valleys of Zhejiang, each sip transports us to a world of flavors, refinement and savoir-vivre.
Golden Yunnan
Bai Mu Dan
Bai Mu Dan Premium
Jasmine Flowers
White Monkey
Gunpowder
Spring Dew
China green
Yunnan Green
Chun Mee Moon Palace
Gunpowder Pinhead
Sencha China
Mao Jian
Wu Lü Special
Mao Feng
- Out-of-Stock
Pin Ho Jade
Shui Hsien Superior
- Out-of-Stock
Oriental Beauty
Dong Ding
Jade Wu Long
Keemun OP
Yunnan FOP
Grand Keemun FOP
Hong Mao Jian
King of Golden Yunnan
Pu'er
Mini Tuocha
Rose green tea
Rose Congou
Tea culture in China
In China, tea is much more than a simple beverage: it's a pillar of the country's culture, first mentioned by Emperor Shennong in 2800 BC. The Chinese were the world's first tea growers, and every year they rank first among the world's producers in terms of volume. 70% of this production is consumed locally, and tea is an integral part of Chinese daily life. Whether on the street, carried in small isothermal teapots that are filled with hot water throughout the day, in the heart of tea houses, public parks or at restaurant tables, tea is present everywhere.
It remains a symbol of hospitality, respect and conviviality, and creates links between generations who love to gather around this beverage as healthy as it is tasty.
The best Chinese teas
The diversity of Chinese teas is as vast as the country itself, and for connoisseurs, China is the benchmark. Numerous cultivars have been developed here, some of them to produce a particular tea, such as Longjing #43, which gives rise to the grand cru of the same name. The major tea-growing provinces also have their own local cultivars, such as Hubei's E-Cha, which give their teas a distinctive signature.
This diversity of available cultivars, combined with the local climate and know-how, means that China can offer a vast range of teas that are as impressive visually as they are in taste.
Among the best-known tea-producing regions is Fujian province, where the famous Wulong Tie Guan Yin tea originates. Fujian is also the cradle of famous white teas, including Bai mu dan, also known as "white peony", and the famous Fuding Silver Needles, a grand cru produced from the downy buds of the prestigious local Da Bai and Da Hao cultivars.
We can also mention the province of Hubei, and in particular the historic region of Enshi, famous for its selenium-rich soil and the source of most of our "mingqian", the best quality green teas harvested in the first days of spring. Last but not least, there's the Yunnan province and its famous pu'er, the most famous of dark teas (post-fermented teas), which has its die-hard fans.
In conclusion, China is an Eldorado for tea lovers in search of great original teas and local specialties, as well as novelties that are the fruit of the know-how and innovative capacity of its producers.
China's new teas
Chinese premium teas are highly sought-after for their complex, fresh and lively spring aromas. Among them, the highly prized Mingqian (清明) picked at the end of March, beginning of April, before the Qingming Festival (清明节 - qīngmíng jié) represent a "grail" for lovers of fine Chinese teas. Their softness and particularly sweet, fruity aromas make them gourmet primeurs to die for. Their rich flavor symbolizes the spring awakening after a long period of dormancy.
These prestigious and eagerly awaited teas are almost exclusively reserved for the Chinese market.
The Chinese tea ceremony
The Chinese tea ceremony, known as "gong fu cha", is in fact a traditional and ancient art that enables tea to be prepared in the best possible way, and has both an artistic and a spiritual dimension. Gong fu (功夫) can be translated as a skill, the mastery of a practice, a work, an art acquired and perfected over time.
Through its predefined ritual, which employs dedicated, high-quality utensils and where every gesture is executed with precision and delicacy, gong fu cha is as much an art to be contemplated as a source of gustatory pleasure.
Yixing teapots
Yixing teapots, from the city of the same name in Jiangsu province, are veritable gems of Chinese craftsmanship.
Handcrafted from local clays renowned the world over for their quality, these teapots are known as "memory" teapots. Their relative porosity allows the essential oils and aromatic principles of the tea to penetrate their walls. This phenomenon is reinforced with each infusion. It is therefore advisable to always infuse the same type of tea, or even the same tea. In this way, the tea will become more and more pronounced with each infusion.
These high-quality earthenware teapots are ideal for practising the art of Gong fu cha.