A Note on Tea - Part 1

The significance of tea in the Chinese social life must not be overlooked. It is the symbol of

welcome with which one is greeted on arrival in a Chinese home and is responsible for the

Chinese reputation of the soberest of all nations.

A tea plant cannot be transplanted -- it was therefore considered symbolic of faithfulness and

used to play an important part among the presents given for an engagement. "Accepting tea"

used to be synonymous with "becoming engaged" and spilling the tea was considered a bad omen.

Tea, in use since the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618 - 906) is grown all over China and, broadly

speaking, although there are many varieties; there are two categories of China tea: Green

and Black which had always been called "red" in China. Both green and black tea come from

the same plant - the difference arises out of the different methods of drying the leaves.