What is the history of tea production and tea drinking after the Tang Dynasty？

2 min read

In 907，the Tang Dynasty fell and China split into a number of independent states.The south split into separate kingdoms，which remained peaceful.Trade anccommerce developed rapidly，and tea production in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces developed so quickly that these areas gradually became the center of tea art and culture.

People in the Song Dynasty came to drink tea even more delicately than in Tang times.In the Tang，tea drinking was popular mainly among noble families，but in some cities during the Song Dynasty，teahouses sprang up where common people could go and have tea.In Chengdu，tea service centers were set up to offer“official tea”for passers-by free of charge.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties，tea drinking differed from that of previousdynasties.In those times，people drank piece-tea instead of solid-tea and tea makers stir-fried tea in an attempt to strengthen tealeaves’flavor.I the Ming Dynasty，green tea was the most common tea drink，but flower tea also came into being.Down to the Qing Dynasty，jasmine tea was produced in Suzhou.In the Qing Dynasty，0olong and black tea appeared.

What is the derivation of English word“tea”？

The word“tea”is one of the few English words of Chinese origin.It is derived from the plant’s name as it is pronounced in South China.In standard Chinese，it is pronounced“cha”.In South China，it is pronounced“te”or“tay，”the vowel sound being“e”.There are two versions concerning the early spread of tea outside China.

In the 17th century，tea was introduced into Indo-nesia where local people in Java picked up the sound of“te”or“tay”from South China.Later，Dutch arrived there and soon learned how to drink tea.They brought tea back to Europe，where “te”began to be known both on the continent and in Britai The other saying is that the Portuguese opened up sea routes to China.Some says that the opening-up was as early as 1515.Jesuit priests，including Father Jasper de Cruz，were on the Portuguese ships；and they brought the tea drinking habit and tea word“te”or”tay”to Portugal.By 1610，tea was shipped，on a regular basis，to ports in France，Holland and the Baltic coast.