Lai Truong Phuong Huyen from the School of Business and Tourism Management at Yunnan University. [Photo/WeChat account of School of International Chinese Language Education, Yunnan University]
Once upon a time, a single fateful encounter made me fall in love with Chinese tea culture. That's the beautiful encounter between me and Yunnan.
Yunnan, this magic and ancient land, is reputed as the "Tea Town" of China and known as the "Golden Triangle of Yunnan Tea". In October last year, I had the honor of coming to Yiwu, Yunnan. In this fertile land, I began my journey with tea.
Upon arriving in Yiwu, I was amazed by the beautiful scenery. Endless tea gardens connect to one another and tea trees are luxuriant, with each leaf shining brightly. In the tea garden, I felt like I was in a sea of green and I could sense the vitality of nature. What made me more intoxicated was the soothing tea aroma. I had the honor of tasting different kinds of famous tea in Yunnan, such as Simao Ancient Tree Tea, Laobanzhang Tea, Menghai Pu'er Tea and Guafengzhai Chawangshu Tea. Each kind of tea has its own unique taste and aroma. Especially Guafengzhai Chawangshu Tea, as its sweet aftertaste is unforgettable. With each sip, the rich taste enabled me to feel the sunshine and raindrops absorbed by the tea while growing in the mountains and I could taste the nourishment of nature.
In the tea gardens of Yunnan, I not only tasted tea, but also gained a deeper understanding of the growing and production of tea. I had the honor of communicating with tea growers and I realized how hard they work and how much they love tea. They integrate their passion for tea into different aspects of life and they treat tea trees like their own children. And such love and care are conveyed to tea-drinkers through each tea leave. What touches me more is that in the tea garden areas, the locals are very hospitable. They treated me like family and invited me to live and dine with them. In them, I saw the passion and purity of the Yunnan people. Living with them, I not only tasted many local delicacies, but also experienced their lifestyle and cultural customs. This harmonious atmosphere made me feel very warm.
I also had the honor of participating in the picking and processing of tea and I personally experienced the wonders of tea leaves. In the tea garden, I learned about how to select the most suitable tea leaves and how to process and dispose of them. Every step is beautiful. Through personal experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the production of tea and appreciated the hard work of those unsung tea growers.
All this gave me a deeper understanding of tea culture. I not only tasted and smelled the aroma of tea, but also felt the cultural wealth of Yunnan and the passion of its people. As an important part of traditional Chinese culture, tea embodies people's passion for life and respect for nature. Behind each cup of tea, there is the hard work and dedicated care of countless tea growers, which all represent the preservation and development of traditional techniques and skills. Such profound culture makes each cup of tea filled with the vitality of life, blending love and affection.
In the tea garden of Yunnan, I encountered not only tea, but also Chinese culture and Chinese people. Such beautiful memories will live on in my heart forever and become the bond between me and China, encouraging me to constantly explore, study and grow.