Making tea that "rocks"
Wuyi Rock Tea is a kind of Oolong tea. The tea trees grow on rock cracks(岩缝) in Wuyi Mountain in Fujian. That's why it's called rock tea.
Wuyi Rock Tea is famous for its rich smell. It has a fruity, floral and even mineral(矿物质的) smell. The best kind is Dahongpao.
With its long history, Wuyi Rock Tea dates back to the Shang Dynasty. People used to send it to the emperor as a gift. In 2006, the skills of making Wuyi Rock Tea were listed to China's national intangible cultural heritage list(非物质文化遗产名录), President Xi Jinping visited a tea garden in Wuyi Mountain.
Zhang Huichun, 65, is a master of making Wuyi Rock Tea. In 1980, he bagan to learn making the tea and opend a tea factory. It took him 10 years to learn the skills.
There are 13 steps to make it. Drying, shaking and roasting are three of them. When Zhang shakes tea leaves, he has to decide when to stop by looking at the colour. "From shaking a few times to hundreds of times, "Zhang said.
The last step, roasting, is also important. It often takes more than 20 hours!"Every 50 minutes, or it might burn, " Zhang said. He often stays up late to roast the tea.
Although Zhang is already good at it, he said he is till learning. "Every step is full of changes—different tea trees and weather. Every time is an adventure.
To help more tea makers, Zhang often works with schools to teach the skills. "It's my responsibility (责任) to pass on the skills," he says.
Wuyi Rock Tea is a kind of Oolong tea. It's called rock tea because the tea trees grow on rock cracks. Dahongpao is the best kind a fruity,floral and even mineral smell. | |
History and development | ●In Shang Dynasty,people it to the emperor as a gift. ●In 2006,the skills of making Wuyi Rock Tea were to the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage. ●In March 2021,President Xi paid a to a tea garden in Wuyi Mountain. |
Master's | ●Zhang Huichun,a master,spent ten years the skills of making Wuyi Rock Tea. ●There are 13 steps to make the tea, drying,shaking and roasting. When tea leaves,Zhang has to decide when to stop by looking at the colour. Roasting the tea often takes over 20 hours. ●Although every step is with changes,Zhang thinks it's our duty to pass on the skills. |