Yudu Ground Tea

Yudu Ground Tea

　　In the past, in the folk homes of Yudu, almost every household had a ground tea bowl, and the custom of drinking ground tea was extremely popular. Whether rich or poor, young or old, men or women, everyone would drink several bowls of rich and aromatic ground tea after work or school. When relatives or friends came to visit, it was even more essential to serve them ground tea as a warm welcome. On ordinary days, no matter where you went, you could almost always smell the fragrant aroma of ground tea wafting from the courtyards and hear the rhythmic “shushing” sound of the tea being ground. A local folk rhyme goes: “Every home grinds tea with sound, every house filled with tea’s sweet round; ground tea is a treasure on the plate, better than ginseng soup, no doubt.”

　　 　 Yudu Ground Tea has been passed down through generations, with a long and rich history. Homemakers, exposed to the tradition from a young age, have mastered the art of making it. A skilled ground tea maker is highly respected in the community. Watch her as she takes a handful of toasted rice, a scoop of tea leaves, a pinch of sesame seeds, a few star anise pieces, some tangerine peels, and a small amount of peanuts—each ingredient carefully placed into a specially made earthenware grinding bowl with vertical grooves carved inside. She adds a few spoonfuls of tea oil, then clamps the bowl tightly between her knees. Next, she takes the grinding pestle—made from tung oil tea wood, about as thick as a hoe handle and roughly two feet long—and vigorously grinds the ingredients against the bowl’s inner wall in circular motions. Her arms move swiftly, the pestle spinning rapidly, a mesmerizing sight. Before long, the ingredients in the bowl transform into a thick, paste-like, dark greenish mixture, locally called “tea bait.” Finally, hot boiling water is poured in, resulting in a bowl of delicious, fragrant ground tea.

　　 　 Then, the whole family gathers around the table, each with a bowl, grabbing a handful of roasted beans, peeling a few roasted peanuts, enjoying the warm family time, sharing endless stories and joys. No wonder those who have savored this delight often say, “I’d rather eat less rice than go without ground tea.”

　　 　 Yudu Ground Tea is not only a delicious beverage but also a flavorful soup that stimulates the appetite of the elderly and the sick. It invigorates the taste buds and leaves a lingering fragrance and aftertaste. In hot weather, it cools and quenches thirst, bringing a refreshing feeling all over the body; in cold weather, it warms and protects against the chill, filling one with a comforting warmth. The tea is rich in nutrients, easy to absorb and digest, greatly benefiting both physical and mental health. It’s no wonder that Yudu Ground Tea has endured through time and remains a beloved favorite among people.

　　 　 To this day, with changes in lifestyle, the labor-intensive traditional ground tea has mostly been replaced by steeped tea in flatland areas. But in remote mountain villages, people still love their traditional ground tea just as much as ever. Should you visit these places, the hospitable homemakers will surely serve you a steaming hot bowl of fragrant traditional ground tea as a warm welcome.