Changes

[[File:Chinese tea ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Turning the cups in a Chinese tea ceremony]]

[[File:Chinese tea ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Turning the cups in a Chinese tea ceremony]]

Due to the importance of tea in Chinese society and culture, tea houses can be found in most Chinese neighbourhoods and business districts. Chinese-style tea houses offer dozens of varieties of hot and cold tea concoctions. They also serve a variety of tea-friendly and/or tea-related snacks. Beginning in the late afternoon, the typical Chinese tea house quickly becomes packed with students and business people, and later at night plays host to insomniacs and night owls simply looking for a place to relax. Formal tea houses also exist. They provide a range of Chinese and Japanese tea leaves, as well as tea making accoutrements and a better class of snack food. Finally there are the tea vendors, who specialize in the sale of tea leaves, pots, and other related paraphernalia. Tea is an important item in Chinese culture and is mentioned in the ''[[Seven necessities]] of (Chinese) daily life''.

Due to the importance of tea in Chinese society and culture, tea houses can be found in most Chinese neighbourhoods and business districts. Chinese-style tea houses offer dozens of varieties of hot and cold tea concoctions. They also serve a variety of tea-friendly and/or tea-related snacks. Beginning in the late afternoon, the typical Chinese tea house quickly becomes packed with students and business people, and later at night plays host to insomniacs and night owls simply looking for a place to relax. Formal tea houses also exist. They provide a range of Chinese and Japanese tea leaves, as well as tea making accoutrements and a better class of snack food. Finally there are the tea vendors, who specialize in the sale of tea leaves, pots, and other related paraphernalia. Tea is an important item in Chinese culture and is mentioned in the ''Seven necessities of (Chinese) daily life''.

====Two periods====

====Two periods====

In [[China]], at least as early as the Tang Dynasty, tea was an object of connoisseurship; in the Song Dynasty formal tea-tasting parties were held, comparable to modern wine tastings. As much as in modern wine tastings, the proper vessel was important and much attention was paid to matching the tea to an aesthetically appealing serving vessel.

In China, at least as early as the Tang Dynasty, tea was an object of connoisseurship; in the Song Dynasty formal tea-tasting parties were held, comparable to modern wine tastings. As much as in modern wine tastings, the proper vessel was important and much attention was paid to matching the tea to an aesthetically appealing serving vessel.

Historically there were two phases of tea drinking in China based on the form of tea that was produced and consumed, namely: ''tea bricks'' versus ''loose leaf tea''.

Historically there were two phases of tea drinking in China based on the form of tea that was produced and consumed, namely: ''tea bricks'' versus ''loose leaf tea''.

===Myanmar===

===Myanmar===

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of very few countries where tea is not only drunk but eaten as '''[[lahpet]]''' - pickled tea served with various accompaniments. It is called ''lahpet so'' (tea wet) in contrast to ''lahpet chauk'' (tea dry) or ''akyan jauk'' (crude dry) with which green tea—''yeinway jan'' or ''lahpet yeijan'' meaning plain or crude tea—is made. In the Shan State of Myanmar where most of the tea is grown, and also Kachin State, tea is dry-roasted in a pan before adding boiling water to make green tea. It is the national drink in a predominantly Buddhist country with no national tipple other than the palm wine. Tea sweetened with milk is known as ''lahpet yeijo'' made with ''acho jauk'' (sweet dry) or black tea and prepared the [[India]]n way, brewed and sweetened with condensed milk. It is a very popular drink although the middle classes by and large appear to prefer coffee most of the time. It was introduced to Myanmar by Indian immigrants some of whom set up teashops known as ''kaka hsaing'', later evolving to just ''lahpetyei hsaing'' (teashop).

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of very few countries where tea is not only drunk but eaten as '''lahpet''' - pickled tea served with various accompaniments. It is called ''lahpet so'' (tea wet) in contrast to ''lahpet chauk'' (tea dry) or ''akyan jauk'' (crude dry) with which green tea—''yeinway jan'' or ''lahpet yeijan'' meaning plain or crude tea—is made. In the Shan State of Myanmar where most of the tea is grown, and also Kachin State, tea is dry-roasted in a pan before adding boiling water to make green tea. It is the national drink in a predominantly Buddhist country with no national tipple other than the palm wine. Tea sweetened with milk is known as ''lahpet yeijo'' made with ''acho jauk'' (sweet dry) or black tea and prepared the [[India]]n way, brewed and sweetened with condensed milk. It is a very popular drink although the middle classes by and large appear to prefer coffee most of the time. It was introduced to Myanmar by Indian immigrants some of whom set up teashops known as ''kaka hsaing'', later evolving to just ''lahpetyei hsaing'' (teashop).

====Social nexus====

====Social nexus====

Taiwan is the producer of some of the world's high-end green and oolong teas. It is also famous as country of origin for ''[[Bubble tea]]''.

Taiwan is the producer of some of the world's high-end green and oolong teas. It is also famous as country of origin for ''[[Bubble tea]]''.

[[File:Pearl Milktea.jpg|thumb|left|Bubble tea from [[Quickly]], with black tapioca pearls visible at the bottom of the cup]]

[[File:Pearl Milktea.jpg|thumb|left|Bubble tea from Quickly, with black tapioca pearls visible at the bottom of the cup]]

====Bubble tea====

====Bubble tea====

===Thailand===

===Thailand===

[[Thai tea]] (also known as '''Thai iced tea''' or "cha-yen") when ordered in Thailand, is a drink made from strongly-brewed [[black tea]] that usually contains added anise, red and yellow food colouring, and sometimes other spices as well. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled. Evaporated or whole milk is generally poured over the tea and ice before serving—it is never mixed prior to serving—to add taste and creamy appearance. Locally, it is served in a traditional tall glass and when ordered [[take-out]], it is poured over the crushed ice in a clear (or translucent) plastic bag. It can also be made into a frappé at more westernised vendors.

Thai tea (also known as '''Thai iced tea''' or "cha-yen") when ordered in Thailand, is a drink made from strongly-brewed [[black tea]] that usually contains added anise, red and yellow food colouring, and sometimes other spices as well. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled. Evaporated or whole milk is generally poured over the tea and ice before serving—it is never mixed prior to serving—to add taste and creamy appearance. Locally, it is served in a traditional tall glass and when ordered take-out, it is poured over the crushed ice in a clear (or translucent) plastic bag. It can also be made into a frappé at more westernised vendors.

It is popular in Southeast Asia and in many American restaurants that serve Thai]] or Vietnamese food, especially on the West Coast. Although Thai tea is not the same as [[bubble tea]], a Southeast and East Asian beverage that contains large black pearls of tapioca starch, Thai tea with pearls is a popular flavour of bubble tea.

It is popular in Southeast Asia and in many American restaurants that serve Thai or Vietnamese food, especially on the West Coast. Although Thai tea is not the same as [[bubble tea]], a Southeast and East Asian beverage that contains large black pearls of tapioca starch, Thai tea with pearls is a popular flavor of bubble tea.

Green tea is also becoming very popular in Thailand, spawning many different variations such as barley green tea, rose green tea, lemon green tea, etc. Thai green tea, however, is not to be confused with traditional Japanese green tea. Thai green tea tends to be very heavily commercialized and the taste is sweeter and easier to appreciate than other bitter variations.

Green tea is also becoming very popular in Thailand, spawning many different variations such as barley green tea, rose green tea, lemon green tea, etc. Thai green tea, however, is not to be confused with traditional Japanese green tea. Thai green tea tends to be very heavily commercialized and the taste is sweeter and easier to appreciate than other bitter variations.