中国人眼中的西方的茶
I presume American tea it’s the kind of tea that: may or may not come in form of a tea bag, most likely shredded; so often blended with tea leaves of different origins; sometimes with added bergamot oil, mint, ginger, chrysanthemum, jasmin, rose bud; consumed with sugar and milk. Then No, most Chinese drink tea brewed from non-shredded non-blended tea leaves, and only the tea soup, no sugar, no milk. You don’t need a full tea set to enjoy it, just put tea leaves in a cup and pour boiling water in it. Imaging that you drink burgundy wine with apple cider vinegar, or drink single malt whiskey with Coca Cola, that’s how we feel about those naughty ways of drinking tea. The maniac of whole-leaf tea consuming is explained by others. i’ll just talk about the botteld tea market. Snapple and Arizona? Oh no thanks. There are botteld tea in China, but the market is occupied by local and Japanese brands such as Suntory and Ito En. Arizona is avaliable in some convenience store, and Snapple perhaps in Tesco or something like that. However they are not so popular. I would always choose Japanese botteld tea when I need one, especially when I go out and don’t want to waste my good whole-leaf tea. Even if sometimes I break down and want to drown myself into junk food and drinks, I would go to Hongkonese Vita lemon tea. (these are my “workday tea” with breakfast or snacks:) (this is my “fxxk I lost control oooooohhhh I’m getting sugar high” tea, really addictive:) As for “Western” loose tea/teabags, sorry but I can’t name any American tea brands. It’s always linked with Britain. It just make no sence to buy English Breakfast from America…. the English sounds more “authentic” (not my own opinion). Teavana is an exception. However I would say most Chinese people just choose tea in Starbucks because it’s sugarfree and cheap (sometimes both). The most beloved beverage in Starbucks is… Matcha latte! Do you mean do they like teabag tea? Here in Vancouver Canada, the older Chinese who were born in China wouldn’t touch teabags with a 10-foot pole. They like tea the traditional way. Their children, however - who were born in Vancouver or who came here when they were quite young - seem to prefer teabags, because of the convenience I guess, and because they’re not so much into tea as they are no longer pure Chinese, but Chinese-Canadian. Teabag tea sort of signifies a group of people who are caught between 2 cultures. When I lived in China long ago, everyone - young and old - drank tea the traditional way. Maybe things have changed; China has changed a lot since I was there, so I hear! By the way, many Chinese people love coffee, both in China and in Canada. The Starbucks near my home is always filled with Chinese people, and when I was in China many students came to visit me at my home so they could drink my coffee, it seems (and speak English), which I always offered. |