Five Chinese Teas Every Beginner Should Try
From delicate white tea to roasted rock oolong, five teas that show the range of Chinese tea.
China makes more styles of tea than any other country. If you are just starting out, these five give you a tour of the main families.
1. Bai Mu Dan (White Peony)
A white tea from Fuding: light, floral and honey-sweet. Very forgiving to brew.
2. Long Jing (Dragon Well)
The most famous green tea, pan-fired into flat, jade-coloured leaves with a toasty, chestnut-like flavour.
3. Tie Guan Yin
A rolled oolong from Anxi with a creamy texture and an orchid aroma that lasts many infusions.
4. Da Hong Pao
A roasted rock oolong from the Wuyi mountains. Deep, mineral and warming.
5. Shou Pu-erh
A fermented tea from Yunnan with an earthy, smooth character. Perfect on cold evenings and after meals.
Start with whichever sounds most appealing — and brew it in a gaiwan so you can taste how it changes from one infusion to the next.
