Chinese tea culture is both broad and rich, with a history of tea that stretches back over 4,000 years to the era of Shennong in 2700 BC. Since then, China has been at the forefront of cultivating, drinking, and studying tea. With such a vast array of teas, there's a saying in China: "One can study tea all their life and still not learn all the names." Indeed, over 676 varieties of famous teas have been documented in literature. China categorizes its teas into six main types based on production techniques and taste: green, red (known as black tea), oolong, black（For example Pu'er tea）, white, and yellow tea, each with its unique characteristics and flavors.

Green tea, one of China's most famous teas, dates back to the Tang Dynasty. High-quality green tea is characterized by its green or yellow-green dry leaves and a clear, fragrant brew. It's known for its refreshing taste, without the bitterness often found in other types. Green tea offers numerous health benefits, including weight loss, lowering blood lipids, antioxidant properties, and cancer prevention. When selecting high-quality green tea, look for fine and tender leaves which brew a fresh, sweet, and non-bitter tea. The ideal brewing temperature for green tea is around 80°C (176°F) to preserve the active substances in the delicate leaves. Famous green teas include Longjing, Bi Luo Chun, Xinyang Maojian, Lu'an Melon Seed, Lushan Cloud Mist, Taiping Houkui, and Enshi Yulu.

Originating around 1650, Chinese Red tea enjoys global popularity. Its characteristics include a red brew and leaves, with a sweet, mellow taste and a rich aroma. Despite being called "black tea" in English due to the black color of the dry leaves, the correct translation should be "Red Tea." Black tea contains polyphenols, sugars, amino acids, pectin, caffeine, catechins, and theaflavins, offering benefits like invigoration, hydration, diuresis, anti-inflammatory effects, detoxification, bone strengthening, and anti-aging properties. For brewing black tea, water around 95°C (203°F) is recommended to unleash its aroma without destroying its active components. The most famous black teas include Qimen Hongcha, Dian Hong, and Yingde Black Tea.

Tracing back to the Ming Dynasty, oolong tea is known for its tightly rolled leaves with a greenish-brown color and a glossy sheen, rich natural floral and fruity aroma, and a mellow, refreshing taste. Oolong tea aids in alertness, weight loss, and beauty enhancement. Brewing oolong tea requires water around 95°C (203°F), with a brewing time of about 20 seconds. High-quality oolong tea features golden-yellow color, rich fragrance, and a full-bodied taste. Famous varieties include Tieguanyin and Phoenix Dancong.

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, black tea contains little to no caffeine, making it suitable for evening consumption without affecting sleep. It is known for its thick flavor and aged aroma, offering benefits like aiding digestion, reducing blood lipids, and lowering blood pressure. black tea should be brewed with boiling water (around 100°C or 212°F) for about a minute. Renowned black teas include Pu'er and Liu Bao, with Pu'er aging particularly well, often becoming more valuable over time.

White Tea: A Traditional Chinese Delicacy

With a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty, white tea is celebrated for its cooling effects, beauty and skincare benefits, and blood pressure reduction. It should be brewed with water around 95°C (203°F) for approximately 30 seconds. High-quality white tea is recognized by its pale color with slight green hues and bright apricot-yellow brew, offering a sweet, mellow taste. The most famous white tea is Fuding White Tea, with Silver Needle being the most expensive.

Yellow Tea: A Sweet and Mellow Choice

Also dating back to the Tang Dynasty, yellow tea is known for its sweet, rich aroma and bright yellow brew. It offers benefits like cooling, detoxifying, stimulating alertness, and preventing bad breath. Brewing yellow tea requires water around 90°C (194°F), with a brewing time of about 3 minutes. High-quality yellow tea is golden in color with a unique aroma and a rich taste. Famous varieties include Junshan Yinzhen and Mengding Huangya.

Each of the six major tea categories has its unique traits, tastes, aromas, and health benefits. One can choose different tea types based on personal needs and preferences. When selecting tea, consider the brand, origin, shape, color, and aroma to ensure high quality. If you have any questions about tea, feel free to leave a comment for discussion.