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Understanding Tea, Understanding Chinese Culture
On November 29, 2022, the "Traditional Chinese Tea Processing Techniques and Related Customs" project, proposed by China, was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following approval by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This brings China's total entries on the UNESCO intangible heritage lists to 43, the highest number in the world.
Traditional Chinese tea processing and its related customs encompass knowledge, skills, and practices associated with tea plantation management, tea leaf harvesting, artisanal tea making, and the cultural rituals of tea drinking and sharing. Historically, the Chinese have cultivated, harvested, processed, and consumed tea, developing over two thousand varieties, including six major types: green tea, yellow tea, Anhua dark tea, white tea, oolong and black teas, as well as floral and other reprocessed teas.
These traditional tea-making techniques are primarily concentrated in four major tea regions south of the Qinling Mountains and Huai River, and east of the Tibetan Plateau—namely, Jiangnan, Jiangbei, Southwest, and South China. The customs related to tea are widespread across the country and shared among multiple ethnic groups. The mature and widespread practice of these tea-making skills reflects the creativity and cultural diversity of the Chinese people and embodies the ideals of harmony and inclusiveness.
Through ancient routes such as the Silk Road, the Tea Horse Road, and the Thousands of Miles Tea Road, tea has transcended historical and national boundaries, becoming beloved by people around the world. It has served as an important medium for cultural exchanges between China and other civilizations, and has become a shared treasure of human civilization.
