Chinese Tea: Why Does It Deserve to Be Recognized as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage

“Traditional Chinese Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices” have been successfully inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, becoming China’s 43rd World Intangible Cultural Heritage item.

This heritage encompasses the entire process of tea culture, including tea garden management, leaf picking, traditional handcrafting, and the sharing and consumption of tea. It is widely practiced across four major tea-producing regions: Jiangnan, Jiangbei, Southwest China, and South China.

Guided by local terroir, different regions have developed the six major tea categories—such as green tea and black tea—as well as scented teas, along with distinctive tea customs including Chaozhou Gongfu Tea and the Bai ethnic group’s Three-Course Tea.

Tea not only nurtures the spiritual life and social rituals of the Chinese people, but also contributes to rural revitalization through the integration of tea culture and tourism. This intangible cultural heritage embodies the profound depth of Chinese culture and continues to thrive through ongoing transmission and education.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeWQ-UiQ6Ig&t=34s