Tea Homeland: Mapping China‘s Tea Culture and Landscapes

Discover China Through Its Tea

Tea Homeland is part of the “Mapping China” series, a collection that uses maps as a lens to tell the stories of Chinese history, geography, and culture. This volume takes readers on a vivid journey into the heart of Chinese tea.

China is the birthplace of tea. For thousands of years, tea has shaped not only how Chinese people live and gather, but also how China has connected with the world. Tea Homeland begins with a concise introduction to the country‘s long history of tea cultivation, production, and ritual. It then guides readers region by region through China’s six major tea categories—green, yellow, oolong, white, red (black), and dark—introducing the famous teas of each area and the landscapes that give them their character.

The final section traces three historic tea routes: the Tea Horse Road, the Maritime Tea Route, and the Steppe Tea Route. Together, they reveal how a simple leaf from southern China traveled to become one of the world‘s most cherished drinks.

Written by Chen Yongguang, a national-level tea taster and senior editor at Tea Ceremony magazine, this book draws on nearly two decades of firsthand exploration across China’s tea mountains. The result is a vivid, personal, and deeply informed portrait of Chinese tea culture—perfect for tea lovers, cultural explorers, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of China.