More than 10 students from California State University in Long Beach, the United States, pay a visit to the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 10 students from California State University in Long Beach, the United States, paid a visit to the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong, where they participated in a tea-making activity around a stove, making stove-boiled tea, and were impressed by Chinese culture.

At the event, the students personally brewed tea, roasted red dates, and grilled oranges, experiencing the joy of gathering around a stove and making tea during the winter season. They said that it was their first time using a clay stove and charcoal to cook and roast food and tea, and they marveled at the delicious taste.

Making tea around a stove is a new social activity that is gaining popularity among young Chinese people. Though its current popularity is recent, cooking tea on a stove actually has a long history in China.