Cloud tea (Chinese: 云雾茶; pinyin: yún wù chá; pronounced [y̌n û ʈʂʰǎ]) is named for being produced in clouds in Le Mountain (Chinese: 南岳山; pinyin: nányuè shān). In ancient times, it was called Le tea. Since the Tang dynasty, it has been used as the tribute to the emperor. Cloud tea grows in the area of Guangji Temple, Tiefu Temple and Huagai Peak at an altitude of 800 to 1,100 metres (2,600 to 3,600 ft) with a mild and wet climate. Meanwhile, rich organic matter in the soil is extremely suitable for the tea's growth. The Chinese great tea master, Lu Yu (Chinese: 陆羽; pinyin: Lù Yǔ) in the Tang Dynasty, once mentioned it in The Classic of Tea, which provides for the reputation of cloud tea in Le Mountain. In general, it is famous not only for its thin leaf and beauty, but also the fresh colour, cool taste and attractive smell. Evaluated as the high-quality tea in Hunan Province helps it win the honor both at home and abroad.
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Legend
It is said that Sun Wukong (referred to in Journey to the West) often ate peaches and drinks wine in Huaguo Mountain. However, one day he felt tired of them and suddenly had an idea to go to heaven to have a drink of the tea, usually drunk by the emperor and the heavenly queen mother. Without hesitation, he flew to the heaven immediately. While in the sky, he saw a piece of tea tree, which he did not recognize at the first sight of it. At the best time of harvest, the king had no idea about how to pick it. Thankfully, a flock of birds passed by and asked the king about what problems he met. Full of happiness, the king said that he thought Huaguo Mountain was nice, but it lacked tea trees. After hearing what he said, the birds happily help him to pick the tea seeds. Towards Huaguo Mountain, each bird carried its seeds continuously. They go through the high mountains, cloud layer and the along the river. While they were flying above the Mount Lu, they were absorbed by the magnificent beauty and could not help singing. The leader sang, the others followed. As a result, the seeds were dropped on Mount Lu. From then, tea trees started their new era there surrounded by clouds.
Brief introduction
Cloud tea belongs to green tea in the list of famous teas. With a standard of one bud, one leaf about 3 centimetres, it is ususlly picked from Grain Rain (6th solar term) to Beginning of Summer (7th solar term). After a series of complex processes, the finished tea looks beautiful and is full of lustre.
Lushan cloud tea
Mount Lu is a famous place for its advantages on avoiding summer heat both at home and abroad. After enjoying the charming views and climbing, people choose to have a cup of Lushan Cloud tea (Chinese:庐山云雾茶) to relax their tiring body. It has its ancient name, Hear Forest tea (Chinese:闻林茶). According to the legend, the earliest Lushan cloud tea is a wild tea. When a monk, Huiyuan, in Donglin Temple transformed it into a home tea, the Lushan cloud tea started to be grown by hand. Huiyuan often invited his friends to study and chat with a cup of tea he planted himself. Based on this background, Lushan cloud tea forms its own reputation and becomes the tribute to the emperor in Song Dynasty.
Yingshan cloud tea
Yingshan cloud tea (Chinese:英山云雾茶) is mainly produced in Heaven Village near the Dabie Mountains in the north-east of Hubei Province. Wrapped by green waves and wreathed by clouds, the unique excellent ecological environment and climate conditions make the Yingshan cloud tea high-qualified. With functions of refreshing heads and releasing worries, losing weight, clearing the mind, cutting down the blood pressure and reducing cancer, Yingshan cloud tea becomes one of the most welcome teas.
Yuntaishan cloud tea
Yuntaishan cloud tea (Chinese:云台山云雾茶), equal to Lianyungang cloud tea, has a reputation for its special smell, appearance, taste and fragrance. It is said that some monks in Wuzhengan pick it with their whole heart every year. However, it can only have 1 to 2 kilograms. As a treasure, it can only be used on distinguished guests.
Others
There are also some other cloud teas, such as Moganshan cloud tea (Chinese:莫干山云雾茶), Yandangshan cloud tea (Chinese:雁荡山云雾茶), Putuoshan cloud tea (Chinese:普陀山云雾茶) and Wuyishan cloud tea (Chinese:武夷山云雾茶), etc. Despite the common advantages the cloud teas have, every kind of the cloud tea owes its own speciality to their different geographical positions and climate conditions.