What is the Tea Used in Chinese Restaurants?

Chinese recipes are widely liked around the globe. When you are in China, you’ll definitely want to try every recipe of your choice. Do you know what is the tea used in Chinese restaurants?

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If you have ever visited a Chinese restaurant, you must be presented with a warm cup of Chinese hot tea. Well, serving hot tea is the most special part of their culture. But did you ever think about what this tea is made of and why it is loved by many?

For thousands of years, tea has been a part of Chinese tradition. It serves as a symbol of hospitality, health, and poise. Each restaurant serves different flavors of hot tea that offer different health benefits along with unique tastes.

Basically, tea originated in China, that’s why you’ll find all tea trees in China from where the production methods got viral all over the world. If you have ever been to Yunnan Province, you’ll find the ancient forests of tea. In Chinese restaurants, when you order food, tea is served as a complimentary drink. Not only in restaurants but in homes as well, tea is served after the meal is finished as it helps in digestion as well as greasiness.

Why DO Chinese Restaurants Serve Hot Tea?

As already mentioned, Chinese restaurants serve tea as a complimentary drink as it is a part of their tradition. Being a part of tradition, tea has a truly significant role in Chinese foods. When you are in a restaurant, tea is served right after you take a seat or sometimes it is served right after the meal. It also enhances the taste of the food.

It Helps in Digestion

Most of the tea components include ingredients that help in digestion. Some ingredients play a vital role in breaking down fats and boosting the process of digestion. Chinese dishes include mostly fried and flavorful food, that’s why drinking hot tea simply makes it easier for you to digest the meal.

It Helps in Cleaning the Appetite

Some flavors of the tea including pu-erh or oolong have a little bit of astringency that lets your taste buds enhance during the meal. It allows you to enjoy a flavorful meal every time.

It is a Part of the Culture

Other than tradition, the Chinese consider it as hospitality and respect. Mostly tea is served in Chinese restaurants and families as a welcoming drink.

It Improves the Experience

You’ll have a soothing experience while drinking hot tea before or after the meal. Not only this, drinking warm tea will balance the yin and yang energies present in your food. Cool and warm energies appear to be stable.

What is the Tea Used in Chinese Restaurants

Let’s have a look at some flavors of teas served in Chinese restaurants and understand what is tea used in Chinese restaurants.

Jasmine Tea

It is considered one of the most common hot teas served in Chinese restaurants. It tastes light, floral, and a bit sweet. It has calming and relaxing aroma that directly enhances your taste buds and you feel refreshed.

In Cantonese dim sum restaurants, you’ll most likely be welcomed with Jasmine tea. It is made of green tea leaves infused with Jasmine flower that ultimately produce a floral and sweet smell.

Black Tea

Another great option is black tea in Chinese restaurants. The most liked flavors include Fujian’s Lapsang Souchong, Yunnan’s Dianhong, and Anhui’s Keemun. Black tea is fully oxidized as brew into a deep red-orange liquid with a malty taste.

TieGuanyin

It is made of loose-leaf oolong and is highly famous for its taste. You can have three different flavors in TieGuanyin: Qingxiang (Light Fragrance) TieGuanyin, Nongxiang (Dense Fragrance) TieGuanyin, and Chenxiang (Aged Fragrance) TieGuanyin.

Pu-erh Tea

When you are having heavy meals don’t be afraid of digestive issues. In Chinese restaurants, they have a solution to break down fats by drinking Pu-erh tea. It is known as the best tea for heavy meals, which has a deep, mellow, and earthy flavor. It has probiotic benefits that help indigestion. It is best after consuming fried or braised dishes.

Shou Mei

In Fuding City, China, white tea trees are present from which Shou Mei tea is made. This flavor has a light yellow color with a little sweet taste. It is very palatable which means, it can easily fulfill your hunger without much eating.

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A Quick Overview of Chinese Tea Categorization

Mainly six types of Chinese teas are present that are listed according to their level of oxidation from low to high:

Green Tea
White Tea
Yellow Tea
Oolong Tea
Black Tea
Dark Tea

Other than these six types of teas, a special category is known as Chinese Flower Tea. In Chinese flower teas, mostly flowers are used for extracting all the flavor and taste.

To Sum Up

What is the tea used in Chinese restaurants? To enhance the dining experience, hot tea is served at Chinese restaurants which helps in improving digestion as well as it enhances the flavor of food.

The most loved Chinese teas are: