China is famous for tea. Drinking tea is very popular in China and even around the world. It's said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong was the first to discover tea as a drink. A few thousand years later, Lu Yu, "the saint of tea", mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea.
Nowadays, according to different processing ways, there are mainly four kinds of Chinese tea. They are green tea, black tea, Oolong tea and scented (有香味的) tea. without fermentation (发酵), green tea keeps the original color of the tea. If the green tea is fermented before baking, it will be black tea. Oolong tea is partially (部分的) fermented. And if fragrant flowers are mixed in the tea during the processing the scented tea will be made.
Tea is produced in many different areas in China. For example, Xi'an and Hangzhou are widely known for their tea. Tea plants are grown on the sides of mountains. When the leaves are ready, they are picked by hand and then are sent for processing. Later, the tea is packed and sent for many different countries and places around China.
It's believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. In England, tea didn't appear until around 1660. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century.
Tea is good for people's health and plays an important role in Chinese social life.
①Later, the tea is packed.
②When the leaves are ready they are picked by hand and then are sent for processing.
③Then it is sent for many different countries and places around China.
④Tea plants are grown on the sides of mountains.
