China is the home country of tea. Before the Tang Dynasty, Chinese tea was exported by land and sea, first to Japan and Korea, then to India and Central Asia and, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, to the Arabian Peninsula. In the early period of the 17th century, Chinese tea was exported to Europe, where the upper class adopted the fashion of drinking tea. Chinese tea—like Chinese silk and china—has become synonymous worldwide with refined culture. At the heart of the art of tea—the study and practice of tea in all its aspects—is the simple gesture of offering a cup of tea to a guest that for Chinese people today is a fundamental social custom, as it has been for centuries. China traces the development of tea as an art form to Lu Yu, known as "the Saint of Tea" in Chinese history, who lived during the Tang Dynasty and who wrote The Book of Tea, the first ever treatise on tea and tea culture. The spirit of tea permeates Chinese culture, and throughout the country there are many kinds of teas, teahouses, tea legends, tea artifacts and tea customs. Better-known places to enjoy a good cup of tea in China include Beijing noted for its variety of teahouses; Fujian and Guangdong provinces and other places in the southeast of China that serve gongfu tea, a formal serving of tea in tiny cups; the West Lake in Hangzhou, also the home of the Tea Connoisseurs Association, noted for its excellent green tea; and provinces in southwest China like Yunnan where the ethnic groups less affected by foreign cultures retain tea ceremonies and customs in original tea-growing areas.     

The Chinese people, in their drinking of tea, place much significance on the act of "savoring." "Savoring tea" is not only a way to discern good tea from mediocre tea, but also how people take delight in their reverie and in tea-drinking itself. Snatching a bit of leisure from a busy schedule, making a kettle of strong tea, securing a serene space, and serving and drinking tea by yourself can help banish fatigue and frustration, improve your thinking ability and inspire you with enthusiasm. You may also imbibe it slowly in small sips to appreciate the subtle allure of tea-drinking, until your spirits soar up and up into a sublime aesthetic realm. Buildings, gardens, ornaments and tea sets are the elements that form the ambience for savoring tea. A tranquil, refreshing, comfortable and neat locale is certainly desirable for drinking tea. Chinese gardens are well known in the world and beautiful Chinese landscapes are too numerous to count. Teahouses tucked away in gardens and nestled beside the natural beauty of mountains and rivers are enchanting places of repose for people to rest and recreate themselves. 

China is a country with a time-honored civilization and a land of ceremony and decorum. Whenever guests visit, it is necessary to make and serve tea to them. Before serving tea, you may ask them for their preferences as to what kind of tea they fancy and serve them the tea in the most appropriate teacups. In the course of serving tea, the host should take careful note of how much water is remaining in the cups and in the kettle. Usually, if the tea is made in a teacup, boiling water should be added after half of the cup has been consumed; and thus the cup is kept filled so that the tea retains the same bouquet and remains pleasantly warm throughout the entire course of tea-drinking. Snacks, sweets and other dishes may be served at tea time to complement the fragrance of the tea and to allay one's hunger.

Health Benefits of Chinese Tea:

Drinking of Chinese tea has a number of benefits to the human body. Since the tea has cooling properties, then a Chinese tea can be a good choice of refreshments during hot season. Chinese tea also contains both sweet and bitter flavors and as such can help a refresh the mind of the person and tea can help make the person feel alert. This is also a perfect drink in order to boost the concentration of the drinker. By tradition, Chinese used this tea as a way to relieve indigestion and at the same time help persons who have problems with their bowel movements. The efficiency of the Chinese tea can be boosted if the tea can be combined with Tetradium Ruticarpum. The tea can also be helpful in relieving headaches, dizziness, sleepiness and heat stroke. If the tea is processed together with vinegar, then the solution is a perfect solution for diarrhea. The decoction of the tea on the other hand can be used to address dysentery.

Based on some studies, Chinese tea also contains more than 300 chemical substances that can prove effective in relieving a number of pains and effective as well in addressing a number of ailments. Some of these important chemicals include the catechin, caffeine, flavonol, butyric acid, vitamins, minerals, pectins, saccharides and saponin. These chemicals usually act on the body's central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. They act as anti-oxidants muscular relaxants and acts as diuretics as well.

The chemicals on the Chinese tea can also help in the promotion of gastric secretions and may inhibit the growth of bacteria. Drinking Chinese tea can also help the person develop and strengthen his immune system, slows down the aging process and can help as well in the prevention of certain cancers. The tea can also help in lowering the blood pressure and has a hand as well in the prevention of arteriosclerosis. Drinking tea can also prevent tooth decay, can freshen the breath of a person and assist in the digestion process. This can enhance the functions of the body's kidneys.