The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| Song's Social Tea Drinking Customs Abruptly End Under Rule of Kublai Khan's Yuan Era |
| The Song (960-1279) had no idea their era was about to come to an abrupt and hostile end as fierce Mongol hordes under the leadership of Kublai Khan swept over the lush and temperate lands of China. For the next 88 years Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) would rule. |
| China's evolving tea culture, with their formalized tea ceremonies and rules of tea etiquette was brought to a quick and sudden ending. Under the Yuan, tea drinking was now reduced to a functional act, with the Mongol rulers demanding the strong, dark brick tea mixed with fermented mare's milk, they were accustomed to. They tolerated the Song's newly discovered loose leaf tea, but disliked the frothy whipped tea. The Yuan Mongols were intrigued by the idea of leaf tea, though, and soon developed a new tech- nique for drying and roasting fresh tea leaves, call- ed chaoqing. The process of chaoqing resulted in leaves that were less burned or parched, and came closer to the techniques that would eventually be used to produce green teas. However, tea leaf manufacture wouldn't progress beyond this point |
| until 275 years later, under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Unfortunately the Mongols came to rule at the pinnacle of China's evolv- ing tea culture. If allowed to progress their tea customs at the time would have likely evolved into a more formal, stylized tea ceremony. But instead it was the Japanese, who had moved beyond the adoration and imitation of all things Chinese, that would establish Chanoyu, a formal tea ceremony based on their own aesthetics. In 1368 a young rebel leader named Zhu Yuanzhang, who had voiced opposition to the Mongol rule, became the first Ming emperor. He adopted the name Hongwu, which meant "Vast Military Power," and renewed China's former imperial tea customs and traditions including the elaborate stylized Han tea customs from the Song era. During his reign Hongwu established and codified many topics and policies in regard to tea cultivation and production, as well as storage, grading, and transportation, building the early frame- work of China's future tea industry that is still in use today. It was during the Ming dynasty that the secret to oxidation (the process used to turn fresh green tea leaf to black tea) was uncovered. Even though the Chinese preferred green tea, believing black tea to be more fit for barbarian foreigners, they recognized the importance the process of oxidation had in preserving tea to last longer and travel better over long distances of land and water. In the past course, low quality bricks of green tea, called "border tea," were produced for trading purposes, made up of mainly twigs and bits of leftover tea from the manufacture of the Tang's fine, high quality tea cakes. These crude tea bricks often broke down from exposure to extreme heat or freezing temperatures, and often developed mold when exposed to rain or the damp en- vironment aboard ships. But the new, oxidized black tea bricks could be exported to the border regions of Tibet and Mongolia and arrive in good condition. Under the Ming the tradition of commissioning fine tableware began once again, as well as the production of the first porcelain teapots. Because tea was still expensive these early teapots were intention- ally made small, allowing for tea leaves to be reinfused several times by just adding more hot water. Among these early Ming tea- pots, small zisha teapots appeared and quicly became favorites of the tea literati. The Tang dynasty (618-907AD) was the first to experiment with adding plum juice, fruits, and spices to tea for added sweetness and aroma, but it was the Song who began creating flavor scented teas such as jasmine, rose, and osmanthus. This was considered to be the Song's most important contribution to China's tea culture, even more so than their move from caked tea to powdered tea. It was the Ming dynasty, however, that picked up where the Song ended. The Ming had a love of aromatic flowers and rich perfumed fragrances that eventually led to them perfecting the art of scenting tea with fresh flowers and petals. Today China alone is credited with the development of delicately flavored, aromatic scented teas. As the Ming proudly celebrated their many accomplishments, though, a dark cloud of change was once again brewing. The death of the last Ming emperor again brought tribal banners flying over the Celestial Empire as this time Manchu tribesman took over, and announced the beginning of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), also known as the Manchu dynasty. Important changes were about to mark the Qing era, as the Manchu rulers ushered in the begin- ning of trade with Europe, turning China into one of the most important trading destinations in the world. Enjoy. |
| For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: How old is Malawi's tea industry? Learn about Malawi's early tea history, when, where, and by whom the first tea was planted, and what the tea industry of Africa's 2nd largest tea producer looks like today. What should I know when shopping for black tea? A guide to shopping for black tea-what to look for and questions to ask. Also brewing tips, steeping times and how much black tea to use for 8 oz. mugs, 24 oz. travel mugs, and a full teapot. (Try Yunnan TGFOP 1st Grade Tea from Silver Leaf Tea Co. - this sweet, robust tippy golden flowery orange pekoe (TGFOP) black tea is from the cloud covered mountains of China's Yunnan Province. Yunnan teas have an exotic peppery flavor note, balanced by plenty of sweet, golden tips. Great for afternoon tea and snacks or good w/light savory meals, as well as breads, cheeses, and jams). How do I prevent mold from forming on my new Yixing teapot? Learn how to properly care for, clean, and season your new Yixing teapot, including removing the thin coat of wax sometimes applied during manufacturing and also how to prevent mold from forming. What should I look for when buying a Yixing teapot? A guide and tips for buying a Yixing teapot. Things you should look for such as functionality if using to brew tea, and five price categories from basic to priceless antique pots. What is "terroir" and how does it relate to tea? Learn about terroir, and its importance to the growth of tea. (Try Christmas Tea from Silver Leaf Tea Co. An elegant blend of black tea w/tangy orange peel, sweet apple pieces, nutty almond pieces, spicy cinnamon chips and delicate rose petals w/cinnamon, orange spice, and orange flavor. A warm, spicy tea perfect for the holiday season, but enjoyable any time of the year). |
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