The four categories that matter
| Type | Examples | Character | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green (绿茶) | Longjing, Biluochun, Maojian | Grassy, fresh, unoxidised | Hangzhou, Suzhou, Anhui |
| Oolong (乌龙) | Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao | Floral to roasted, semi-oxidised | Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan |
| Black (红茶) | Keemun, Dianhong | Malty, sweet — what the West calls “black tea” | Anhui, Yunnan |
| Pu-erh (普洱) | Sheng and shou | Earthy, aged, fermented | Yunnan |
In a tea house
You order by the pot, and the water is refilled free all afternoon. A normal tea house charges ¥30–80 per person for a pot and lets you sit for three hours. The expensive ones, in tourist districts, charge ¥200+ and are selling the room rather than the tea.
The tea scam, described once
A friendly English-speaking stranger strikes up a conversation near a tourist site, suggests a tea ceremony, leads you to a tea house, and presents a bill for ¥2,000–6,000. It is a real, organised and still-active scam in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The rule: never enter a tea house suggested by someone who approached you on the street. If you are already inside, refuse to pay and call 110 (police) — the establishments fold quickly when the police are mentioned.
Buying tea to take home
- Buy from a shop with prices displayed, not from a market stall with none.
- Longjing in Hangzhou: ¥150–400 per 500 g for decent quality. Anything “top grade” at ¥80 is not Longjing.
- Pu-erh cakes improve with age and are sold by weight; ¥100–300 for a 357 g cake is normal.
- Vacuum packing is offered free and survives the flight.
- Do not buy “aged” tea from an airport shop.
The one thing worth doing
Spend an afternoon in a Chengdu teahouse — People’s Park is the classic — with a ¥25 jasmine tea and no plan. It is the single most Chinese experience available to a visitor, and it requires no explanation, no ticket and no guide.
Frequently asked
What tea should I try in China?+
Longjing in Hangzhou, Tieguanyin in Fujian, pu-erh in Yunnan, jasmine anywhere.
How much does tea cost in a tea house?+
¥30–80 per person for a pot with free refills. Tourist-district houses charging ¥200+ are selling location.
Is the tea ceremony scam real?+
Yes, still active. Never follow a stranger to a tea house.