Tea Culture of China

First, there is the internal orientation theory of tea tree. China, which has the oldest tea history, has been living with tea since ancient times because of its murky water and dusty nature. There is 『Cha•Yang•Yup•Ban•Cha』 that represents Chinese tea culture. In other words, it means that they repeatedly drink tea after meal, have meal after drinking tea, and then drink tea again. As tea is a necessity for daily life, Chinese always treat food and tea alike. Mao Zedong’s favorite, Da Hong Pao. Ancient Chinese emperors enjoyed drinking tea because they were aware of the fact that beneficial and healthful ingredients are sufficiently included in the good tea. A representative tea that Chinese emperors used to drink is “Da Hong Pao.” This is a precious tea that was only served for Mao Zedong, high government officials and state-level foreign guests in modern times, and a theory that Mao Zedong's secret to keep the blood vessels healthy until his last years was "Da Hong Pao" has even been suggested. The legend about naming is that they made monkeys collect tea leaves after feeding them and dressing them in red robes as its tea tree, which yields less than 1kg in a year, was located in a rock face which is not easily accessible by humans.

Tea Culture of Japan

As a refined social practice, Japanese tea ceremony was learning particular method and communicating between the host and the guest. It was popularized in the late 16thcenturybyDasung『Senno Rikyu』. For the Japanese who have a polite and delicate aesthetic sense, tea became an aesthetic manner and finally an aesthetic religion, or "Tao". Japanese tea ceremony is expressed as 『Hwakyungjeongjeok』(Harmonious, respectful and clean mind makes your surrounding clean). Hwareferstopeacefulmind,Kyungreferstorespecttoothers,Chungmeansbeautifulandserenemind,andJeokisamindthatrealizessatisfaction.

Tea Culture of Europe

Although the time when the British accepted the tea was relatively late, which was through the Netherlandsinthemid-1630s,butitdidblossomprosperousteaculture.Startingfrom『Breakfast Tea』 to 『Afternoon Tea』 enjoyed with light food and to tea during dinner after coming from work, British people drink around 4~5 cups of tea a day. From the late 18th century to the 19th century, the tea party at the garden and the tea ceremony at the ball were popular.