China is home to tea and has a long history of tea culture. As time goes by, the tea culture has developed greatly.

In the Tang Dynasty, people not only drank tea, but also ate the tea leaves. That was why tasting tea was called “tea-eating”. In the Song Dynasty, the way people drank tea became romantic and was full of art. In the Ming Dynasty, tasting tea returned to its true nature of “drinking tea”. People put dry tea leaves in the cup and then poured boiled water into it before drinking. And in the Qing Dynasty, the tea culture finally came into common families. Drinking tea became part of their daily life. At the same time, there were more tea houses.

Nowadays, making tea around a stove (围炉煮茶) has become popular among young people. This is a special way of drinking tea. Many young people like to choose a quiet and comfortable environment to make tea. While boiling tea, there must be delicate and tasty snacks like small oranges and sweet potatoes on the charcoal (炭) stove, satisfying people’s eyes and mouth. And beautiful cups and teapots would bring them more pleasure in mind. What they enjoy are art, spiritual world and the deep Chinese tea culture. Away from their busy work and life, they feel calm and peaceful in mind.

In fact, people began to make tea around a stove in ancient times. Traditionally, about the art of making tea, the most important part is the types of tea, water quality, the control of fire, the choices of tea tools, and the skills of brewing (沏茶). In some ways, the art of making tea is a kind of communication between tea and people.

As time passes by, Chinese tea culture continues to develop. Modern tea culture has mixed traditional and modern art and life, showing a more open and colorful culture.