Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices in China

China’s traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices entail the knowledge, skills and practices around tea plantation management, tea-leaf picking, manual processing, drinking and sharing. Based on natural conditions and local customs, tea producers have developed six categories of tea: green, yellow, dark, white, oolong and black teas. When added to reprocessed teas, such as flower-scented teas, the result is over 2,000 tea products with a variety of colours, aromas, flavours and shapes. Tea is ubiquitous in the Chinese people’s daily life and is served steeped or boiled in homes, workplaces, tea houses, restaurants and temples. It is an important part of socialization and of ceremonies such as weddings and sacrifices. The practice of greeting guests and building relationships within families and among neighbours through tea-related activities is common to multiple ethnic groups, providing a sense of shared identity and continuity for the communities. The knowledge, skills and traditions are passed on through families and apprenticeships, and the bearers include tea producers, farmers and artists, as well as those who make the pastries that are typically served with tea.

West Lake Longjing Tea Processing Techniques

The West Lake Longjing Tea originated in the Tang Dynasty, became famous in the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. It is mainly produced in Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Longjing Village in the West Lake produces high-quality tea with a green color, strong fragrance, mellow taste and beautiful shape, so it is named "Longjing Tea."

The West Lake Longjing Tea is a famous Chinese tea, and the green tea represented by it is closely related to the daily life of Chinese people. Through long-term production practice, the planting and production of tea in the West Lake Longjing Tea area has gradually formed a series of tea production procedures such as breeding of fine varieties, diligent cultivation, fine picking, and scientific frying. Especially in the process of frying, a set of frying techniques with distinct technical characteristics have been invented. The whole tea making process embodies the wisdom of local tea farmers and shows profound cultural connotations.

In 2022, the Green Tea Making Technique (West Lake Longjing) was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as an important part of the Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices In China.

Jingshan Tea Ceremony

Jingshan Tea Ceremony became popular in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, saw its heyday in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasty, and declined in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a kind of lobby tea party of Jingshan Temple in Yuhang District to receive distinguished guests, a unique solemn traditional tea ceremony etiquette of honoring guests with tea, a survival of Chinese ancient tea ceremony etiquette, and also an outstanding representative of Chinese tea custom culture. Jingshan Tea Ceremony has more than ten ceremonial procedures, including displaying the tea list, hitting the tea drum, inviting guests respectfully into the hall, offering incense to Buddha, boiling water to whisk tea powder (Diancha), making tea latte art, tasting tea, and expressing thanks to the tea ceremony and leaving the hall.

The hall to hold the banquet is simple and elegant. The whole procedure is standardized and full of etiquette. The host is respectful, and the guests are dignified. The banquet complies with the timings strictly like obeying the law and is very harmonious and rich in connotations, manifesting the perfect combination of the Zen temple rules and etiquette and tea art. It deserves to be called the classic style of China's Zen tea culture. Jingshan Tea Ceremony has lasting historical value and rich cultural connotations. Jingshan Tea Ceremony, as the origin of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, serves as a bridge to facilitate the cultural exchange between China and Japan. Jingshan Tea Ceremony has an important influence on the formation of the modern "tea party" etiquette and the survival of folk tea drinking etiquette and customs in Hangzhou area. It is of outstanding folklore value.

In 2022, as an important part of the Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices In China, Jingshan Tea Ceremony was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.