Origins and early development
The origin of tea culture can be traced back to the Shennong era. It is said that Shennong discovered the detoxification effect of tea when he tasted hundreds of herbs. Since then, tea has played an important role in people's lives. In the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ancestors in the Bashu region had already begun to plant and use tea. In the Qin and Han dynasties, the edible and medicinal value of tea was further explored, and the trend of drinking tea began to rise.
The Development of Tea Culture in the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of the development of Chinese tea culture. Lu Yu's "The Classic of Tea" is the world's first monograph on tea. It systematically summarizes the experience of tea production and drinking before and during the Tang Dynasty, marking the systematization and popularization of tea culture. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the trend of drinking tea became popular throughout society and became a favorite drink of monks and scholars. Song Huizong's "Daguan Tea Theory" detailed the collection, preparation, and cooking of steamed green tea in the Northern Song Dynasty.
The prosperity of tea culture in the Song Dynasty
Tea culture flourished further in the Song Dynasty, and tea-drinking competitions and tea-making became popular. Literati and scholars in the Song Dynasty advocated a lifestyle of "reading books and enjoying the fragrance of tea" and participated in the dissemination of tea culture, making tea drinking more artistic. The tea art in the Song Dynasty was more refined. Tea-drinking competitions not only evaluated the quality of tea, but also compared the water used for brewing tea and the water temperature.
Evolution during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties
During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, tea culture continued to develop. The Mongolians in the Yuan Dynasty combined the characteristics of the Han and their own ethnic groups in their tea drinking style, creating stir-fried tea with special seasonings. In the Qing Dynasty, black tea and oolong tea appeared, and the six major types of tea in my country were formally formed. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the way of brewing tea changed to brewing tea, and people liked to drink covered tea.
Modern inheritance and innovation
In terms of production, modern tea culture not only has traditional handmade tea, but also modern production lines to meet the needs of different consumers. In terms of sales, online and offline sales are combined, and various tea culture activities emerge in an endless stream. The younger generation pays more attention to the combination of fashion and tradition, and tea drinks such as milk tea and tea drinks that suit the tastes of young people are very popular.
