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Chinese tea traditions

The consumption of tea is an old Chinese culture’s tradition. Research shows that Chinese people started to consume tea 5000 years ago. China today is a highly developed tea culture with many tea traditions and ceremonies. Teahouses, which had been closed down after the Communist revolution in 1949, have now reappeared in China and you can find them everywhere throughout the country. The consumption of tea is an important part at any social or family gathering. Traditionally, tea is used in China as offering in the temples and to the elders as the sign of respect. In Chinese tea tradition, tea is often used as a sign of apology. In the evenings you can find many Chinese men making tea on the tables set up right along sidewalks. In China, it is a traditional way of relaxing after hard work-drinking tea while talking or playing cards. There are special Chinese teas, like Pu Er tea, that is believed can improve digestion. In China it became a tradition to serve this green or partially-oxidized tea in the restaurants.

Tea steeped with other ingredients is also popular tradition throughout China. Dates, dried raisins, dried chrysanthemum flower, and other ingredients are sometimes added to Chinese teas.

Tea for Chinese people is the same as wine for Europeans. Chinese people don't always have a teapot on hand to make tea. Throughout China, it's common to see people drinking tea from glass jars or lidded mugs.

Nowadays, with improving qualities of teas and its popularity in other counties, Chinese tea traditions have begun to undergo a renaissance again.

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