In Chaozhou, China, drinking tea is a way of life that runs deep in the veins, and oolong tea is the very soul of Chaozhou's tea culture.
A Millennium of Tea Aroma: A Gift from History
Over a thousand years ago, as the tea culture emerged, the people of Chaozhou began their love affair with tea. Chaozhou has a subtropical climate, warm and humid. The cloud - shrouded Phoenix Mountains have nurtured high - quality oolong teas such as Phoenix Dancong. These unique geographical conditions have laid a solid material foundation for the Chaozhou people's love of tea, and made Phoenix Dancong a representative of Chaozhou oolong tea, well - known far and wide.
The Gentle Rhythm of Tea: The Color of Life
In the early morning, a day in Chaozhou starts with a cup of oolong tea. The family gathers around the table, listening to the kettle bubbling. The father skillfully warms the cups and gently puts the Phoenix Dancong tea leaves into the gaiwan. As soon as the boiling water is poured in, the rich aroma of tea fills the air, awakening a new day.
In the afternoon, when people return from work, they make tea as soon as they enter the door. After a few cups of tea, fatigue and stress are swept away. The sunlight shines on them, and with the aroma of tea, a sense of comfort naturally arises.
When night falls, relatives and friends get together. They set up the tea sets and share the little details of life while making tea. The children are laughing and playing, and the adults are chatting. Tea becomes a bond for emotional communication.
In social occasions in Chaozhou, tea is everywhere. During business negotiations, the aroma of tea makes the atmosphere more harmonious. During traditional festivals when visiting relatives and friends, the host serves tea to guests, conveying welcome and respect.
Tea as a Medium: The Inheritance of Culture
For the Chaozhou people, drinking tea is not only a way to satisfy the taste buds but also an emotional sustenance and a cultural inheritance. Elders pass on the tea culture and family values to the younger generations through making and tasting tea. From tea selection, tea - making to tea - tasting etiquette, every aspect is filled with the life wisdom of the ancestors. The children learn respect, humility, and sharing in the aroma of tea, and the love for tea continues from generation to generation.
Making tea requires a calm state of mind. Every step, from warming the cups to brewing the tea, contains life insights. In the fast - paced modern life, drinking tea allows the Chaozhou people to calm down, savor life, feel the changes of the tea soup, and understand the joys and sorrows of life.
The Chaozhou people's love for oolong tea is reflected in their strict selection of tea quality and their persistent pursuit of tea - making skills. They can accurately distinguish the differences between different origins and varieties. For example, the honey - like fragrance of Milanxiang and the unique charm of Yashixiang can be savored carefully, experiencing the local customs and the ingenuity of tea - makers behind the tea.
Oolong tea has long been integrated into the lives of the Chaozhou people, carrying their memories and emotions. In the future, no matter how the years change, this love will continue to thrive in Chaozhou.
