The fragrance of the Qimai spreads all over the world! This is Wuyi Mountain, the "hometown" of Chinese black tea

Chinese black tea: From Wuyi Mountain to the world

In the ancient East, there is a magical land. It is not only the origin of tea, but also the cradle of a profound tea culture. In this land, six major types of tea compete with each other, but the one that truly has a global influence is a drink called black tea. In the world tea market, black tea accounts for more than 80% of the market, almost becoming the hegemon of the tea market. So, what is the charm of black tea that can conquer the taste buds of the world? Let us walk into the world of black tea and explore its past and present.

The Origin of Black Tea: An Unexpected Encounter

There are many legends about the origin of black tea, but the most popular one is an unexpected encounter. As the earliest black tea variety, the birth of Zhengshan Xiaozhong is full of mystery and legend.

It is said that in a spring in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, tea farmers were busy picking fresh tea leaves in the tea garden of Tongmuguan in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian. At this time, a group of soldiers suddenly passed by. The tea farmers had no time to collect the freshly picked tea leaves and could only hide in the mountains in a hurry. The soldiers rested on the spot and even spread their sleeping bags directly on the tea leaves.

The next day, when the tea farmers returned to the tea garden, they were surprised to find that the originally green tea leaves had turned reddish brown due to the heating of human body temperature and fermentation. The tea farmers were distressed, but they did not give up. Instead, they tried to rub the fermented tea leaves repeatedly and then roast them with local Masson pine. In this way, the earliest Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea was born under the wisdom and efforts of the tea farmers.

Although the birth of black tea is full of surprises, this is also its charm. It tells us that every surprise in life may become an opportunity for us to create new things and discover a new world.

The legend of black tea: from Wuyi Mountain to the world

Although the birth of black tea is full of legends, its spread is even more amazing. Initially, black tea was not immediately accepted by the Chinese people, but it shined in the overseas market.

The popularity of English afternoon tea has made black tea truly sweep the world. The origin of this fashion is closely related to the admiration of the British royal family and aristocrats. In that era, tea was a luxury for ordinary British people. Only the royal family, aristocrats and other upper-class people could enjoy this magical drink from the far east.

In order to reduce costs and control production, British colonists began to try to introduce tea to suitable colonies. India, as a British colony adjacent to China at the time, naturally became the best choice. Therefore, the British transported tea seedlings and tea seeds to India for planting. After several generations of efforts, they finally cultivated the Assam black tea and Darjeeling black tea varieties that we are familiar with today.

The spread of black tea is not only the circulation of tea, but also a kind of cultural exchange. It allows people from different countries and cultures to feel the common ground while tasting the same cup of black tea, and also makes the world more closely connected.

The present life of black tea: technology empowers it to bring new vitality

Today, with the continuous advancement of science and technology, the ancient black tea is also taking on new vitality under the empowerment of science and technology. From smart tea gardens to precise tea-making processes, technology has made the quality of black tea more stable and the taste more unique.

Smart tea gardens use the Internet of Things technology to monitor and control the tea garden environment in real time, allowing tea to thrive in the best growth environment. Precision tea-making technology uses big data analysis, artificial intelligence and other technical means to finely control the tea-making process, ensuring that each type of black tea can meet the best quality standards.

The power of science and technology has given black tea new vitality in the process of inheritance and innovation. It not only allows us to better appreciate the charm and appeal of black tea, but also makes us full of expectations and longings for the future tea market.

Conclusion

Chinese black tea, a drink with profound cultural heritage, has spread from Wuyi Mountain to the world and conquered the taste buds of the world. Its birth is full of legends, its dissemination process is amazing, and its new vitality empowered by science and technology makes us full of expectations for the future.

Let us taste this magical drink from the East and feel the warmth and beauty it brings us. At the same time, let us look forward to black tea creating more legends and surprises in the future!